November 9-10, 2008, Estes Park, Colorado- Participation, education and invigoration were part of the agenda when bed and breakfast innkeepers from all over the state met at the 22^nd Annual Bed & Breakfast Innkeepers of Colorado (BBIC) Conference.  In addition to great speakers on topics such as greening your inn, Colorado's tourism outlook, media relations and tax tips, innkeepers brought their favorite muffins to enter the "Golden Muffin Award" contest.  Multi-state participation also included vendors providing amenities to B&Bs and the hospitality industry. An aspiring innkeeper day and inn tour of Estes Park B&Bs were well attended as part of the educational and open house opportunities.

MUFFIN RECIPE AWARDS: Celebrity judges included Estes Park Mayor Bill Pinkham, travel writer Linda Duval (Colorado Springs, CO), Terza Ekholm of Send Out Cards (Colorado Springs, CO), Ty Currie of Reservation Nexus (Provo, UT) and Ben Nilsson of Kellsson Linens (Denver, CO). With the assistance of BBIC President Karen Cullen, Mayor Pinkham personally presented special bright blue award aprons to the top two winners.

Fruit was the focus as the Golden Muffin Award was presented to an excited Tasha Overmyer of Romantic Riversong in Estes Park for "Tasha's Cranberry Orange Muffins". The Silver Muffin Award was presented to Shirley Wick of the Old Town GuestHouse in Colorado Springs for her "Best Blueberry Cake Muffins".  Honorable mentions were also received by Heather Hidalgo of Holden House 1902 Bed & Breakfast in Colorado Springs for "Heather's Blueberry-Molasses Muffins", Wendy Goldstein and Sharon Smith of Two Sisters Inn in Manitou Springs for their "Mocha Chip Muffins", aspiring innkeeper Gwenn David from Colorado Springs was honored for her Pumpkin Apple Streusel Muffins and Sandee Rogers from Rogers in the Pines in Monument was recognized for her "Meeam'o Breakfast Muffins". Golden and Silver Muffin award winners received embossed aprons to signify their B&B culinary expertise.  Muffin judging was based on appearance, texture, mass appeal and taste. (Recipes below)

PROCLAMATION: Mayor Bill Pinkham personally proclaimed November 2008 as "Bed & Breakfast Appreciation Month" in Estes Park, Colorado. He recognized BBIC's efforts in providing educational opportunities for bed and breakfast innkeepers to increase business viability and continue the beneficial economic impact to the region and the state of Colorado.  Pinkham also thanked the association for their efforts to increase tourism in the state, reflecting on Colorado's communities as "tourism related" for economic viability. "It's an honor to be with you this morning and it's an honor to recognize Estes Park's tourism-related industry, businesses, amenities and associations, which contribute so much to the development of this burgeoning B&B industry", he said.

MEMBER AWARDS: The conference included the BBIC Awards Dinner, which acknowledged the board of directors with "Certificates of Appreciation". Special awards were given for service to the bed and breakfast industry.  BBIC President, Karen Cullen and Jay Rohrer of 1892 Victoria's Keep Bed & Breakfast received the "Clark Award", so named for the Clark's, who founded the association in 1987. This award has only been bestowed three times in BBIC's history. Cullen and Rohrer were appreciated for their exceptional service and dedication to the association and the bed and breakfast industry.  Wendy Goldstein and Sharon Smith of Two Sisters Inn received the "Longevity Award" for their long-time service, providing high innkeeping standards and supporting the association and the industry. Sallie and Welling Clark of Holden House 1902 Bed & Breakfast Inn were presented with the "Golden Globe Award" for their hard work and service as BBIC marketing chairs.  Outgoing BBIC administrators Lynda and Howard Lerner of Manitou Springs were recipients of an "Appreciation Award" for their long-time service as former innkeepers and current administrators.

STATE GRANT AWARD: In her presentation to the membership, President Cullen announced a recently awarded Marketing Grant provided by the Colorado Tourism Office for which BBIC received full funding for a matching grant of $14,997.  The marketing plan, titled "Branding and Business (B&B)" will leverage association dollars with the grant for a total advertising value of $22,000. It is estimated that the worth of the current BBIC membership with a 5 room average size generates approximately $9.1 million in gross revenue economic value in Colorado.

