From summer to snow: Winter ideas for tour operators

If your tour business thrives in summer but you’re unsure how to adapt when the weather turns, you’re not alone. Many operators, from solo guides to multi-location brands, face a drop in bookings once the temperature dips.

But here’s the good news: your summer strengths can fuel winter success. In this guide, you’ll learn practical, creative ways to transform your summer business into a winter-ready operation without overhauling everything. 

Whether you’ve got snow, shoreline, or just some space to work with, we’ll help you rethink your activities and generate off-season revenue that fits your goals.

Dream up holiday and winter-themed activities

Holiday demand gives you a chance to rethink what your summer experience could look like in the winter. Customers are already searching for festive things to do, which gives you a natural starting point for turning a warm-weather activity into a seasonal event.

Think about what makes your summer experience special. Then imagine how you could translate that feeling into a holiday moment. 

A boat tour can become a waterfront lights cruise with cocoa service. An outdoor adventure park can add illuminated trails, themed scavenger hunts, or meet-and-greet characters. Even a kayak or paddleboard operator can shift gears with shoreline light displays, beachside holiday markets, or dry-land holiday events using the same space you activate in the summer.

If you don’t have indoor space, that’s okay. Winter programming doesn’t always require it. Pop-up activities, guided strolls, decorated outdoor areas, and seasonal add-ons can help you extend your presence into the colder months without reinventing your entire operation.

Explore what draws crowds in your area during the holidays and consider where your summer experience naturally fits. A small twist on what you already do can be enough to introduce a new winter revenue stream.

From summer to winter: creative ways to adapt your business

Once you identify what customers love most about your warm-weather activities, you can look for ways to carry that value into the winter months. The goal isn’t to reinvent your business. It’s to build seasonal options that fit your skills, equipment, and audience.

Seasonal gear rentals

If you rent summer gear like kayaks or paddle boards, consider shifting to winter equipment. Skis, snowshoes, and snowmobiles offer a clear path to new revenue during colder months and allow you to serve the same adventure-minded audience.

Indoor versions of outdoor activities

Outdoor operators often find success by introducing an indoor alternative. A climbing park can expand into an indoor bouldering space. A watersports business can offer indoor fitness or safety workshops. You can also add heated or covered areas to make certain experiences more comfortable outdoors.

Winter-themed adventures

If you rely on scenic views or guided experiences during the summer, there’s room to adapt those for winter.

• Create a winter-themed escape room or puzzle experience.
• Introduce culinary tours centered on seasonal treats like hot chocolate, mulled wine, or local holiday foods.
• Host cooking classes that feature winter recipes or cultural holiday dishes.

Outdoor tours built for colder months

Some summer activities adapt well with a simple shift. Use these pairings to spark ideas:

• If you offer guided hikes in the summer, offer guided snowshoe hikes that highlight winter trails and scenery.
• If you run photography walks or scenic tours, create winter photography workshops focused on snow-covered landscapes, icy textures, or golden-hour winter light.
• If you run fishing tours, introduce ice fishing experiences with bundled gear, instruction, and safety support.
• If you lead walking tours, build winter routes that include cozy indoor stops, seasonal folklore, or holiday history.

Gift cards for any operator

If adapting your activities isn’t realistic, gift cards are an effective way to keep revenue coming in. A dedicated gift card page on your website, supported by targeted marketing, can help you turn holiday traffic into bookings for spring and summer.

Tips for highlighting your winter activities

Once you’ve built winter experiences, your next step is making sure customers can find and book them. These tactics help you showcase your seasonal activities across your website, Dashboard, and marketing channels.

Showcase the experience with photos

Winter activities look different from your summer ones, so your visuals should reflect that. Update your website, Dashboard item listings, emails, and social channels with high-quality winter images that show customers what to expect. When your site is filled with winter scenes, customers feel more confident booking your seasonal experiences.

Take advantage of custom content

Your FareHarbor Dashboard gives you plenty of space to highlight winter details. Update:

• Canned messages with seasonal reminders, weather notes, or special instructions.
• Item listings with winter-themed descriptions that spotlight what makes these experiences unique.
• Photos across your Dashboard to show the winter version of your activity.

Pro tip: Use public headlines in your booking flow to call out special winter information, like limited availability or holiday add-ons.

Create winter-specific booking flows

A dedicated booking flow helps your winter activities stand out from your year-round items. Create a winter-only flow or make your seasonal block larger and more prominent. When customers click “book now,” they’ll see your winter activities front and center, making it easier to guide them into the right experience.

Make winter a growth moment for your business

Winter can be more than a slow period. It can be a chance to expand what you offer, reach new audiences, and keep revenue steady long after summer ends. Whether you’re reshaping your core experiences for the holidays, adding cold-weather gear rentals, or building new winter-friendly tours, small shifts can produce real results.

With the right updates to your website, booking flows, and Dashboard content, you can make your winter activities easy to find and even easier to book. This helps you maintain momentum year-round and gives customers more reasons to choose your business in the colder months.

Explore more ways to grow bookings and strengthen your business in our marketing resources.