Membership Information

Thank you for your interest in becoming a Unique Inns member! 

Unique Inns is an organization designed to promote its members to the public and act as a referral network among member inns. The organization also supplies a forum for the exchange of ideas and information related to the innkeeping business. In order to accomplish this, the Inns can and should be different from one another in personality and style, but must be similar in quality and value.

Unique Inns was chartered in 1982 as one of the first bed and breakfast innkeeping organizations. Formed by eleven innkeepers in Oregon and Washington, the group now includes approximately 40 members in the regions of British Columbia, Washington, Idaho, Oregon and California.

Membership Criteria

1. The owner(s) of the inn shall be directly involved in the daily operations of the inn.
2. The Inn shall represent a geographic location not already adequately represented by the group.
3. There shall be a minimum of six guest rooms with private baths, but not more than 50.
4. A quality breakfast shall be available on premise.
5. The Inn shall serve dinner to guests or be able to recommend a quality restaurant no more than five miles away.
6. All appropriate licenses, permits and liability insurance required for the area shall be obtained and kept current.
7. The Inn must have been in operation under the same ownership for one full year prior to application.

Membership Benefits

As a member of Unique Inns you will receive the following benefits designed to promote your inn and improve your network.

• An active, supportive referral network through member innkeepers and inn staff.
• Placement on the Unique Inns Website (www.uniqueinns.com) including an individual profile web page and direct link to your inn’s home page and reservations page.  The website is the largest source of new guests and is one of the top referrers to the individual members.  During 2010 members received an average of 140 - 350 visitor referrals per month to their websites from Unique Inns.
• Exposure from Unique Inns media releases, opt-in newsletter, blog, social networking and promotions.
• Ability to advertise your membership with Unique Inns on your website and printed materials, adding to existing credibility and reputation.
• Combined group marketing; pooled advertising dollars. 
• Insight gained from meeting attendance through sharing of ideas and cost saving measures, resulting in increased income and improvement of innkeeper “quality of life.”  Meetings are held at a member inn location in March each year.
• Room stays among member inns for Innkeepers and inn staff.  Hosting inn may charge up to 50% of the room rate.  Visits to other member inns provide additional avenues for ideas and inspiration.
• Gift Certificate program to increase visibility and room sales.
• Rewards Program which promotes guest loyalty and repeat stays.
• Over 500 years of combined member innkeeping experience on which to draw.
• Attractive plaque advertising membership to display on site.
• Inclusion in the printed Unique Inns Brochure distributed at member properties which promotes the Rewards Program and lists Unique Inns Members.

Membership Fees

Initiation Fee: $600 USD
This one-time fee provides for setting up your property on uniqueinns.com, a solid brass membership plaque which will be mailed to you for display at your property, and including your property in the next printing of the Unique Inns Brochure.

Membership Dues: $130 USD per month (June 2010 – May 2012)
Dues are voted upon by the members at the spring meeting for each fiscal year, based on budget projections of business operations.  This amount is shared by the member inns and paid monthly.

Membership Application

I/WE, the undersigned, herein also known as the applicant(s), hereby apply for membership with Unique Inns, an innkeeper association based in Portland, Oregon. The applicant(s) agree upon approval as a member to pay an initiation fee of $600.00 USD followed by a monthly membership fee as set by Unique Inns, currently $130.00 USD monthly.

The applicant(s) agree, if requested, to provide a minimum of one, and potentially up to three overnight stay inspections. These inspections shall be performed by member innkeepers or Unique Inns staff and shall include the cost of lodging and meals on site. If there is less than a three diamond AAA rating, applicant(s) agree to provide reviews by two different third-party sources.

NAME OF OWNER(S)

INN NAME

ADDRESS

CITY

STATE/PROVINCE

ZIP/POSTAL CODE

EMAIL ADDRESS

PHONE NUMBER

FAX NUMBER

WEBSITE ADDRESS

AAA RATING

OTHER RATINGS

NUMBER OF ROOMS

ROOMS WITH PRIVATE BATHS

ROOM RATE RANGE

MEMBERSHIP IN OTHER INNKEEPING ASSOCIATIONS

SPONSORING MEMBER (IF APPLICABLE)

# OF YEARS IN BUSINESS

# OF YEARS WITH CURRENT INNKEEPER

TYPE OF OWNERSHIP (I.E. CORPORATION)

EXPLAIN HOW YOU AS OWNER(S) ARE DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN THE DAILY OPERATION OF YOUR INN

PLEASE DESCRIBE YOUR BREAKFAST - IS BREAKFAST INCLUDED IN THE ROOM RATE?

WHAT DO YOU FEEL MAKES YOUR PROPERTY "UNIQUE"

Upon acceptance to the association you agree to the following terms:

1. Members agree to accept Association Gift Certificates for reimbursement at the rate of 90% of certificate value.
2. Members agree to accept Association Rewards Gift Certificates valued at $100 with no reimbursement.
3. Members agree to place a link on their home page linking to www.uniqueinns.com.
4. Members agree to provide a maximum of three complimentary overnight stays to Unique Inns contest winners and Unique Inns' staff subject to availability.
5. Members agree to provide a minimum 50% room rate discount to other member innkeepers subject to availability.
6. Members agree to provide each guest a Unique Inns Brochure.
7. Members agree to display a Unique Inns plaque advertising their membership at their location.
8. Members agree to provide high-resolution photography and a description of their inn with unlimited usage rights granted to Unique Inns.

I agree that Unique Inns is under no obligation to accept my Membership Application and upon approval I will be subject to the rules and regulations of the Unique Inns Association and that these terms may be changed from time to time as voted by members.