6 benefits of the holiday season for tour operators

The holiday season is in full swing!  Commonly known as one of the biggest spending months of the year, tour operators should take advantage of these special days to help boost their bottom line through the end of the year. But why can holidays like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Hanukkah and Christmas do so much for tour operations? 

In this article, we’ll dive into  the benefits that come with the festive periods for tourism businesses.

1. Attract new customers

By nature, the holiday season beckons people to travel and explore. By offering exclusive experiences such as holiday lights tours, food fairs, or carnival attractions, you can draw in those wandering souls on the hunt for festive adventures. Limited-time Black Friday deals and other holiday tour discounts not only entice new customers but also ensure that people are encouraged to spend more after they arrive.

2. Convert existing customers using a sale (and snag long-time lookers)

You may have potential customers who regularly visit your website to browse through offerings, but somehow never commit to a final booking. The holiday season, with all its magical allure, discounts, and exclusive offerings, can be the push they need. By presenting and marketing unique holiday offers, you can convert these window shoppers into paying customers.

Similarly, you can offer exclusive discounts to your loyal clientele, motivating previous customers to choose you above the competition time and time again. As a FareHarbor operator, you can even run a discount on your membership program to lock guests in and generate more repeat customers in the new year.

3. Take advantage of other deals for your business

As a tour operator, the season isn’t just about selling holiday tours, it’s also the best time to be a buyer. Whether reloading on office supplies, getting some new decorations for a tour, or looking for discounted memberships to marketing software tools, the holiday season offers ample opportunities to enhance your business with less investment.

4. Generate revenue in your off season

Do you run a seasonal business and only operate in the summer?? No worries! Although outside of your niche, you can still use this time to make some extra income.

For instance, you encourage customers to give the gift of experiences by marketing and selling custom gift cards during the holiday season.Alternatively, you could sell discounted merchandise or operate a short run of winter-themed activities, like a sleigh ride, to extend your business into the off-season.

5. Get into the spirit and engage with your community

Connecting with your customers as well as your local area can do wonders for your business. Sending a 10% off coupon to your recent customers or simply a happy new year email, can keep your business top of mind and show them you care about them.

Similarly, you can build lasting relationships in your area by promoting other businesses, participating in local events and more!

Bonus! If you’re looking to grow your network and chat with other tour operators from across the globe, join thousands of your peers in the FareHarbor Online Community. 

6. Use this downtime to build out your calendar for next year

As of mid-November 2024, 36% of FareHarbor operators already have a booking for next year (FareHarbor Reporting). And that number would likely be higher if more 2025 calendars were ready to receive bookings.

Don’t lose out on any more potential revenue! If your business is slowing down, use this time to get prepared for next year. To learn more about building your calendar, check out our recent webinar.

The holiday season offers tour operators an unparalleled opportunity to grow their business, attract new customers, and engage the existing ones.  Also, as you gear up for the holiday season, it’s vital to be leveraging social media at every stage, amplifying your marketing efforts and tapping into a larger audience. After all, the world is out there, waiting for their next adventure, and it’s your job to guide them.