I believe most people have found the last couple of years financially challenging, worries over jobs, mortgages and the general cost of living. My own family have been going through a long period of instability due to the crisis, not knowing if the next contract would happen or not. I have seen many small businesses close, along with some of the larger well known names; our own city has many empty shops now.
One thing I have noticed during the past twelve months that in the hotel trade there has been a distinct improvement in quality, value and customer care and I also think that a lot of the local pubs have also improved their service and what they offer.

Over the past month I have been flooded with wonderful offers from hotel chains, they are almost too good to resist. Many of the offers include Dinner and room upgrades at prices that I was paying five years ago. Most are very active on Facebook, with Managers responding to good and bad comments. A lot are also active on twitter building their relationships with their customer base, I like this as it gives a very personal feel to the fact you are visiting them. I have just booked a quick deal that came in for Premier Inn, I am going to Cornwall in December for one night very close to the sea, I have prebooked breakfast and got the whole deal for £35 that works out at £17.50 each a night for bed and breakfast. I know some people will say who wants to go to Cornwall in December, yet I have done this before and it has been great, all the fishing villages are open as normal but no crowds and the weather always seems to be so mild, it is just nice to get away.

My Daughter just this weekend was able to visit a local country park and a local pub down to the fact that both are active on twitter. She was given a very nice family pass from Brokers Wood and The Kicking Donkey pub got in touch to offer her a 50% reduction on her bill if she wished to eat there after her visit. She took up both offers and had a great time, the thing that impressed her most was the way the pub looked after her family, she had 5 of her 6 children with her, two being little ones. The staff were so pleasant, made them feel very welcome and the food was wonderful, which has ensured she will return at every opportunity. Pubs have to now think more of being family eateries as they are in Europe, where they welcome children with open arms. I except that sometimes adults do not want to sit and listen to children screaming and shouting but if pubs could make a small adults only area I am sure that would ease that situation. I think that with the economic down turn it has made trades try a bit harder to pull in their customers and then keep them, which are very good for the consumer. It shows some positive things happen when there is a credit crunch
 

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