Veterans and Active Military Stay Free on Veteran's Day With B&Bs for Vets

In honor of active military members and veterans on Veteran’s Day, inns and B&Bs throughout the U.S. and Canada will offer complimentary stays on November 10, 2011.

Kathleen Panek, co-owner of the Gillum House, started the B&Bs for Vets program in 2008, when she and a handful of other innkeepers in West Virginia opened their doors to veterans in honor of Veteran’s Day. The Professional Association of Innkeepers International will coordinate the B&Bs for Vets program this year, in conjunction with BBCanada.com. Nearly 500 inns and B&Bs have signed up to participate in the program in the U.S., with an additional 215 offers from Canadian innkeepers. Organizers of the event expect to surpass the 900 participating inns that joined the program in 2010.

SFC David Cogdill, temporarily stationed at Fort Stewart in Georgia, said, “I have served for over 20 years, and have been privy to many expressions of gratitude by businesses and individuals. The Savannah Inns participating in this program are locally owned and the costs of their donations land a little closer to home. Vets who are lucky enough to participate in this program are treated like family, and the experience is one that many could not afford without the program. It's exactly the respite they need from a career that has kept many in combat zones for multiple tours.”

The Authentic B&Bs of Lancaster County, PA have also partnered with businesses throughout the region to offer additional complimentary services to vets; and the Groveland Hotel in CA is offering 90 free rooms to 90 veterans in celebration of its 90th birthday.

Veterans who would like to reserve a room should contact the inn or B&B where they wish to stay and provide proof of military service. All policies of the inn will be enforced for the free stays.

Visit www.bnbsforvets.org or www.bbcanada.com/bbforvets