Agility has been a significant takeaway from COVID. In our conversations with current and potential clients, the agile theme is constant, even if it’s referred to as flexible, adjustable, switching gears, or changing strategy. With the right technology equipping operators, a shift in focus due to market demands can happen quickly.
Swift changes are being made operationally with our clients as proactive and strategic moves versus a reactive response. No matter the reason, it’s critical for tour operators to make fast and immediate changes to offer competitive and customer-focused experiences.
We want to share a few examples from our sales team of tour operators who respond to the market, demand, and expectations in agile ways.
Being agile
Alvin is seeing his clients maximise our complex multi-product bundle feature with specific availability per product, enabling them to combine a great product offering with outstanding value. Bundling is also an intuitive way of making sure buses/boats are full without overbooking and growing their overall product list.
Josef sees his clients desperately needing to have a flexible system in place. Depending on the destination, operators are experiencing a rapid change in customer flows. This means the street sales team needs to adjust immediately by having an efficient communication tool and ticketing system that allows such flexibility. Also, it has been essential to be able to adjust to the market with the possibility of changing a price in real-time or from one day to another due to increased demand or giving each team discount tools to fight for the customers on the street. As a result, when these clients offer agility in the system, it is more important to have the backoffice aligned with the drivers and salespeople.
Menno sees his clients work smarter instead of harder, which is seen by increasing the overall checkout price or charge per person. With the anticipation of fewer international travellers bundling in-destination products such as your boat tour and entrance into the Anne Frank Museum, VanGogh Museum and/or Heineken Experience, they are expanding the checkout potential while offering a curated customer experience.
Thinking agile
Emanuel has seen a few clients make swift changes, making their German boat trips now bookable online. Some clients that were not previously offering online booking options are levelling up to the competition, incorporating tech and completing their onboarding process in just two months.
Daniel sees boat operators with positive sentiments towards this season with open minds about making changes after the season. COVID has brought more clarity and acceptance towards adopting technology in Italy.
Do you see a theme here? We are not only the perfect solution for buses—we also enable boat operators with smart solutions to maximise revenue and occupancy.
Our clients never cease to amaze us with their creative and innovative products and offerings and ways of delivering them. Our sales team also shared a few trends they are seeing per region as travel continues to ramp up for the coming season.
Alvin is noticing in Africa, in general, travellers are booking more adventurous/ extreme activities such as bungee jumping, skydiving, ziplining, etc. Plus, international tourism has started resuming, and African safaris are in demand, enjoying the stunning nature and wildlife again.
Alvin Kok
Operating agile
Josef Birchler
Josef is noticing in the US/ LATAM a slower movement towards Europe due to the current political situation, which leads to the fact travellers are orienting more towards the local or ‘nearby’ markets for the next couple of months. Undoubtedly, travellers from the US/LATAM will be back; it will just take a bit longer until the numbers recover.
Menno is noticing in the Netherlands that larger operators with budget reserves are taking risks in purchasing bus/ transportation routes that became available from small operators needing to let go of their permits due to inactivity. Also, there has been a shift to requiring electric vessels back on the waterways.
Menno Vlek
Responding to the recent restrictions within highly tourist areas and loss of permits, operators are now creating new destination offerings out of necessity to maintain less traffic in Amsterdam. Everyone is eager to see how the spread of tourism to outlying communities is accepted and adopted.
Emanuel Braunschweig
Emanuel notices in the DACH region, travellers are still staying closer to home for their holidays. Overall uncertainty plagues operators in Germany, Austria, France, and Switzerland, resulting in less willingness to make rapid changes to operations. However, with the more recent German government financial reporting requirement, we are seeing some clients adopt new tech that provides this automated reporting connection.
Daniel is noticing in Italy how many devices and systems tour operators use to run their businesses. He is keen to continue educating tour businesses about our all-in-one tech solution.
This is an exhilarating time to see travel returning, and our team is here to offer guidance, streamline your sales and equip your teams with tools for a successful season. Don’t hesitate to reach out to any of our sales members featured here.
Attending ATM Dubai or Arival Activate | Berlin? Let’s connect in-person and talk about how your travel tech solution partners with your agile mindset. Email sales@palisis.com
About Palisis
Palisis is the leading technology provider of comprehensive sales and operations solutions for tourism and transportation businesses around the world. Due to its rich experience, specific market knowledge, consumer centricity and process orientation, Palisis is the industry technology pacemaker. As a full-service provider, Palisis supports your business processes and operational procedures with the most efficient and reliable solution available. Today, Palisis solutions are successfully and effectively used by customers in over 100 countries around the globe.