HAVE YOUR SAY
RESEARCH
TRAINING
LEGAL INFO
There has been a lot of media coverage recently regarding the credit crunch and increase in fuel prices and the effect this will have on the tourism industry, especially as we are now in those important summer months.
Therefore, we have listed some practical tips for your consideration:
1) It is important to add value to your tourism product and re-evaluate your offerings. For example, look at your menu / bed and breakfast prices and see if you can add anything which might attract more visitors. Visitors will increasingly be looking at prices to determine where they go this year, however, it is important not to compromise on quality – now is the time to be innovative and sell on ‘value’.
2) Save energy and save money - find ways of saving money by reducing your energy consumption and download a FREE fact sheet from: www.swtourism.co.uk/green/action-of-the-year/energy-resources.ashx.
3) Late bookings - make sure you add late booking offers to your own websites and other related sites. Try and target your specific audience, (e.g. family breaks / adventure related / romantic / city breaks etc)
4) Keep in touch with your existing customer database – inform visitors of any events that are taking place in your area, or any events you might be organising.
5) Make sure you are getting the most out of your website and re-evaluate your website ranking (e.g. your listing on search engines) – can your website be found with ease?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
Roads
Trains
Weather
Exchange rates
School & Public Hols
Visit South West
5 comments:
A few months ago we sent our clients some advice that is worth you looking at - it aims to challenge "Ostrich attitudes to a recession"; its free to download at http://www.hotelsolutionspartnership.com/downloads.php
Increasingly we are finding that it is our guests who are the weakest link in our energy efficiency drive, often all the lights are left on in a room and in extreme cases TV's are left on and taps left running!
We have found 2008 to be a fantastic year - March and April did not do well and Easter was no more than a weekend, however May, June, July and August have shown record bookings. We have had a large number of repeat bookings - we have targeted the economy or value end of the market. We have found that by offering an inclusive price with little or no add ons, the guests knows what they are paying and therefore know they are within budget. Also our focus is very much on the older guest, they do have a limited budget but they are happy spend providing they keep within their means, and get, in their view value for money: www.moorviewtouringpark.co.uk and www.moorviewlodges.co.uk
Also interested to know how SWT and all can help to change the casual guests habit of a life time and attitude of 'I've paid for it and therfore im going to us it'
Full baths, mobiles pc. dryers lights all left on 24/7
if guests can also do their bit then we can keeps costs down.
Perhaps if more guests also knew that by booking through an agent like active hotels and late rooms costs the accommodation provider dearly then more direct bookings will have the same effect of keeping the costs down...
Its an ill wind.... We are a small town, no frills B & B with a 3 star Highly Commended grading. We offer cleanliness and comfort combined with using local produced ingredients for our breakfasts. We charge a fair price. We do not have facilities for children under 12 years of age. Our website accurately reflects what we are. Our guests are an equal mix of foreign tourists, business people, people here for local family occasions, funerals etc, and holiday guests. The main effect of the 'Credit Crunch' has been on running costs which has meant a small increase in our tariff. Our turnover has increased by 25% this year.
Post a Comment