"This is a tremendous boost for our association and for bed and breakfasts in Colorado", said Cullen. "As our small businesses struggle with the economy, this will allow us to upgrade and increase marketing for our website, advertise in additional publications, produce a new association cookbook and ultimately bring more guests to our inn doorsteps.  Marketing efforts are paramount to our overall success as the B&B industry". 

ELECTIONS: The new Board of Directors installed on November 10, 2008 includes:

Welcome our newest board member, The Anniversary Inn from Estes Park who will be our legislative chair!

President- Karen Cullen and Jay Rohrer, 1892 Victoria's Keep Bed & Breakfast, Manitou Springs

Vice President- Sandee and Buzz Rogers, Rogers in the Pines, Monument

Treasurer- Bill and Annette Lyttle, The Dove Inn, Golden

Secretary- Melody Ann Hahn, Hahn's Haven, Nathrop

Legislative- Karen and Roger Steer, Anniversary Inn, Estes Park

Marketing- Sallie and Welling Clark, Holden House 1902 Bed & Breakfast Inn, Colorado Springs

Membership- Don and Shirley Wick, Old Town GuestHouse, Colorado Springs

Public Relations- Ron Pijut, Pikes Peak Paradise, Woodland Park

Publications- Kevin Abney, Avenue Hotel, Manitou Springs

For additional information, contact Marketing Chair Sallie Clark at marketing@bbicadmin.com or 719-471-3980. Visit the Bed & Breakfast Innkeepers of Colorado website at www.InnsOfColorado.org

GOLDEN MUFFIN AWARD WINNER!

Tasha's Cranberry Orange Muffins

Tasha Overmyer of Romantic Riversong

2 C. Sugar 

3 Lg. Eggs         

½  C. Evaporated Milk  

1 C. Canola Oil

1/4 tsp. Salt

1 tsp. Vanilla

½ C. Peach Yogurt                     

1 T. Orange Zest

¼ C. Orange Juice 

2 C. All Purpose Flour                

1 ½  tsp. Baking Powder                        

1 Can (11 oz.) Mandarin Oranges                        

1 C. each Chopped Walnuts & Frozen cranberries         

Raw sugar to top off muffins

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F (325°F for convection). Grease 12-count muffin tin. Combine sugar, eggs, evaporated milk, oil, salt, vanilla, yogurt, zest, and orange juice. Blend well. Add flour and baking powder, stirring just until combined. Chop mandarin oranges in thirds. Add to flour mixture along with walnuts and cranberries, again stirring just until combined. Pour tins 3/4 full and sprinkle each with raw sugar. Bake for 12- 18 minutes. Cool on wire wracks for ten minutes and remove to serving tray.  Makes 12.

SILVER MUFFIN AWARD WINNER!

Best Blueberry Cake Muffins

Shirley Wick-Old Town GuestHouse Bed & Breakfast Inn

 (Freezes very well) Makes 2 Doz.

4 C. yellow cake mix

½  C. Flour

1 ¼  C. Water

1 Egg

3 T. Oil

3 C. Blueberries (I use frozen)

¾ C.Whole Oats (optional)

Crumble Topping:

1 1/2 C. Whole Oats

¼ C. Flour

1 C. Brown Sugar

1 tsp. Cinnamon

1 tsp. Baking Soda

¾ Stick butter (melted)

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Use baking cups sprayed with oil. Fill baking cups almost full - not heaping. Cover with Crumble Topping lightly pressed on-Bake for 25-30 minutes. Makes 24 muffins.

HONORABLE MENTION MUFFIN AWARDS:

Heather's Blueberry-Molasses Muffins-Holden House

Mocha Chip Muffins-Two Sisters Inn

Meema'o Breakfast Muffins-Rogers in the Pines

Pumpkin Apple Streusel Muffins-Gwenn David, Aspiring Innkeeper

Heather's Blueberry-Molasses Muffins

Heather Hidalgo-Holden House 1902 Bed & Breakfast Inn

Ingredients: 1 Box (Krusteaz) Wild Blueberry mix w/ Blueberries (drained)

½ cup Fresh Blueberries

1 Egg

1/3 C. Molasses

1/3 C. Milk

½ Tsp. Ginger

¼ Tsp. Nutmeg

¼ Tsp. Cinnamon

1/3 C. Oil

Directions: In a large bowl add all ingredients, except the blueberries. Mix together well.

Gently fold in the blueberries. Grease muffin tins with non-stick spray. Fill Muffin cups evenly with batter, about ½-3/4 full.  Bake at 400 degrees for 18-20 minutes. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve with butter. Makes 12 muffins.

