(EMAILWIRE.COM, March 14, 2009 ) Spencer, IA -- Iowa Falls, Iowa, will host the annual Iowa Bed & Breakfast Innkeepers Association (IBBIA) Conference. This year the conference will feature a number of outstanding educational speakers. Amelia Painter, Diana Engelbrecht, Julie Wurr, and Karen Davis are all on the agenda.

Registration and presentation will begin at noon on Sunday, March 29th, 2009. One of the big draws for the Sunday agenda will be a Wine Tasting. Diana Engelbrecht, from the Engelbrecht Family Winery, will host and give an educational Wine Tasting. Diana is extremely knowledgeable and is an outstanding speaker - this will be an informative and fun experience for all in attendance.

The wine tasting will follow a workshop by Julie Wurr from Heart'n Home located in Laurens, Iowa. (Julie Wurr is pictured to the right.) In Oct of 2008 Julie was inducted into the French Brotherhood of the Faugeres Wine Association, and she is going to help B&B owners learn how to use wine to further please guests.

According to IBBIA President, Esther Kauffeld-Hoffa, today’s B&B owner must incorporate technology into their business as more and more the industry has become Internet-driven. The success or failure of an Iowa B&B depends on how effectively an innkeeper can use the Internet as a marketing tool. Hoffa says, "from search engine marketing, to creating Internet blog posts -- the art of innkeeping is dependent on how well an innkeeper can successfully embrace Internet technology. "We are thrilled to have Amelia Painter back again this year to motivate and train our members," said Hoffa.

On Monday, Karen Davis is on the agenda. Davis has worked for the Iowa Egg Council, the National Pork Producers and Maytag Appliances. For the past seven years Karen has operated her own food consulting business, Karen Davis Communications. She writes a regular food column for Our Iowa magazine, serves as a freelance demonstrator for Taste of Home Cooking Schools, and enjoys developing and testing recipes for various food companies. Davis will share some of her favorite recipes during an educational demonstration.

The conference is open to all members as well as anyone aspiring to become an innkeeper. The event will be held in Iowa Falls this year on Sunday, March 29th and Monday, March 30th at the Center for the Performing Arts, 510 Stevens Street, Iowa Falls, IA 50126. For further information contact Anissa Jepsen at the IBBIA office at 800-888-4667 (Iowa only) or 712-580-4242.

Contact Information:
Iowa Bed and Breakfast Innkeepers Associ
Amelia Painter
Tel: 712-580-4242
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