The Package Trend

[Joey Camb]

I learned something this week: be flexible with your packages. We have a "Stay and Play" golf package with a local golf course that was designed to increase weekday traffic for both of us. Both the room and golf fees are discounted.
I have a repeat guest coming that wanted the package, but failed to notice that it was for weekdays only. She called me when ReservationKey kicked her reservation back because of that provision. I was able to call the golf course and they gave her a discount for a weekend tee-time. In exchange, we are going to discount any referrals that the golf course sends our way. It's a win win. We get a satisfied customer and the potential for additional referrals.
We had an all encompassing Romance package, but had few takers. Once we broke it down to a "basic" package with different add-ons, we've had more takers. The nice part of the basic package is that it costs us about $20 to put together and we charge $60. The add-ons are floral arrangements and/or an in-room massage for which we charge the actual costs plus a service charge..

I learned something this week: be flexible with your packages. We have a "Stay and Play" golf package with a local golf course that was designed to increase weekday traffic for both of us. Both the room and golf fees are discounted.
I have a repeat guest coming that wanted the package, but failed to notice that it was for weekdays only. She called me when ReservationKey kicked her reservation back because of that provision. I was able to call the golf course and they gave her a discount for a weekend tee-time. In exchange, we are going to discount any referrals that the golf course sends our way. It's a win win. We get a satisfied customer and the potential for additional referrals.
We had an all encompassing Romance package, but had few takers. Once we broke it down to a "basic" package with different add-ons, we've had more takers. The nice part of the basic package is that it costs us about $20 to put together and we charge $60. The add-ons are floral arrangements and/or an in-room massage for which we charge the actual costs plus a service charge.

I had an inquiry yesterday from the UK for a golf package. Our courses here which used to be all private are now open due to the economy. Unfortunately, they have really nice lodges lakefront that are really reasonable right now, so they can stay there AND golf vs stay here.
Anyway, I replied and gave them the list of top golf courses, and one that is in the top 10 in the country (and pricey but worth it for a splurge) then the 3 night booking popped in rezkey. I love that. So that worked out well. But as I was replying I was considering a golf package.
We had guests from Canada who were on a total golfing vacation. I asked them about this course here at our lake and they said the first 9 are great, the last looked like they were tossed together. They said they would never golf there again...and yet we have famous golfers there, celebrities who live there and golf there. I know nothing about golf, so hard for me to grasp it.
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Many of the golf courses around here offer a 10% discount to our guests. We rarely get golfers here, but that doesn't mean a golf pkg isn't something to think about!
.

Many of the golf courses around here offer a 10% discount to our guests. We rarely get golfers here, but that doesn't mean a golf pkg isn't something to think about!

Are you close enough to get the skiers?
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I am trying to make more golfing connections for 3 reasons
1- golf packages we have 6 golf courses within 6 miles and Bill Clinton plays at one of them.
2- We have a big conference for green keepers in Janaury
3- Big conference for the stock of golf shops in October
So I have found a web site with every golf course in the UK starting with the North East ie my region ie comming to Bigga? Comming to Foremost? etc see how it goes

 

[Madeleine]

I learned something this week: be flexible with your packages. We have a "Stay and Play" golf package with a local golf course that was designed to increase weekday traffic for both of us. Both the room and golf fees are discounted.
I have a repeat guest coming that wanted the package, but failed to notice that it was for weekdays only. She called me when ReservationKey kicked her reservation back because of that provision. I was able to call the golf course and they gave her a discount for a weekend tee-time. In exchange, we are going to discount any referrals that the golf course sends our way. It's a win win. We get a satisfied customer and the potential for additional referrals.
We had an all encompassing Romance package, but had few takers. Once we broke it down to a "basic" package with different add-ons, we've had more takers. The nice part of the basic package is that it costs us about $20 to put together and we charge $60. The add-ons are floral arrangements and/or an in-room massage for which we charge the actual costs plus a service charge..

I learned something this week: be flexible with your packages. We have a "Stay and Play" golf package with a local golf course that was designed to increase weekday traffic for both of us. Both the room and golf fees are discounted.
I have a repeat guest coming that wanted the package, but failed to notice that it was for weekdays only. She called me when ReservationKey kicked her reservation back because of that provision. I was able to call the golf course and they gave her a discount for a weekend tee-time. In exchange, we are going to discount any referrals that the golf course sends our way. It's a win win. We get a satisfied customer and the potential for additional referrals.
We had an all encompassing Romance package, but had few takers. Once we broke it down to a "basic" package with different add-ons, we've had more takers. The nice part of the basic package is that it costs us about $20 to put together and we charge $60. The add-ons are floral arrangements and/or an in-room massage for which we charge the actual costs plus a service charge.

I had an inquiry yesterday from the UK for a golf package. Our courses here which used to be all private are now open due to the economy. Unfortunately, they have really nice lodges lakefront that are really reasonable right now, so they can stay there AND golf vs stay here.
Anyway, I replied and gave them the list of top golf courses, and one that is in the top 10 in the country (and pricey but worth it for a splurge) then the 3 night booking popped in rezkey. I love that. So that worked out well. But as I was replying I was considering a golf package.
We had guests from Canada who were on a total golfing vacation. I asked them about this course here at our lake and they said the first 9 are great, the last looked like they were tossed together. They said they would never golf there again...and yet we have famous golfers there, celebrities who live there and golf there. I know nothing about golf, so hard for me to grasp it.
.

Many of the golf courses around here offer a 10% discount to our guests. We rarely get golfers here, but that doesn't mean a golf pkg isn't something to think about!
.

Many of the golf courses around here offer a 10% discount to our guests. We rarely get golfers here, but that doesn't mean a golf pkg isn't something to think about!

