03 Sep Choose the right transportation for your tour.

When you work in the tourism industry, your business revolves around keeping people happy. As a tour operator, you are focused on the experience that your clients have, hoping to provide them with something they’ll never forget when they travel with you, and this plays out in every aspect of your business. As Charles Swindoll said, “The difference between something good and something great is attention to detail.” It’s true; it’s often the small things that distinguish quality from mediocrity, and little extras can go a long way to leaving a positive impression on your guests. The opposite is also true; if you slack on the small things, especially in the hospitality industry, it doesn’t go unnoticed and will likely affect your business in negative ways. One area to give attention to detail, is when you choose the right transportation for your tour. .

Choose the right transportation for you tour. Astro’s commitment to safe, luxury group transportation shows in every detail of our business. Here are a few other things that will enhance your customers’ experience? From simple extras you can throw in that they won’t be expecting to focus on the type of people you hire, here are a few suggestions that can impact your business in profound ways.

First, be particular about who you hire to work for you. Working with people may be a strong suit for you, but you might not always be able to be the one that interacts with customers. If that’s the case, make sure that whoever is working with customers is someone who is able to be diplomatic, great with people, tactful, and kind. While you don’t want to hire pushovers, you do want to hire people who can keep their calm and be professional, even (and especially!) in tense situations and when dealing with customers who may be fired up, rude, or derogatory. This is crucial. If customers have a negative experience, social media alone can cripple your business (cuz everyone and their dog is likely to hear about it if customers post details about their trip). Bottom line? Make sure the people you’ve got working for you are actually working for your business, not against it.

Focus, focus, focus. In the hospitality industry, your work centers on the happiness of your customers. Make their comfort and convenience your primary goal, seeking out (and welcoming) their feedback on what can be done better. Especially if you are in the beginning years of doing this type of work and establishing a thriving business, it takes fine-tuning. Your customers are the best people to poll regarding their experience: what they loved and what might have been done better. As you tweak things here and there by responding to feedback, you’ll end up with a well-oiled machine that prioritizes customers and keeps them coming back for more.

Never underestimate the negative impact of an unpleasant smell. Okay, you might read that sentence and laugh (like we are), but it’s totally true. It cannot be overstated that the first impression your guests have of the room they are staying in can make all the difference. Everything should be spotless. It should be clean, lookclean, and feel clean. Make sure it smells good. Make sure it has been aired out. Make sure the lighting contributes to making the room feel cozy and comfortable, and inviting. The visual impression is huge.

Sure, you may have each day scheduled with plans of places to go and things to do, but when the guests have downtime, focus on giving them the best. If you’re dining in-house, have a fantastic chef that serves up amazing meals. If you’re going out on the town, hit all the culinary hot spots. And when it’s time to relax, have top-of-the-line options that are geared toward your guests’ enjoyment and relaxation. You want them to leave their experience with you feeling rejuvenated, rested, and pampered.

Lastly, Swindoll had it right; it’s really all about the details. Throw in simple, small, unexpected perks—things that make your guests’ stay with you a cut above the rest. Maybe they find a complimentary bottle of nice wine in their room upon their arrival. Maybe they find fresh fruit or chocolate-covered strawberries, fine chocolate, or fresh flowers. These small things alone show that someone was paying extra attention to making the experience more pleasant and enjoyable, and it will leave an impression that won’t be forgotten.

Working in the hospitality business means focusing on people. If you can keep them happy, they’ll keep your business thriving—a win-win for everyone involved. Truly, in the end, the little things make all the difference. When you are ready to choose the right transportation for your tour, give us a call. We’d love to parter with you. You can learn more about Astro by following this link: https://astrotravel.com .