30 Ways To Boost Sales Without Discounting[/h1]
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This was my favorite and a sure-fire winner for an Adults only B&B:
"[COLOR= rgb(61, 61, 61)]Hire a clown, a magician, some dude who makes balloon animals. Let him wander the restaurant, or rope off a small area for "the stage."[/COLOR].
I remember our friends in Australia taking us to some restaurant that did this. Adults. Yeah, right. I was baffled, why were we needing to see this guy? They just thought it was so great. I must have missed it somehow.Proud Texan said:This was my favorite and a sure-fire winner for an Adults only B&B:
"Hire a clown, a magician, some dude who makes balloon animals. Let him wander the restaurant, or rope off a small area for "the stage."
I think packages is particularly a great concept. One of the reasons websites like LivingSocial and other flash sale companies have been successful in the travel space is because busy consumers don't want to spend time planning a trip, they want it delivered in a pretty package for them. Creating say a "romantic" package with chocolate strawberries and flowers takes the work out of it for the guest.
On another note, while this thread is about not discounting, I do think discounting packages is important. You don't need to do 50% off like LivingSocial, but having some kind of extra value for the customer will increase the number of packages you sell. By adding additional items or amenities with the package you're getting more revenue anyways. First priority is to make it worth it for you as a business, but also make it enticing to the customer..
We are fortunate to be in Virginia wine coutry, and got the license and insurance to run wine tours. 95% of our guests book the tours and we discout for them 10%. We make the same money on a night stay on the wine tours. DH is so spoiled now he does not want to accept reservations even during the week if they don't book a wine tour!!!!David Pearce said:I think packages is particularly a great concept. One of the reasons websites like LivingSocial and other flash sale companies have been successful in the travel space is because busy consumers don't want to spend time planning a trip, they want it delivered in a pretty package for them. Creating say a "romantic" package with chocolate strawberries and flowers takes the work out of it for the guest.
On another note, while this thread is about not discounting, I do think discounting packages is important. You don't need to do 50% off like LivingSocial, but having some kind of extra value for the customer will increase the number of packages you sell. By adding additional items or amenities with the package you're getting more revenue anyways. First priority is to make it worth it for you as a business, but also make it enticing to the customer.
Riki that's great! Yea any kind of extra activity or amenity you can offer is more money in your pocket, and usually a better experience for the guest. Our company is located here in central Kentucky (horse and bourbon country) and many of the local inns have partnered with horse farm tour companies to offer packages. Take advantage of anything unique about your area.I think packages is particularly a great concept. One of the reasons websites like LivingSocial and other flash sale companies have been successful in the travel space is because busy consumers don't want to spend time planning a trip, they want it delivered in a pretty package for them. Creating say a "romantic" package with chocolate strawberries and flowers takes the work out of it for the guest.
On another note, while this thread is about not discounting, I do think discounting packages is important. You don't need to do 50% off like LivingSocial, but having some kind of extra value for the customer will increase the number of packages you sell. By adding additional items or amenities with the package you're getting more revenue anyways. First priority is to make it worth it for you as a business, but also make it enticing to the customer..We are fortunate to be in Virginia wine coutry, and got the license and insurance to run wine tours. 95% of our guests book the tours and we discout for them 10%. We make the same money on a night stay on the wine tours. DH is so spoiled now he does not want to accept reservations even during the week if they don't book a wine tour!!!!David Pearce said:I think packages is particularly a great concept. One of the reasons websites like LivingSocial and other flash sale companies have been successful in the travel space is because busy consumers don't want to spend time planning a trip, they want it delivered in a pretty package for them. Creating say a "romantic" package with chocolate strawberries and flowers takes the work out of it for the guest.
On another note, while this thread is about not discounting, I do think discounting packages is important. You don't need to do 50% off like LivingSocial, but having some kind of extra value for the customer will increase the number of packages you sell. By adding additional items or amenities with the package you're getting more revenue anyways. First priority is to make it worth it for you as a business, but also make it enticing to the customer.
If any of you are in a historical area I would recommend doing walking tours. Especially ghost / local mystery stories. I love that stuff! I'd book it!
Riki
.
