The following are considerations for hotels working with the group tour market:
- Are the roads and driveways leading gto the property accessible by motorcoach?
- Does the hotel have a minimum of 25 rooms to commit to the tour?
- Are the rooms double/doubles? (most tours will need a minimum of 22 2-bedded rooms)
- Can the property provide key packets for the guests to expedite check-in?
- Do you provide a step-on welcome?
- Can rooms be blocked in advance for the ground floor?
- Does the property have an elevator if the group cannot be located on ground floor?
- Can luggage handling be arranged, what is the charge for this service, how long does it take for the luggage to be delivered to the room upon arrival, and how much time does it take for morning pick-up?
- Can the property provide special services such as welcome receptions?
- Does the property have indoor corridors for room access?
- Are corridors and rooms sufficiently lighted?
- Are there safety chains or bolts on room doors?
- Are there gripper bars in the tub/shower area?
- Are non-smoking rooms available, if so- how many?
- Do the rooms have air conditioning, television, telephones, etc.
- Is there a loading and unloading area near the entrance, is this covered - and if so, is there sufficient clearance for a motorcoach drive underneath?
- Is there motorcoach parking for overnight?
- Is the parking area well lighted?
- Does the property want to work with group tours?
- Are group rates available, and how is billing handled?
- What type of reservation confirmation system is in place, are there any penalties for cancellation?
- Is there a comp policy for the motorcoach driver and/ or escort?
- How are individual expenses handled (i.e. long distance phone calls, etc.)?
- Can the property accommodate early morning check-out?
- If the property serves breakfast, can early bbreakfast be arranged?
- Is there a restaurant on site, or nearby?
If you want to work with the group tour industry, you must know the answers to these questions. Do you have a Group Tour Fact Sheet or contract addressing these issues? Give a copy to your DMO so they can help sell your property to this market. Win-Win
1 user commented in " Hotels - Serving the Group Tour Market "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackA few years ago I was a guest on my mother’s Widows Or Widowers (WOWs) bus tour. We went to upstate NY, to Lucille Ball’s hometown and then up to Niagra Falls.
The small hotel in which we stayed for the two nights on this trip was outstanding. Not for the food particularly, and not for all the things Luci points out above (although they were definitely very important).
This hotel was exceptional because when it came to what do you do AFTER you get back from your day trip, this hotel had an on-site tour group hostess. She worked with the WOWs tour organizer to make the two evening meals we had at the hotel into a REAL party. There were games and contests and play acting and costumes.
As we boarded the bus to head back to NJ, I heard many say “I really like this hotel, I’m coming back with my grandchildren during summer vacation.”
It didn’t hurt that the Big Winner in each of the contests won a coupon book for hotel room and dinner discounts. I know that many of the tour folks recommended this hotel to their friends and families in other social clubs. And a GREAT TIME was had by all - Now that’s GREAT marketing - and a Win-Win perspective!
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