Because of these factors and several negative personal experiences, Elliott now says he won't stay at a bed and breakfast unless it is "under duress." Unfortunately, some of the statistics that Elliott uses to buttress his assertion of a "B&B backlash" aren't used in context.

For example, Elliott points out that "growth among corporate travelers has been practically flat lately" and calls the statistics "so-so numbers." He observes that this may be a sign hotels are "luring former customers back with amenities like Internet access, 24-hour room service and the promise of anonymity."

But the reality is much different.

Pat Hardy, co-executive director of the Professional Association of Innkeepers International, gave Elliott the numbers he used. But what she provided was the percentage of B&B visitors who are business travelers.

That number has remained relatively steady for several years. However, the stability of this ratio doesn't mean less business travelers are using bed and breakfasts. "I need to be more clear when I give a statistic," Hardy said. "(I should give) the increase in the number of (business travelers), not the percentage change."

Of the 50.5 million inn guests a year, 11 percent are business travelers. Thus, inns are hosting 5.5 million business travelers a year -- up from 3.7 million in 1995. So that's an additional 1.8 million business travelers who chose bed and breakfasts over hotels. Hardly flat growth.

Additionally, take a look at what Elliott postulates hotels are doing to lure back customers: 24-hour room service has been standard in many hotels for decades, as has the "promise of anonymity." Anyone going to a bed and breakfast expecting either of those had an inaccurate perception from the start.

As for Internet access and dataports, it's true that many B&Bs don't offer these amenities. After all, bed and breakfasts often are located in historic homes without the electrical and communication wiring necessary to do so. But, again, this is not an unexpected quirk. Many inns don't have in-room televisions, either, so if your job requires you to tune into CNBC every morning, you should ask about cable access before making a reservation.

Elliott also quotes several people who don't enjoy the morning conversation so pervasive at many bed and breakfasts. Most of us can understand the desire to enjoy a quiet breakfast, particularly if you're still preparing for the day's business. And it is part of an innkeeper's job, albeit a difficult part, to determine which guests want attention and which would prefer to be left alone.

But being asked about where you had dinner last night (which the producer complained about) is commonplace at B&Bs. It's part of the more personal attention many -- perhaps most -- inngoers crave.

Staying at a bed and breakfast is not like staying at a hotel -- and it's not supposed to be. The guest often plays as much a role in making a stay enjoyable as the innkeeper does. If you don't like to talk to strangers over morning coffee, ask for a private table. If you need access to a data line, be sure to ask about it before making reservations. Simple steps like these can go a long way at a bed and breakfast.

Navigate this article:
B&B Backlash? (Introduction)
Why Christopher Elliott is Wrong
Why Christopher Elliott is Right
Where To Go From Here
Interviews with Christopher Elliott and Pat Hardy

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