Riki that's great! Yea any kind of extra activity or amenity you can offer is more money in your pocket, and usually a better experience for the guest. Our company is located here in central Kentucky (horse and bourbon country) and many of the local inns have partnered with horse farm tour companies to offer packages. Take advantage of anything unique about your area.I think packages is particularly a great concept. One of the reasons websites like LivingSocial and other flash sale companies have been successful in the travel space is because busy consumers don't want to spend time planning a trip, they want it delivered in a pretty package for them. Creating say a "romantic" package with chocolate strawberries and flowers takes the work out of it for the guest.
On another note, while this thread is about not discounting, I do think discounting packages is important. You don't need to do 50% off like LivingSocial, but having some kind of extra value for the customer will increase the number of packages you sell. By adding additional items or amenities with the package you're getting more revenue anyways. First priority is to make it worth it for you as a business, but also make it enticing to the customer..We are fortunate to be in Virginia wine coutry, and got the license and insurance to run wine tours. 95% of our guests book the tours and we discout for them 10%. We make the same money on a night stay on the wine tours. DH is so spoiled now he does not want to accept reservations even during the week if they don't book a wine tour!!!!David Pearce said:I think packages is particularly a great concept. One of the reasons websites like LivingSocial and other flash sale companies have been successful in the travel space is because busy consumers don't want to spend time planning a trip, they want it delivered in a pretty package for them. Creating say a "romantic" package with chocolate strawberries and flowers takes the work out of it for the guest.
On another note, while this thread is about not discounting, I do think discounting packages is important. You don't need to do 50% off like LivingSocial, but having some kind of extra value for the customer will increase the number of packages you sell. By adding additional items or amenities with the package you're getting more revenue anyways. First priority is to make it worth it for you as a business, but also make it enticing to the customer.
If any of you are in a historical area I would recommend doing walking tours. Especially ghost / local mystery stories. I love that stuff! I'd book it!
Riki
.
.
One of our winery owners were touring Kentucky and stopped at one of the burbon spots. THey took home used barrels and use them to age their merlot based port style dessert wine. It's a huge hit now!David Pearce said:Riki that's great! Yea any kind of extra activity or amenity you can offer is more money in your pocket, and usually a better experience for the guest. Our company is located here in central Kentucky (horse and bourbon country) and many of the local inns have partnered with horse farm tour companies to offer packages. Take advantage of anything unique about your area.
Wow that's pretty interesting. We have a brewery in town that uses old bourbon barrels for a beer they brew (which is very good), but I've never heard of using it for wine.Riki that's great! Yea any kind of extra activity or amenity you can offer is more money in your pocket, and usually a better experience for the guest. Our company is located here in central Kentucky (horse and bourbon country) and many of the local inns have partnered with horse farm tour companies to offer packages. Take advantage of anything unique about your area.I think packages is particularly a great concept. One of the reasons websites like LivingSocial and other flash sale companies have been successful in the travel space is because busy consumers don't want to spend time planning a trip, they want it delivered in a pretty package for them. Creating say a "romantic" package with chocolate strawberries and flowers takes the work out of it for the guest.
On another note, while this thread is about not discounting, I do think discounting packages is important. You don't need to do 50% off like LivingSocial, but having some kind of extra value for the customer will increase the number of packages you sell. By adding additional items or amenities with the package you're getting more revenue anyways. First priority is to make it worth it for you as a business, but also make it enticing to the customer..We are fortunate to be in Virginia wine coutry, and got the license and insurance to run wine tours. 95% of our guests book the tours and we discout for them 10%. We make the same money on a night stay on the wine tours. DH is so spoiled now he does not want to accept reservations even during the week if they don't book a wine tour!!!!David Pearce said:I think packages is particularly a great concept. One of the reasons websites like LivingSocial and other flash sale companies have been successful in the travel space is because busy consumers don't want to spend time planning a trip, they want it delivered in a pretty package for them. Creating say a "romantic" package with chocolate strawberries and flowers takes the work out of it for the guest.
On another note, while this thread is about not discounting, I do think discounting packages is important. You don't need to do 50% off like LivingSocial, but having some kind of extra value for the customer will increase the number of packages you sell. By adding additional items or amenities with the package you're getting more revenue anyways. First priority is to make it worth it for you as a business, but also make it enticing to the customer.
If any of you are in a historical area I would recommend doing walking tours. Especially ghost / local mystery stories. I love that stuff! I'd book it!
Riki
.
