A bed and breakfast (typically shortened to B&B or BnB) is a small lodging establishment that offers overnight accommodation and breakfast. In addition, a B&B sometimes has the hosts living in the house. Bed and breakfast is also used to describe the level of catering included in a hotel's room prices, as opposed to room-only, half-board, or full-board.

International differences

Australia

There are approximately 7,000 B&Bs in Australia. The B&B industry in Australia generates about $132 million in annual revenue.

China

In China, expatriates have remodelled traditional structures in quiet picturesque rural areas and opened a few rustic boutique hotels with minimum amenities. Most patrons are foreign tourists but they are growing in popularity among Chinese domestic tourists.

India

In India, the government is promoting the concept of bed & breakfast. The government is doing this to increase tourism, especially keeping in view the demand for hotels during the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. They have classified B&Bs into two categories: Gold B&Bs, and Silver B&Bs. All B&Bs must be approved by the Ministry of Tourism, which will then categorize them as Gold or Silver based on a list of predefined criteria.

Ireland

In Ireland, B&Bs can be townhouses, farmhouses, or country houses. There are about 3,000 B&Bs spread throughout the country, 750 of which are certified for meeting quality standards by Fáilte Ireland.

Israel

The Israeli B&B is known as a zimmer (German for 'room'). All over the country, but especially in northern Israel (Galilee, Upper Galilee, and the Golan Heights), the zimmer has developed into an extensive industry. This industry began to develop in the 1990s, when agriculture became less profitable, and many families with farms in moshavim, kibbutzim, farms, and even in cities decided to try their luck in the business of hospitality. In the last decade, bed and breakfasts have also emerged in southern Israel's Negev region.

Italy

In Italy, regional law regulates B&Bs. There is a national law "Legge 29 marzo 2001, n. 135" but each region maintains a specific regulation. Each region can adopt different regulations but they must observe the national law on Tourism (Law N° 135 /2001).

Japan

The Japanese equivalent of this sort of hospitality business is the minshuku, which offers dinner as well as bed & breakfast in the tradition of the ryokan.

United Kingdom

There are numerous B&Bs found in seaside towns, the countryside as well as city centres. B&Bs are graded by VisitBritain and the AA on a star system. 3-, 4- and 5-star establishments have a higher standard. A majority of B&Bs in the UK have en suite facilities.

United States

There are approximately 17,000 B&Bs in the United States. Bed and breakfasts are often private family homes and typically have between four and eleven rooms, with six being the average.