Mocha Chip Muffins

Wendy Goldstein and Sharon Smith of Two Sisters Inn-a bed & breakfast

1/4 C. Cocoa Powder                            1/2 tsp. Salt

3/4 C. Strong Coffee                              1 egg

3 lg. Very Ripe Bananas, peeled         3/4 C. Sugar

1-1/2 C. Flour                                           1/3 C. Uunsalted Butter, melted

1 tsp. Baking Powder                            1/2 C. Chopped Pecans

1 tsp. Baking Soda                                1/2 C. Chocolate Chips

Directions: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease and flour muffin tin. Dissolve cocoa in coffee in a bowl and add bananas and mash. In a medium-size bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside. In a large bowl, slightly beat egg and sugar, then incorporate the butter and mashed bananas. Add dry ingredients to the egg mixture and stir just until moistened. Fold in pecans and chips. Spoon mixture into muffin tins. Fill to the top. Bake until toothpick inserted into center of a muffin comes out clean, about 18-20 minutes. Remove from tin and cool on rack. Makes 12 muffins.

Pumpkin Apple Streusel Muffins

Gwenn David, Aspiring Innkeeper

1 ½ C. Flour

2 C. Sugar

1 T. Pumpkin pie spice

1 tsp. Baking Soda

½ tsp. Salt

2 eggs

1 C. Pumpkin

½ C. butter

2 C. Peeled chopped apples

Streusel Topping:

2 T. Flour

¼ C. Sugar

½ Tsp. Cinnamon

4 tsp. Butter

Mix Streusel Topping together in small bowl to resemble coarse crumbs

Directions: Pre-heat over to 350 degrees. Lightly grease 18 muffin tins. In a large bowl, sift together flour, sugar, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda, and salt. In separate bowl, mix eggs, pumpkin and butter. Add pumpkin mixture to flour mixture; stirring just to moisten. Fold in apples. Spoon batter into muffin tins and sprinkle topping over muffin batter. Bake 25-30 minutes.

Meema'o Breakfast Muffins

Sandee Rogers-Rogers in the Pines

Dry Ingredients:

2 C. Flour

1/3 C. Sugar

1 tsp. Baking powder

½ tsp. Baking Soda

½ tsp. Salt

1 C. Grape-Nuts Cereal

 Liquid Ingredients:

2 Eggs (beaten)

1 C. Orange Juice

1 T. Grated Orange Peel

1/3 C. Salad Oil

Directions: Mix dry ingredients together and then separately combine liquid ingredients together. Add liquid ingredients to dry ingredients, stirring until moistened. Fill greased muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

 Thank you to our 2008 Conference Sponsors!

Our Platinum Sponsors, Roxanne Kolbe and Becky Goldsmith from Inn Matchmakers

Innmatchmakers Hix Insurance Send Out Cards   Ascent Processing Acorn Internet Services The B&B Lady Denver Mattress Co. Kellsson Linens Reservation Nexus The Pampered Chef  PAI/Peak Card Services  Young Living  Art of Design  Colorado Preservation, Inc.  Gilchrist & Soames  Granny's Traveling Closet   Greenwich Bay Trading Company   Hanover Mortgage Corp. Inn Caring Mountain Man Nut & Fruit Co. Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Inns Magazine-Harworth Publishing  Scentsy Tomboy Soap Company Tayco Screenprinting

And a special thank you to our speakers: Travel Writer Linda Duval, The B&B Lady Kit Cassingham, Accountant Michael Smith, Acorn Internet Services (and Website Guru) Lisa Kolb, BBIC Inn Inspectors Carol and Rod Faino, Inn Matchmakers Roxanne Kolbe and Becky Goldsmith, Holden House Innkeepers and Inn Consultants  Sallie and Welling Clark and Carrie Koenig from Weaver Publications on behalf of the Colorado Tourism Office.

We greatly appreciate the work of our conference committee this year and the many others who helped make this educational and networking event a success: Karen Cullen, Shirley Wick, Sandee Rogers, Sallie Clark, Bill and Annette Lyttle and Lynda Lerner. A special note of thanks to the inns who worked on the inn tour- Anniversary Inn, Black Dog Inn and Romantic Riversong.  Thanks to everyone who made this a successful 2008 conference.  We're looking forward to another great conference in 2009!