Member Benefits

All SCBBCOA members are entitled to ALL of the following benefits:

• Inclusion on SCBBCOA website, one of the prime website portals for the Sunshine Coast.  Each member has their own 'website' within our website (for an example, click on: http://www.bbsunshinecoast.com/lodging/?action=view&lid=3 )


• Availability calendars are included for all members. This allows prospective guests to check your availability at a glance.
  


• Our searchable database allows both members and guests to find available properties on any given date, and with the features they require.
  


• Sunshine Coast Tourism Membership -- Members of the SCBBCOA get a free membership in Sunshine Coast Tourism, which includes among many other great benefits, a listing on their website (www.sunshinecoastcanada.com) in the Business Directory.   Click here to create your username and password.  You will then be contacted with instructions on how to enter your information in their Business Directory Listings.



• Inclusion in the SCBBCOA brochure:
  (must be a member on Sep 30 to be included in the following year's brochure)
  
  • Brochure is distributed on the BC Ferries on all major routes,to most Visitor Information Centres throughout BC, major centres in Alberta, and at most local businesses, restaurants, etc. on the Sunshine Coast
  
  
  
• As a member of the SCBBCOA, your Membership Card provides you with discounts at many local businesses including the IGA's, SuperValu, cleaning companies, web designers, to name a few.  The savings from this card alone can pay for the cost of your membership!
  


• Networking with other B&B, Cottage owners.  This is one of the most important aspects of membership because the SCBBCOA is a cooperative, not a competitive, association.  We help each other to succeed, making us all more successful.
  


• Destination marketing campaigns through cooperative print and media advertising to make travelers aware of the desirability of the Sunshine Coast as a vacation spot.
  


• Representation in community and government decisions
  


• Annual tours of each other's B&B and Cottages -- great way to get unique marketing and decorating ideas from the most successful operations on the Coast
  


• Courses related to operating a B&B offered through Capilano College
  


• Financial Management:
  • SCBBCOA Board manages a budget of $60,000 judiciously for the mutual benefit of all members
    
  
  
• Meetings:
  
  
  • General Meetings:  Two General Meeting each year are an opportunity for members to meet, network, and make decisions, as well as a time for business partners to show their products.
    
  • Board Meetings:  Monthly Board Meetings carry on the business of the association.
    
  
  
  

Additional Benefits Available Only to Members:

ONLINE RESERVATION SYSTEM
This function is quickly becoming the norm, and not a special feature.  Our guests are more sophisticated and computer savvy, so serious consideration should be given to adding this ability to your accommodation.  

According to the latest report by Tourism BC in 2007:
~ 76% of all travelers did their research on the Internet and only 10.9% traveled based on magazine advertisements.
~ The number of online bookings has increased to 71.9% for accommodation bookings and 79% for packages booked over the Internet to get special deals or combined offers.

Online booking allows guests to book your B&B or cottage without having to phone or send an email.  This means never missing a call because the system is available 24/7. The online booking ability can also be added to members' own websites if they so choose, at no extra cost.
 
~ Cost for members is $99 + GST per year up to 3 rooms/properties; $25 per year for each additional room/property



PANEL & FEATURE ADS on the SCBBCOA site provides your business with even more valuable exposure:

Panel ads:  Cost $99 + GST for one year
Consist of a picture & name of your property, and a link to your own website
~  Changeable by you as many times as you like throughout the duration of your ad.
~  Panel ads rotate on the left hand side of all public areas of the website.  Many guests just scroll through these to find their accommodation.

Feature ads:  Cost $199 + GST for one year
Consist of a picture plus 35 words of text, and a link to your own website.
~  Changeable by you as many times as you like throughout the duration of your ad.
~  Feature ads rotate on the right hand side of all public areas of the website.  These get only serious click-throughs because guests already know something about you from the text.

Combination Ad:  Great Value!    
~  Consist of both a panel & a feature ad: Cost $250 + GST for 1 year