October 26, 2021
As we enter the final quarter of 2021, we begin to plan for a new year! Being a tour & activity host in these times comes with its own unique set of challenges, but we are optimistic about 2022 and have some advice for everyone to make the most of it. Bookmark this resource and keep coming back to it again and again whenever you need some guidance!
This is always the most important first step to take when it comes to starting a new year! Taking inventory of your successes and not-so-successful efforts will help you see what needs to change in 2022. Obviously 2021 was a unique year with its own one-in-a-lifetime obstacles, which many business owners could never have bene prepared for. Keep this in mind and don’t be too hard on yourself – sometimes it takes a few tries to make an effort successful.
Strong systems can make or break your business. They also free up your time to focus on what you really love doing on a day-to-day basis! You can take advantage of technology to do everything from free up your phone lines & support your accounting, to keeping your team operating smoothly. There are always new tools and software being made available that can really make your life easier.
What sort of behaviors and trends did you observe with your guests this year? How are they changing? What are they asking for more of? What are they getting most excited about? Get together with your team to do a brainstorm around guest behavior to unlock valuable insights.
Reflect on all the amazing stories from 2021 and list them all in a document. Now when you’re short on social media content, you can always go back to this resource and pull from it! Not sure what sort of stories are worth telling? Here’s a list of five engaging social media posts that travelers love to see.
More and more, travelers are booking their tours & activities online. In just a few clicks, guests can reserve their time and pay without needing to get on the phone. And with Junglebee, we help you get it all set up so you can avoid the tech headache.
We have covered all kinds of collabs on our blog, from partnering with OTAs & hotels to influencers & DMOs. Make 2022 the year you stop trying to do everything alone and start leveraging other organizations and peoples’ influence. Or maybe you’re already doing this, and you’re finding it’s time to breakup with an OTA that isn’t making you happy. Take time to re-evaluate your relationships and which partners you want to prioritize.
Does your website answer these five questions about your tour or activity? Don’t lose prospective guests and travelers because of a lack of informing about your experience. The saying goes “a confused customer never buys” so giving them all the need-to-know information up front will prevent any confusion blocking them from signing up for your tour.
Reviews are the lifeblood of any tour & activity business. It goes without saying that the more positive reviews you have, the more prospective guests will trust you. Do you have a system in place for acquiring reviews and opinions from your guests? Click here for a helpful article on how to go about asking for feedback.
Group travel was back in a big way in 2021, and it will continue to be a top priority for travelers moving forward. But of course that’s not the only option here. Do some research and see what sort of pricing models work for similar tours & activities!
Great new photos, personality-packed activity descriptions… when was the last time you updated your Tripadvisor or Google listing? These free directories get a ton of traffic and visibility, so it’s important that you are constantly improving upon them.
Protect yourself against last minute cancellations and keep your guests informed of what their rights are when it comes to cancelling their tour. This was incredibly important during the height of COVID, and will continue to be something all tour & activity hosts need to pay attention to moving forward.
Walk through the activity you offer guests and evaluate each moment. Is there a way to make that moment more memorable or meaningful? Would you consider these moments peak or defining? There are often little changes you can make to your tour or activity to make it unforgettable. These are the types of moments that result in massive word-of-mouth, so be sure to put extra effort into this!
Are you spending time on tasks that move the needle in your business? Or are you constantly responding to one business fiasco after another? Consider where you want to spend your time and energy, versus where you’re forced to react. For example, if you’ve taken on marketing tasks for your business but you keep dropping the ball and you haven’t posted on social media in a month, then it’s time to pass that task along to someone else.
Have you been making improvements to your tour/activity but haven’t changed your pricing? Do you feel like your experience is way more valuable than what people are paying for it? Then it’s time to consider upping your prices. Creating tiered packages will help you offer multiple pricing levels so that you’re not leaving money on the table.
There’s always room for growth in business, and tourism is no exception! So many teams faced difficulties this year as they tried to acclimate to the changing environment. If you had to hire new staff or you’re feeling like your team could use a pick-me-up, consider what sort of trainings they would benefit from.
Reconnecting to your big “why” and your purpose for your tour/activity will help you tap into greater enthusiasm and more creative ideas. Find ways to do this on a regular basis so that prospective guests can sense your passion and purpose. Making your mission front and center is a powerful way to stand out to your ideal traveler.
PR is one of the best ways to get your story out to the world and improve your SEO (the more links to your website, the better)! Are you telling your story to the press? Many magazines and newspapers have a section where you can submit news. Write up your compelling story and get it out to as many people who will listen!
Spend time in our Facebook group, where hosts like you are coming up against similar obstacles and challenges. More often then not, you’ll find someone who has been in your shoes and can offer some helpful advice!
Do you just post content, or are you engaging with potential guests? Your online experience is just as important as your offline experience because it gives people a taste of what it’s like to be there with you. Find ways to move beyond posting by using challenges, games, contests, and storytelling.
2020 and 2021 were really hard on people, and travelers are looking to travel to help them bond, reconnect, and heal. Spend time this year reflecting on how you can make your tour & activity a rewarding emotional experience for guests.
To piggyback on #20 and reiterate, the last two years have been incredibly difficult for everyone. If your wellbeing took a hit, make sure to build in time for yourself. If you’re depleted, it’s just a matter of time before burnout can take you out of the game. What can you do each week for yourself and your team to help you re-energize and release pent-up stress?
Are you paying for costly services that aren’t serving you? High fees can add up, but at Junglebee we only charge a 4% booking fee. Make a list of all the different costs you have incurred the last year, and see if there are any alternative solutions you want to switch to.
What would you add to this list? How are you planning for a successful 2022? Feel free to share in our Facebook group community!
