Why is selling additional services to tourists not only profitable but also beneficial for a company's image? The head of the travel company "Belmare," the host of a popular tourism video blog, and the founder of one of the most visited websites, told TRN. professional tourism groups on Facebook, teacher and coach Diana Ferdman.
"Extra services are what truly make a service a service. When a client receives more than they expect, more than they pay for, it means the service provider has delivered to the fullest. In the highly competitive travel industry, it's not enough to simply sell a tour operator's finished product to a client. Fortunately, this is now easy to do independently; more and more tour operators are adapting their websites for this purpose and offering favorable terms to direct buyers.
So, is it worth spending your time providing additional services, or is it better to focus exclusively on selling package tours?
It's the little details that turn a travel agent into a professional. They may seem inconspicuous or unimportant at first glance, but in practice, they become the very spice that gives a trip a unique flavor. Let's start with the tour presentation. It's one thing to send a tourist a link to a dry official hotel description, where the concept details the number of square meters in the room and the opening hours of the pool bar.
It's quite another matter to present a resort, explain why a particular country or region is worth visiting, and emphasize how a specific option differs from hundreds of others. The following question becomes relevant: should such presentations and consultations be free or should they require an additional fee? I am absolutely convinced that deposits are the future. In those unfortunate cases where a tourist, having received all your information, goes off in search of a discount, the consultation remains paid for.
At my agency, we don't sell airline tickets. The level of responsibility is high, the time spent searching and processing them is time-consuming, and the financial results leave much to be desired. However, many colleagues sell these tickets, believing that a wider range of services attracts more clients.
So what do we do? For an additional fee, we help you fill out Schengen and US visa applications, prepare your application package with you, advise you on the rules for minors traveling abroad and other details, and provide instructions on completing immigration cards when necessary. We also issue basic and supplemental medical insurance.
Need a private transfer to or from the airport to your hotel? Perhaps tourists would like to arrive at their hotel by limousine or helicopter? It's all possible. We make tourists' dreams come true, and we earn the satisfaction of financial reward.
Belmare's professional travel agents know exactly where to find trusted tour guides, arrange for them to meet tourists for a walking tour, or book a car for this purpose. Tourists don't waste precious vacation time on organizational matters; we gain satisfied clients, their gratitude, and a pay raise.
Do you think offering additional services is profitable in general? For example, do you charge extra for checking in tourists for a flight or do you charge nothing? Let's discuss offering additional services as a source of profit and as a way to build customer loyalty.
Source: trn-news.ru