Are you close enough to get the skiers?
.

Many of the golf courses around here offer a 10% discount to our guests. We rarely get golfers here, but that doesn't mean a golf pkg isn't something to think about!

Are you close enough to get the skiers?

Nope.

 

[Colleen848]

Package Pricing
Feedback needed
What price point would you recommend, the dinner cruise getaway package costs $298 per couple, should I round it up to $299 or go over the $300 price point? This is only the roomw/tax, and adds ons including the dinner cruise. I am not showing an increase for booking it all etc.
What figure would be most attractive? The price includes all tax (as it is prepaid to ensure a place on the dinner cruise)
Here let me share it all so you can have a better picture:
Price is $299 which includes all taxes. Add on an additional night at regular room rate to make it a weekend getaway package![/h3]

1. Friday or Saturday Night stay for two (your choice of any room)
2. Sparkling Cider for Two
3. Fresh Fragrant Flowers in your room upon arrival
4. Dinner Sunset Sail for 2 aboard a side-wheel Paddle Cruise Boat (2 hour cruise - no narration)
5. Inn-credible Breakfast in the Morning

• Hawaiian Theme Night Dinner Menu includes: Ceasar Salad, Sliced Roast Pork in a Pineapple Glaze, Roasted Mandarin Chicken, Coconut Fried Rice, Grilled Vegetable Medley, bread/butter, dessert, coffee/tea.

• Sample Dinner Menu includes: Caesar Salad, Herb Roasted Pork Loin with a Maple Apple Glaze, Roasted Chicken in a Marsala Crème Sauce, Vegetable, Garlic Smashed Red Potatoes, bread/butter, dessert, coffee/tea.

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Let me understand...the package costs $298 (room, tax, all the goodies + cruise) and you charge $299 meaning your 'extra' on this is a buck? And it's one night?
In your area are your stays usually 1 or 2 nights? I think the idea with a pkg is to get 2 nights (that's what I try anyway). If I have an add-on option where I don't really care then that's what it is, an add-on, not a package. So, you could position this as an 'add-on romance package' and charge accordingly. Do you make the cruise reservations for the guests?
My take on the package is I would be more likely to buy it for 2 nights than 1 night because all I see when I look at it is that I'm paying $299 for one night and a dinner cruise. To me that means dinner and a boat ride is costing me way over $100. I'm not seeing the stuff in the room because it's not anything I care about. I guess what I'm saying is it is too easy to figure out how much everything costs and to decide I could do better if I arranged it on my own without the extra stuff I don't want.
And, unless you've been asked, I wouldn't post the menu. None of that appeals to me at all so I'd be likely to skip the package altogether. If I found out when I boarded, then I'd just eat whatever it was.
Can you make money on it by charging $429 for 2 nights? And position it as a 'Mountain Lake getaway with romantic sunset cruise'.
And if this wasn't what you were asking, ignore me. If it's one night only I'd stick with the under $300 price point.
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Let me understand...the package costs $298 (room, tax, all the goodies + cruise) and you charge $299 meaning your 'extra' on this is a buck? And it's one night?
In your area are your stays usually 1 or 2 nights? I think the idea with a pkg is to get 2 nights (that's what I try anyway). If I have an add-on option where I don't really care then that's what it is, an add-on, not a package. So, you could position this as an 'add-on romance package' and charge accordingly. Do you make the cruise reservations for the guests?
My take on the package is I would be more likely to buy it for 2 nights than 1 night because all I see when I look at it is that I'm paying $299 for one night and a dinner cruise. To me that means dinner and a boat ride is costing me way over $100. I'm not seeing the stuff in the room because it's not anything I care about. I guess what I'm saying is it is too easy to figure out how much everything costs and to decide I could do better if I arranged it on my own without the extra stuff I don't want.
And, unless you've been asked, I wouldn't post the menu. None of that appeals to me at all so I'd be likely to skip the package altogether. If I found out when I boarded, then I'd just eat whatever it was.
Can you make money on it by charging $429 for 2 nights? And position it as a 'Mountain Lake getaway with romantic sunset cruise'.
And if this wasn't what you were asking, ignore me. If it's one night only I'd stick with the under $300 price point.

If I make it two nights the price point is way way too high and no one books it. That is why I note on the packages page they can add on a second night. Seriousely, when I did this year before last it was ONLY one nighters...special ocassion, bought the package only. I don't need a title or any of that, I am not sharing all of that here, in fact I don't want links to the boat or people will book it themselves.
The menu IS asked for every time. See how it is. YOU AND I versus the guests that book it. I am not sharing the page here, I just shared parts of it for you to have a better picture, capiche. THis is NOT the page here, just a cut n paste of some info. Not asking how to market it, just asking about price.
Okay let me start over, I am asking for help on the pricing, not reconfig the package. The point is not to add on a night and have them stay longer, see that is not HERE. It is to have them book period. I wish that were the issue.
Ignore the $299, I JUST PUT THAT THERE TO SHOW YOU WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE. I NEED A PRICE POINT DANG IT! haha stop, stop the circles. It is like trying to catch my dog when she is all wound up and running in circles around the yard! haha
YES it is $50 per person or might be even $55-58 this year (whenever they get back to me) for this dinner and cruise.
BUT what price point sounds better, $299 or $305 or $312? price point, that is what I want, gimmee gimmee!

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I am going to kick in my 2 cents (no pun intended).
Years ago it was discovered (by who I forgot) that in marketing if you put it a penny lower more people will buy it.
Say an item is $3.00 or $2.99. People feel that one silly penny off is a better bargain and go for the $2.99.
It's all in the mind.
Stick with the $299.