Many of these small hotel and B&B owners run their businesses as a hobby or retirement plan, which often doesn't quite pan out as the passive income scheme they were anticipating. They don't cope with the responsibilities that entail and can't compete with professional hoteliers who understand visitors slightly better, so they end up chasing the bottom end of the market (it's not unusual to see rooms offered for £10/pppn. The lowest I've seen is £7/pppn).

I guess when someone has a small business and also happens to be an idiot, chances are slimer that a smarter business partner will point out an idiotic idea, so his idiocity has the chance to shine in all it's glory at every instance.