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The Psychology Behind Being a Great Host
Exceptional hosts have a unique ability to anticipate and respond to the needs of their guests, creating an experience that goes beyond the ordinary. This post explores the psychology behind hosting and highlights the key traits that make a host truly outstanding.

Sue Marko
Jul 125 min read


My Italian Stays - Hefty Price Tags For Disappointing Products
We were expecting clean and charming apartments, clean linens, and hosts who cared about their guests because that's what they advertised on the sites we booked through. Instead, I found myself in one place that was just OK and another that fell shockingly short of anything they claimed to be.

Sue Marko
Jun 94 min read


Sustainable Practices for B&Bs: Green Travel Tips for Eco-Friendly Stays
This post explores practical ways that I and other B&B owners have embraced green travel ideas keeping sustainability in mind.

Sue Marko
Apr 124 min read


Turn a "Stay" Into An "Experience"
Creating a memorable experience for guests at a B&B goes beyond offering a comfortable bed and a good breakfast. Many travelers seek unique moments and personal touches that make their stay special and worth remembering. (In my 14 years of experience many guests created their own wacky experiences... LOL, but you can read all about that in my book!) With the cost of living skyrocketing, the challenge for B&B owners is how to add value without significantly increasing costs. F

Sue Marko
Mar 296 min read


Tipping.... To Tip or Not To Tip?
My theory for restaurant tipping is what I think of as the 20% variable. Every server is a potential 20 right off the bat and they can slide downhill from there.

Sue Marko
Mar 157 min read


Bad Hosts - Sadly, It's A Thing
There were, of course, some rare exceptions, where I lost my cool and had to react harshly but as an everyday rule the name of the game was to make the customers happy.

Sue Marko
Mar 85 min read


Discovering the Literary Themes in My Book
Today, I want to share some of the key literary themes in my book that resonate deeply with anyone who’s ever opened their doors to strangers - or just loves a good laugh at life’s absurdities.

Sue Marko
Mar 14 min read


You Can't Be Everything to Everyone.
What do you think I did? Well, tempting as it was, I did not throat-punch them; that would probably guarantee that shitty tip I just referenced. I tried baking my own bread.

Sue Marko
Feb 14 min read
Resolutions
In order to make a sound decision about what kind of intentions and aims I want practice to make my 2026 a good year, I have to look back at 2025 and think about where things could have been better and also on how to manifest more of the things that were better.

Sue Marko
Jan 35 min read
What Happened to Great Customer Service?
A little trip to happy hour turned into an outrageously bad customer service experience.

Sue Marko
Dec 14, 20254 min read
SNOW! (A short story that's not in the book)
When I wasn't dealing with heating the joint I was busy outside digging out the hot tub, the decks, and the sidewalks. It was a completely exhausting effort and I felt like I was on a polar version of "Survivor".

Sue Marko
Dec 7, 20253 min read
Welcome to my blog!
Quicky info for the launch of my book, To B&B Or Not To B&B, and the new website. It includes how to get your own author-signed copy of my book!

Sue Marko
Nov 14, 20252 min read
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