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Key Insights into Running a Tourism Business: Why Joining Your Own Tours Matters

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Running a tourism business is not just about designing itineraries and selling tours; it’s about consistently improving the quality of the experience. Participating in your own tours allows you to see the critical details that may not be obvious during the planning stage. Here are some essential insights you can gain by being on-site:

1. Guide Responsibilities and Client Engagement

Guides handle their tasks within the tour program: leading excursions, managing logistics, and supporting the group. However, there’s often "in-between time" between events and rest periods where responsibilities become unclear. For example:
  • After a winter training session, participants’ clothing might be wet, and not everyone realizes they need to dry it in advance.
  • In the morning, reminding the group to prepare snacks is essential, as not everyone thinks ahead.

2. Guide Performance

Guides aren’t always perfect, even if clients are satisfied. Being present allows you to observe:
  • Do guides inform participants about the schedule, the duration of stops, or rest breaks?
  • Are they sticking to the planned itinerary, or are they cutting corners to save time? These details are particularly crucial if you plan to make tours regular and work with the same guides.

3. Timing

On paper, everything might seem well-organized, but being on-site reveals:
  • How much time is realistically needed for transfers, dinners, or group preparations?
  • Will there be enough downtime between activities, or should food delivery to accommodations be arranged?
  • How to organize breakfast efficiently for slower participants without delaying the entire group?

4. Choosing the Right Accommodation

The type of accommodation significantly impacts the tour’s atmosphere. For instance:
  • Hotels with breakfast and dinner included are convenient, but without common spaces, participants may retreat to their rooms.
  • Renting a house with a fireplace provides opportunities for evening conversations and discussions, making the trip feel more cohesive.

5. Unexpected Details

Joining the tours helps identify overlooked organizational issues:
  • Are additional snacks or a backup first aid kit needed?
  • Should time be allocated for a store visit in case someone forgot something or wants to buy souvenirs?

6. Rental and Equipment

It’s crucial to understand what’s most convenient for clients:
  • Where and how does equipment rental happen?
  • What should participants bring themselves? For example, during summer hikes, people often forget that it can be freezing at the summit and don’t bring warm clothing.

7. Client Reactions to Various Situations

Every client reacts differently. Being on-site helps you understand:
  • What makes clients happy and what irritates them?
  • What small details matter to most participants? For example, many people prioritize timely coffee over an elaborate breakfast menu. These observations allow you to improve overall organization and the tour’s impact.

8. Photo and Video Content

Even if there’s a professional photographer on-site, their vision might not align with your commercial needs. Being present helps:
  • Ensure the composition and style of photos fit your advertising goals.
  • Confirm that the materials are suitable for social media, your website, or print marketing.

9. Building Client Trust

Being present on a tour increases client trust. They see you not as a faceless business but as someone who shares their emotions. This:
  • Boosts client loyalty and the likelihood of positive reviews.
  • Encourages recommendations — clients want to share their experience with a tour organized by a familiar person rather than a nameless company.

Conclusion:

Joining your own tours is an opportunity to see how the program works in practice, improve organization, and strengthen relationships with clients. These experiences not only help optimize processes but also make your tourism business more relatable and trustworthy in the eyes of your clients.

The article features photos from the trip to New Hampshire: Mount Washington climbing tour.
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