Ledger-Dispatch

By Kelly Scott (kenos@ledger-dispatch.com) =

Jamie Ciardella, owner of The Gate = House Inn in=20 Jackson, makes sure to include the personal touch at her homey bed = and=20 breakfast.

Photo by: Kelly=20 Scott
It's one of the business sectors that = has yet=20 to succumb to widespread economic malaise, but local innkeepers are = keeping a=20 watchful eye on how the threat of $4-a-gallon gas could keep their cozy = beds=20 empty.

"Sixty percent of the travelers we get come from = California," said=20 Bob Tierno, owner of The Hanford House in Sutter Creek. "Most of our = consumers=20 come from drive-in locations as opposed to flying into San Francisco or=20 somewhere, then driving to Amador County." Tierno has owned the inn = since 1995=20 and has seen declines come and go.

"It's a seasonal business," he = said.=20 "November was stronger than the previous year, but typically December = and=20 January are slow." Tierno said that April, and typically spring, bring = in the=20 wedding crowds and the start of the busiest time of year. "It really = ramps hard=20 in the spring with families taking over the inn," he = said.

Whether rising=20 gas prices put a dent in people's travel plans remains to be seen. The = average=20 price of gasoline broke the $4 mark in San Francisco at the end of last = month,=20 according to AAA of Northern California. The statewide average price for = a=20 gallon of unleaded is $3.91, but even that price is 52 cents higher than = a year=20 ago. In addition to San Francisco's record-setting average, both Santa = Barbara=20 and San Luis Obispo have also earned the dubious distinction of holding = $4=20 averages for unleaded gas.

"While gas prices may drop a penny or = two=20 between now and Memorial Day, real relief for consumers most likely = won't be=20 realized until the end of summer," said AAA of Northern California = spokesperson=20 Michael Geeser.

According to local innkeepers, much of the = interest from=20 visitors lies in the cultural and historical significance of their=20 structures.

"Our guests expect the certain level of ambiance and = service=20 that we offer," Tierno said.

He is born out by a recent survey of = more=20 than 4,000 bed and breakfast travelers. More than 78 percent of = respondents were=20 women with annual incomes between $100,000 and $200,000 and a college or = post=20 graduate degree, painting a picture of well educated travelers with = incomes=20 allowing for frequent travel.

"The survey showed almost 90 = percent of=20 respondents choose an inn at least once or twice a year for leisure and=20 business," said BedandBreakfast.com President Eric Goldreyer in an = e-mail, "as=20 opposed to a chain hotel."

The Mother Lode, rich in both history = and=20 culture, boasts more than 20 small inns across Amador and Calaveras=20 counties.

"The trend we are noticing is the new guests, travelers = from=20 the East Coast, the south and Europe," said Jamie Ciardella, owner of = the=20 Gatehouse Inn in Jackson. Ciardella added that most of the Europeans = visit=20 Amador County for the history of the Gold Country.

"They are = fascinated=20 with it and when they find out we also offer wineries, they are = ecstatic," she=20 said.

According to the Professional Association of Innkeepers=20 International, statistics show that inn owners renovated more historical = buildings than any other industry segment.

"Guests come and see = that=20 there is so much to see that they didn't know about," she said. = Ciardella had a=20 couple from Kentucky who stopped on the way to Lake Tahoe last summer = for a=20 night and were so impressed by the Mother Lode that they booked a = three-day=20 visit at the Gatehouse Inn during the summer.

"The foothills, the = history, the beautiful upcountry area with the mountain lakes, Preston = Castle -=20 there is so much here and we will keep the traditions alive in Amador=20 County."

Diversification may also help keep small inns afloat = during=20 economic downturns. The Gatehouse Inn offers a "wine hour" with local = wines for=20 tasting and appetizers for guests.

"So many people enjoy finding = a bed=20 and breakfast and wineries as a combination," said Ciardella. "We are = seeing=20 more and more of a trend in people hiring limousines while staying with = us for=20 winery tours that are offered."

Ciardella, who belongs to the = Amador=20 Association of Bed and Breakfast Inns, explained that the goal of = keeping=20 tourists in the region can sometimes mean suggesting another = location.

"I=20 have a Victorian (house)," she said. "Someone might want to stay in a = farmhouse=20 inn or something different from mine, so we work together as a team so = they will=20 stay in our area."

Because of the wine season, Ciardella's = busiest time=20 is fall. "That's when the wineries have their 'crush,'" she explained. = "Half of=20 my business is winery guests. There is a definite connection between = wines and=20 bed and breakfasts."

Kelly = Scott