.One of our winery owners were touring Kentucky and stopped at one of the burbon spots. THey took home used barrels and use them to age their merlot based port style dessert wine. It's a huge hit now!David Pearce said:Riki that's great! Yea any kind of extra activity or amenity you can offer is more money in your pocket, and usually a better experience for the guest. Our company is located here in central Kentucky (horse and bourbon country) and many of the local inns have partnered with horse farm tour companies to offer packages. Take advantage of anything unique about your area.
RIki
.
Wow that's pretty interesting. We have a brewery in town that uses old bourbon barrels for a beer they brew (which is very good), but I've never heard of using it for wine.Riki that's great! Yea any kind of extra activity or amenity you can offer is more money in your pocket, and usually a better experience for the guest. Our company is located here in central Kentucky (horse and bourbon country) and many of the local inns have partnered with horse farm tour companies to offer packages. Take advantage of anything unique about your area.I think packages is particularly a great concept. One of the reasons websites like LivingSocial and other flash sale companies have been successful in the travel space is because busy consumers don't want to spend time planning a trip, they want it delivered in a pretty package for them. Creating say a "romantic" package with chocolate strawberries and flowers takes the work out of it for the guest.
On another note, while this thread is about not discounting, I do think discounting packages is important. You don't need to do 50% off like LivingSocial, but having some kind of extra value for the customer will increase the number of packages you sell. By adding additional items or amenities with the package you're getting more revenue anyways. First priority is to make it worth it for you as a business, but also make it enticing to the customer..We are fortunate to be in Virginia wine coutry, and got the license and insurance to run wine tours. 95% of our guests book the tours and we discout for them 10%. We make the same money on a night stay on the wine tours. DH is so spoiled now he does not want to accept reservations even during the week if they don't book a wine tour!!!!David Pearce said:I think packages is particularly a great concept. One of the reasons websites like LivingSocial and other flash sale companies have been successful in the travel space is because busy consumers don't want to spend time planning a trip, they want it delivered in a pretty package for them. Creating say a "romantic" package with chocolate strawberries and flowers takes the work out of it for the guest.
On another note, while this thread is about not discounting, I do think discounting packages is important. You don't need to do 50% off like LivingSocial, but having some kind of extra value for the customer will increase the number of packages you sell. By adding additional items or amenities with the package you're getting more revenue anyways. First priority is to make it worth it for you as a business, but also make it enticing to the customer.
If any of you are in a historical area I would recommend doing walking tours. Especially ghost / local mystery stories. I love that stuff! I'd book it!
Riki
.
.One of our winery owners were touring Kentucky and stopped at one of the burbon spots. THey took home used barrels and use them to age their merlot based port style dessert wine. It's a huge hit now!David Pearce said:Riki that's great! Yea any kind of extra activity or amenity you can offer is more money in your pocket, and usually a better experience for the guest. Our company is located here in central Kentucky (horse and bourbon country) and many of the local inns have partnered with horse farm tour companies to offer packages. Take advantage of anything unique about your area.
RIki
.
.
Yep a port styled dessert wine. Has a distinct bourbon nose and is hugely popular.David Pearce said:Wow that's pretty interesting. We have a brewery in town that uses old bourbon barrels for a beer they brew (which is very good), but I've never heard of using it for wine.
Hey Eric, I think you're onto the rigth path but also be careful. It appears the amenities you are thinking of packaging will add value to the customer but not bring in extra revenue for your property. This isn't necessarily bad, but you don't want to go buy a bunch of movie certificates and then find out nobody wants to go see a movie. I would recommend only offering the package for prepaid bookings through your website. If you have Facebook or Twitter, or a blog you can promote it on there. Then when someone books the package you can go puchase the gift certificate. Value-added packages can and will bring in more bookings, so don't be scared to try it, just make sure you don't put yourself in a situation where you lose money on gift certificates you can't sell.We have a local restaurant that serves local cuisine that we made a deal that offers 10% off if we make the reservation for the guest.
I was wondering if I should make a package in the winter that offers a $50 g/c for a local restaurant (Number 271 of 1394 on TA) which I can get for $40 at Costco, so I can include it in the package for $40 and it adds value or maybe a movie night coupon, which offers 2 admissions, 2 soft drinks and a popcorn. It costs me about $25, but just two movie admissions are $25.50. So if I add it into the package for $25 extra, they get an extra two drinks and a popcorn.
What do others think? We really haven't done anything like this in the past, but winter (slow season) is coming....
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