HOW TO SELL YOUR TOUR AND TRAVEL PACKAGE
We’ve been promoting and selling custom tour itineraries to groups like yours since 1954, and have learned a thing or two about the trade. Here are some of our best ideas to help you fill your tour and achieve the objectives of your group.
Prospect List Your first step is to develop a good list of people who are interested in traveling with your group. What kind of people are most likely to travel together with other, like-minded people? It’s difficult to generalize, of course, but look for sociable people who enjoy meeting new people and make friends easily. (there’s no experience like traveling together to create or build the bond between members of your group, so getting the right people aboard – people who will fit well into the rest of the group – is vital to the success of your tour.) Your list can be written down manually or stored on a data base in a simple computer program. Collect name (with correct spellings), address, home & mobile phone numbers, and email address. Have someone else familiar with the group and tour look at the list to verify you haven’t forgotten anyone.
Flyers Virtually every tour and travel package will benefit from having an attractive, well produced and printed flyer. Successful flyers show photos (color is best) of destinations, events and experiences the travelers will experience, an itinerary (schedule for your tour) with brief description of each day’s travel, touring, meals and hotels, prices for travelers in single, twin, double or multiple (triple or quadruple) occupancy hotel rooms, how to make a reservation and contact information to reach you with questions. Flyers can be mailed to members of your group, handed out on the coach during other tours, posted on community bulletin boards or given out at group events.
If you don’t have the resources to make your own flyer, our experienced travel promotions department will help you write, edit, illustrate and produce one ready to send to your printer at no cost or obligation to you.
Advertising Reaching people you already know or who have traveled with your group before is easy, but it’s a good idea to keep your group growing by promoting your tour to those outside your established group. One way to do that is with advertising. No-cost or low cost advertising options include local “shoppers” newspapers, local newspapers or radio station “on air bulletin boards.” Ask local business people you know and buy from, libraries and churches if they will post your flyer. These are all easy, friendly ways to increase the size of your group and number of travelers.
The best, most effective advertising is “word of mouth.” A satisfied traveler is very will likely “talk up” your next tour and encourage friends to consider traveling with you. Identify travelers who are successful, and reward them with discounted fares, free meals or prizes on future tours. If your group is raising funds for future projects, why not make a small donation for each new traveler who travels with you for the first time.
Events Use established, scheduled group events to announce upcoming travel and take reservations. This can be done in informal, casual ways, or become part of regular meeting agendas in some cases. If there are no group events scheduled that coincide with your schedule you might consider holding one just to promote your tour.
We’ve discovered a successful travel “show” has several elements:
• Select a convenient place for your show; one known to everyone in your group, one that will comfortably seat all attendees, and is open at times required.
• Select a convenient time for the show. Many members of your group work full time so find a time they can attend – week day evenings, Saturday mornings, Sunday afternoons, etc. You may need more than one show time to reach everyone.
• Plan and rehearse a simple travel presentation. The classic elements include a short review of the itinerary. Start with the departure date and briefly describe what will happen on each day of your tour. Next, go through a list of inclusions so there’s no question what’s covered in your package. Finally discuss prices and reservation procedures. (it’s a good idea to have a second person ready to help answer questions and take reservations).
• Provide an incentive to attend and make a reservation at your show. This can be an “early booking allowance,” a small reduction in price, or special treatment on the tour (first pick of hotel rooms or theatre seats, etc.)
• Offer refreshments. Cake and coffee, sandwiches or just a large bowl of candy will be welcomed by most who come to your travel show.
• Follow up after the show. Have everyone who attends the show give their contact details on a “sign up sheet.” If there are new travelers at the show, and you don’t get the opportunity to meet and talk to them then, follow up with a phone call to introduce yourself and ask if they have any questions about the tour or want to make reservations.
Sell while Traveling The person most likely to travel with you is someone who already has! Select a time near the end of your tour to talk about upcoming travel, hand out flyers and take reservations. Sometimes small, informal groups of friends traveling together will book together at the same time. One of our new coaches with comfortable seats and public address system with wireless microphone and speakers at every seat is a great place to sell your next tour!
Ask us to Help Travel is our business and it’s our pleasure to help you sell seats on your tour. We have years of experience and will work with you to make sure your tour is a success. Phone Bob Oliver today on 515.576.5519 or reach him on bob@legacytours.travel.
