HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST TOUR COMPANY FOR YOU

Picking a tour company that fits ‘just right’ is hard. Really hard. For the most part, because it’s impossible to run a tour that pleases all of the people all of the time.

But in the interests of an open discussion, here are some of the things you should consider when choosing a tour company.

1. Group size

The first big decision. When you envision a ‘group tour’, how many people do you see touring alongside you? Five? Ten? Twelve? The phrase ‘small group tour’ can be (and is) used to describe all of the above.

A small group is, on average, about 10 people. But it can range up to 12 or 16 depending on the destination, and go as low as 1 (when the departure has been guaranteed), but 10 is the norm.  There are plenty of big tour operators like Contiki and Trafalgar that prefer the en mass approach. For most, 8-16 is the perfect number to fit into a local bistro, or catch a safari ride, or visit Kruger National Park. To get that local edge.

2. Price

Price is often the first thing people compare when looking at different tour companies, but it can be a little misleading. Because some companies send people on huge tours of 30 or 40 travelers at a time, they can secure bulk rates for their rooms and activities. So you might save some money or so, but it could mean you’re getting a much less bespoke and personal experience. Choosing a ‘cheap’ trip also increases the chance that your experience may not be pleasing or pleasurable.

The thing to look for is value, not just price. Are there lots of included meals? Does the company list the hotel for each night? If so, check it on TripAdvisor. Are there heaps of included activities? Do you get a local guide? If the tour is ticking a lot of those boxes, it’s usually worth paying a bit extra. Like anything else in life, you get what you pay for.

3. Itinerary

A lot of small group tours will share similar itineraries, but there are companies out there that really make an effort to go that extra step.

Generally speaking, you should look for an itinerary that hits all the major highlights but that then includes a couple of left-of-centre stops along the way. Ask anyone that’s done a bunch of small group tours: it’s often the unexpected places, the ones you’d never even heard of before, that end up being the most memorable. It’s just one of those things. Make sure to read the online trip notes thoroughly to help you make an informed decision, and if you have questions…ask! Give the company a call and check about the activities on certain days.

4. Local leaders

The approach of having local leaders has a few advantages. One, you get cool local knowledge on-tap. Two, it keeps money in local pockets and contributes to local employment. Three, the whole experience of travel becomes so much richer.

If local leaders are important to you, do your research. Brands like Inkosi Tours and Transfers use local leaders on all their tours, and they’re specifically trained in first aid and vehicle maintenance. Not all of the industry can say the same. Try to find companies that don’t just employ local leaders, but look after them too. There are too many examples in the industry of local guides being paid poorly and receiving no training, just so a company can slap the word ‘local’ on their marketing material. Not cool.

5. Online reviews

Always a great way to check the value of anything. Read what people are saying as much as possible. A website includes a bunch of reviews on every trip, but if you want to check an external source, try TripAdvisor, to mention a few. You can compare brands, see what people are saying, and make up your own mind. Another excellent source of reviews is social media. 

Check a brand’s hashtag on Instagram or Facebook or Twitter and see what travelers are saying on the ground, in real time. You can get a feel for the style of the trip, the number of people, the standard of accommodation. There’s nothing better than public validation to put your mind at ease.

6. General 'feeling'

Some people like cruise ships and big bus tours. Some travelers prefer seven swimming pools, marble bench tops, and a fully stocked minibar.  You’ve got to find a company that you gel with. 

Whose vibe feels right? The quickest way to work this out? Go on the website. Read the blog. See how the tour company speaks and how they act. Do they have a good responsible travel policy? Is that something you care about? Do they look fun, or a bit boring? Do their itineraries feel generic, or are they pushing boundaries? And you know what, it may take a few tries before you find a small group tour company that fits you ‘just right’. But when you do, it’s a good feeling, and you’ll know the search was worth it.

5 basic steps to stay ahead of the competition

The hospitality industry is a dynamic business that runs double speed just to stay firmly in place. It is forever under the influence of forces that urge it to embrace change more frequently than most other industries. The customer base demands change or update continually as well as other hotels in the region and elsewhere that push you to look within.

The bottom line is almost always the plank from which business strategies spring up and from where the company vision gets its focus. To keep a healthy bottom line, hospitality companies must always endeavour to retain their leading position (if they are market leaders; otherwise aspire to be one), increase their market share and always stay ahead of their competition.

Here are five ideas for you to employ to remain successful in the growing hospitality industry.

1. Monitor your competitors

According to online surveys, more than 47% of accommodation industry players actually watch their competitors closely, while 49% were less vigilant, and 3% were not concerned at all. While it’s great to trust your own business plan, part of it must be based on the activity of your competitors.

This means you need to pay attention to their prices and promotions so you can respond in a timely and appropriate manner. For example, if you set a room rate at the same price as your competitors and one at a slightly higher rate, you can still attract deal seekers without completely sacrificing your opportunity for larger revenue.

Similarly, if you study their promotions you may find you can afford to offer better deals or extras and draw more guests to your property in the lead up to an event or busy time of year. You can also use your analysis to add value and increase midweek bookings.

Think about how you can give your guests that little bit extra. Note that constant promotion or discounting could devalue your property in the eyes of travelers so make sure to be strategic with your timing.

Here’s how you can keep abreast of what your competitors are doing:

Set up alerts and notifications for their rates with a pricing intelligence tool

Sign up for their emails

Follow them on social media

Analyse their SEO and improve your own

2. Listen to your guests

The feedback you receive from your guests is extremely important. You need to work hard to secure fantastic online reviews because if you do, you have a justifiable bargaining chip with which to increase your rates.

