My last post was based on a reader question from a Tour Operator: Who should I call when looking for hotels? Here is Fred’s original question:
Sally, quick question. I am working on this itinerary for 2023 and a test run this summer and have a few hotels in each city in mind to get proposals from. Is it better for me to deal with national sales managers for the brand or is it better to call the local group sales person at the specific hotel? I want to do whatever is going to give me the best service when our group arrives on property.
My response was – it depends! You can read the post here.
Update
After that post went out, Fred followed up with this response:
Good job expanding on the answers to my question! And just an update…you were exactly right at least per the results I got. I received a very fair rate and terms from the Drury Hotels national sales manager connection.At the [UNNAMED HOTEL] though, the attempts with the local group sales person were lackluster and they seemed only moderately trained.Then with some group sales people representing some fairly large hotel groups in Chicago and Iowa, with portfolios of different flags, I got some pretty good results.Anyways thank you again, and thank you for the way that you passionately take the lead in advising all these different stakeholders on how to push forward during an awkward time in the industry.
And because we love to call out great service, Fred asked me to mention Amy from Drury Hotels who he met with at a recent tradeshow, and Christine from Drury Hotels, the National Sales Coordinator who ended up quoting Fred the rates he needed. Nice work ladies!
Want to learn more about the Group Tour Industry Comeback?
Join my next webinar on May 24th at 11 am EST. This free webinar will go over how things have changed and how you can get more groups to your business in 2022 and beyond. Register here!
Do you know anyone who might benefit from signing up for the webinar? Please share the link with them. I thank you and I am sure they will too!
To my DMO/CVB readers: Please feel free to promote this free webinar to your members. Every month we have participants from all over the U.S. and Canada and I would love to help support your destination’s recovery as well!
I am honored!
I was recently named a 2022 Influencer of Group Travel by Groups Today magazine! Thank you to all of you that took the time to nominate me. I am passionate about our Tourism industry and have loved the Group tour market since my first job in the industry. You can read about me and some other amazing people here!
When I started, I had no idea where groups came from, how to find more, and how the whole industry worked. I have had patient mentors, tons of experiences and I am still learning as our industry starts over again. Writing this blog is one way for me to give back to an industry that has given me so much. I hope it helps you and inspires you to help others!
Do you have Group Tour photos? I would love to use them in upcoming posts!
One last request today, and then I will let you go! Do you have photos of Groups? Whether you are a Tour operator, a destination or a specific business, I am looking to update my image library this year. I will use them in blog posts and can include links as well as Photo Credits.
Thanks to Vaughn at Explore York for sharing this one of Sunrise Soap Company with me after a visit from Tours by Design.
Reply to this email with your photos and maybe you will be featured next!