Don’t be afraid to send your customers to other businesses—it shows that you know the area well and are dedicated to ensuring they have the best time possible. Use your chosen geographic region to guide your focus. For example, if your location is secluded from the populace and dense with wineries, then guided winery tours, local bed and breakfasts, and airport transportation services are all viable business options.
Imagine how your hotel would look and how it would stand out. Ask local business owners about their experience in the industry to get a feel for their day-to-day activities and how they succeed.
Book a tour with a local agency and get a feel for what they offer. Take note of their pricing and routes.
Compare the busiest restaurants to the slowest. Ask yourself what they are doing differently and how they could improve.
For example, you might find that all hotels offer complimentary breakfast, so be sure to offer this. But if you find that none of them offer complimentary dinner, you can offer this to set yourself apart. Pinpoint a tourism sector that is not overly congested, and one that you can contribute something unique to.
For example, if you want to focus on providing tours, decide on a location that you know well in terms of its history, food, and entertainment. If you think hospitality is your calling, decide on the type of foods and beverages that you want to provide to tourists. List the contacts that you have within each niche to get a better idea of which one you have the most connections in.
If you provide tours in natural areas, you will likely need specific permits for each region or park.
Determine if you must carry disability, unemployment, or other types of insurance for your employees.
Include an outline of the products and/or services your business will be providing for tourists. Provide information about your target market and your competition. Describe how you plan on running your business and pricing your product or service
Marketing Insurance Employee benefits Overhead
Apply for a small business loan or grant if you find that you’re low on funds. Visit Grants. gov (https://www. grants. gov/) for a list of grants available around the world, or visit your bank and inquire about loans.
Run local promotions for your peers and their family and friends.
Take out ad space in newspapers, magazines and lifestyle publications. Produce all applicable marketing materials, such as logos, regular newsletters, and business cards.
Be sure to hire a specialist for search engine optimization (SEO) to maximize your site’s online presence.
Stay connected to local tourism industry councils and relevant media and trade organizations.
Post ads on classified websites. Be sure to indicate the skills and experience you are looking for. Select employees that are familiar with your business. Remember that you always want to offer your customers a personalized, engaging experience. Plan your staff as far ahead as you possibly can. Be sure to plan extra carefully for busy times of the year. To make your business work, you really need to invest in your employees. It starts with the mission, vision, and values of the company and how those are permeated throughout your employees and how you deliver that and how you show up as that.
Track competitor products, prices, and value regularly.
Create gift cards, promo codes, and vouchers for your customers.
Make it your primary goal to deliver on your promises and address every customer issue personally. Encourage your customers to leave their feedback on social media services.
Always tell your customers about other sights in the area and tourism businesses close to yours that they can experience while in the area. Tell your customers about package deals, sales, and discounts. Send customers a follow-up email to thank them for choosing your business and make them feel welcome to return at any time!
Plan different packages for different times of the year. Consider your audience when creating packages. Offer them things that make the experience more enjoyable and convenient. Look at packages from competing businesses and try to offer something that they don’t.