In addition, your guests will usually explicitly list your property’s strengths and weaknesses so you know where you can make an improvement. They might even give you a good indication of how you compare to the local competition.

Ensure your front line staff is constantly taking feedback on board and reporting it back. Satisfied customers become free brand ambassadors so get as many onside as possible.

3. Expand your knowledge and management skills

The more you know about your profession, industry, and local market the easier it will be for you to make successful strategic decisions. There are multiple ways you can become better informed including:

Catch up regularly with other industry professionals

Educate yourself on any knowledge gaps

Subscribe to industry newsletters

Follow relevant and prominent figures on social media

4. Be introspective about your business

While it’s important to monitor competitors, copying them won’t get you anywhere. Focus on what makes your property special and emphasise this in your marketing to create a point of difference for potential guests.

Maximise your level of service to ensure the travelers you do attract become long-term customers. This will keep your direct bookings high, giving you more revenue and thus flexibility for your rates. Increasing your direct bookings will lower the cost of your distribution and boost your brand awareness.

If a new competitor arrives, resist the urge to immediately match their prices. Their offering may not necessarily be more attractive and if they do bring more travelers to the area you can work on developing plans to capture a slice of their pie.

5. Capture data in real-time

When the market and your competitor’s rates can change at a moment’s notice, you need to need to be receiving the information you need instantly. With pricing intelligence tools available, this data is immediately available to you.

It also enables you to track competitors and be alerted whenever they make a change to your previously created rules.

With such tools like you can also perform your own forecasts and predict demand for the local hotel market, meaning the rates you set are more accurate and you won’t lose revenue.

10 Effective ways to boost your business’ low occupancy and revenue

It is no secret that as people love cheaper... or rather discounted things. This including clothing items, gadgets or even holiday accommodation.

But as for accommodation owners, the lower price the more bookings, right? Wrong!

It can be easy, and very tempting, to think that slashing rates to virtually nothing will sell more rooms and increase room revenue during the week.

While it may sell a few rooms, the discounting strategy rarely sells enough to offset the reduced revenue.

It’s important to keep in mind that lower rates don’t create demand; they can set the wrong expectations for guests and erode your price integrity. Instead, think of adding value to beat the midweek blues.

Here are 10 effective ways to boost your business’ low occupancy and revenue:

1 Up-sell at every opportunity

Persuade your guests to spend a little more through your online booking engine by adding carefully thought-out extras such as a romantic package or champagne breakfast. You could also consider asking a guest during check-in if they would like to get a better room for a slightly higher rate.

This is simply about letting your guests know what options are available to them. If it’s out of sight, it’s out of mind! Use your front desk or other designated area to take advantage of point-of-sale opportunities such as car rental or tickets to events and tours. Adding this extra value to guests not only brings in revenue but also provides a better traveler experience.

2. Offer a few select ‘holiday’ products

We all know travel customers often want to help themselves to some of the added extras provided, such as soaps or shampoo, and you should want them to. According to Forbes, when guests take their toiletries home with them, it’s a sign you have done a good job picking the right products. You should also be hoping those guests will think of their stay when they use that soap or shampoo later on. Whatever the product may be, give guests something to remember their time with you and add a new revenue stream by making some of your products available for purchase.

For example, sunscreens, shampoos or even towels for the beach. (This might even prevent them from ‘accidentally’ packing your bathroom towels in their bags before check-out!)

3. Switch from halogen lighting to LED

LED lighting lasts almost 10 times longer than halogen lighting and could save you enormous costs in the long run. Investigate all of your LED options and see which ones work best for you and your property.

4. Offer guests a bit of festive cheer during the festive season

During the festive season, many guests want to feel more at home by celebrating with a small holiday tree in their room. For that special touch, consider offering a fully decorated in-room Christmas tree for a small price.

5. Do a booking channel audit

Draw reports on all of your booking channels using your all-in-one booking management solution. Booking channels such as your website and OTAs should be regularly monitored to see where the best performance lies. If one booking site is performing better than another, see what it is that could be attributing to that performance (such as great images, or better descriptions), and adjust your other channels accordingly.

6. Do an energy assessment

Doing an energy audit can identify areas where you are overspending and will allow you to either find a better provider, or keep spend to a minimum. Check everything that consumes electricity, gas or fuel. You will soon see where you are spending the most money and can make adjustments to lower your overall expenses.

7. A customer referral scheme

Satisfied customers should be encouraged to refer their friends and family to stay at your property. Offer your potential guests incentives such as a promotion code, which you can easily set up in your all-in-one booking management solution to be redeemed at the time of booking on your website. A post-stay email can also be set up to automatically send to your guests after they leave, with a specific promotion code and discount. Remember: Word of mouth is often the most powerful marketing tool.

8. Welcome pets

You may not warm to pets, but many travelers would love to travel with their furry companions. If possible, make your small hotel pet-friendly so you not only attract a different segment of travel customers, but can be in a position to charge a little extra for your rooms.

9. Discounts for extended stays

Some guests are quite flexible with their travel schedule and might want to stay an extra night or two. Offering a 50% discount off an additional night, when paying the regular rate for the first few nights, could ensure a higher occupancy and incremental revenue.

10. Network with others in the hospitality and tourism industry

Networking with other businesses in your area that attract tourists and travelers could increase revenue and add more value to your guests. For example, you could offer a discounted ticket to your guests for local attractions, which could increase their revenue and, in turn, provide a better guest experience. This can work both ways as businesses can drive their customers to your property if you offer a special rate.

If you remember to ensure you provide the best guest experience you can, be a savvy spender, and jump on opportunities where you can maximise your booking revenue, you will be well on your way to running a successful hotel and enjoying that holiday at the end of the year.