1. Tour Group Madness!
The More
The Merrier!

2. Goals Provide hands on tools & strategies
What makes for Great Tour Group Destination
Relate some of my humble experiences

3. Maya Angelou
Poet, best-selling author, director, actor

4. Questions…..
Is the Group Tour Market for you or a waste of your resources?

5. Group Tours Creating Memories What makes you memorable?
Value-added and not easily purchased
Super Size Service
Experience
Fun
Stay on Schedule
How? PYICS Thinking
Put Yourself In Your Customers’ Shoes

6. Impact of Group Tour Market
Average daily expenditure of the packaged traveler is more than $200 per NTA 2001 study.
A fully loaded motorcoach (46 passengers on average) on a charter or tour making an overnight stay contributes an average of $5,000 to $7,500 (USD) per day to the local economy including meals, lodging, shopping, admissions fees, souvenirs and local taxes per ABA

7. Definitions: Group Tour or Package Tour Components
A saleable travel product that offers several travel elements for one fixed price
Components
Lodging, transportation, sightseeing, attractions, entertainment, meals

8. Definitions Group Transportation What is a group?
Motorcoach, air, rail, cruise vessel, rental or private car
What is a group?

9. Players Suppliers Wholesaler
Hotels, restaurants, attractions, entertainment, guides, motorcoach, adventure company
Wholesaler
Company that creates & markets inclusive tours for sale through others

10. Players Receptive Operator Tour Operator
Tour operator who specializes in services for incoming visitors, facilitating all local details
Tour Operator
Company which creates and/or markets inclusive tours & performs tour services. Sells directly to consumer

11. Players Group or Tour Leader
Member of the groups on whose behalf they work. They create tours for travel clubs at banks, etc.

12. Questions….
In the Group Tour Market, what do you want to be?

13. Affinity Groups
People who enjoy being with others, sharing common interests, learning new things.

14. Players Convention & Visitor Bureaus Chambers of Commerce
Associations or government agencies that market and attract visitors to a specific destination or region from over 50 miles away.
Chambers of Commerce
Associations that promote the growth and success of all types of business in a specific community or region.

15. Help! CVB’s Chamber of Commerce Iowa Group Travel Association
Eastern Iowa Tourism Association
American Bus Association
National Tour Association
Group Tour Magazine

16. Good to Great Credit to Jim Collins & Ellen Rosen Tour Friendliness
PYICS Thinking
Put Yourself In Customers’ Shoes
Concise consistent instructions
Flexibility
Timing
No Problem
Think creatively
And…..

17. How Fascinating!
The Art of Possibility
By Rosamund and Ben Zander

18. Good to Great Reliability Deliver on your promise
This group is the most important one
Show time

19. Practical Side of Group Tours
Itineraries
Pricing
Step On Guide
Wow Attractions
Feeding the masses
Tips for Success

20. Itineraries One-day: Day Trips Multi-day Hub-and-Spoke Tours
Part of long haul

21. Itineraries Themes: What is the essence of your destination?
Special events
History
Heritage tourism trails
Behind the scenes tours
Experiential learning

22. Itineraries Design Where to begin?
Draft or Sample or Proposal –Flexible, Remember?
Think out of the coach!
Welcome Center
Easy to find
Brands the experience
Experience the brand

23. The Experience Economy
Joseph Pine & James Gilmore
Four Sectors of Experience:
Education
Entertainment
Escape
Esthetic

24. Itinerary Super Service Tips Easy Motorcoach Movement:
Space, solid step down, covered
Clean, adequate restrooms
Allow time for unloading and loading

25. Itinerary Attraction Keeps them in theme
Step on Guide explains area and site on the way
Allow some free time for shopping if applicable
Provide water

26. Itinerary Lunch Ideal if on site of attraction Prearranged
Unload and load time

27. Itinerary Afternoon Allow some touring time after meal
Attraction should be lively
Mid afternoon snack

28. Itinerary Hotel Allow check-in times
Hotel has packets already prepared with separate check-in area
Allow for “freshening” time

29. Itinerary Evening event Combines food and fun Murder mystery
Local Music
Story Teller
Demonstration

30. Pricing
Individual pricing
Total package price
Tiered Pricing

31. Individual Pricing Individual Per person
Minimum number of participants
What do they get?
Taxes or charges

32. Total Package Price Receptive Services Destination management company
Requires someone to coordinate and administer

33. Step On Guide Star of the Show! People person
Ease of public speaking to variety of ages, genders, interests
Can deliver instructions in concise manner
Able to ride backwards
Knowledge of local history, people, buildings, roads
Willingness to share that information regardless of personal opinions
Mobility with motorcoach
Ability to perform assigned activities under all conditions including standing for long periods of time

34. WOW Attractions Fun Memorable Engaging Informative Embraces groups
Restrooms

35. Fed Visitors are Happy Visitors
Group meal
Offer limited choices ahead of time
Vouchers
Include gratuity
Variety
Include local “flavor”
Sufficient restrooms

36. Tips for Success
How do you measure up?

37. Group Tours The More can be the Merrier! The Merrier, the Madder!
Questions?

38. Ross Ament Ament Associates Inc. 307 Normandie Drive Sugar Grove
Illinois 60445