Growing together: Expanding your reach in Hawaiʻi with FareHarbor

Hawaiʻi’s thriving tourism industry flourishes through strong local connections. From breathtaking ocean adventures to authentic lūʻau experiences, visitors seek immersive encounters that only local businesses can provide. While the community and culture is already thriving, FareHarbor operators can gain another trick up their sleeve to gain fruitful partnerships. 

The FareHarbor Distribution Network (FHDN) is a game-changer for businesses in Hawaiʻi, enabling seamless collaborations that expand reach and boost revenue. With a single contract, lower commission rates, and faster payouts, businesses can grow without the operational headaches of managing multiple agreements.

Discover why fostering local relationships is crucial and how the FareHarbor’s affiliate tools simplify finding and managing great connections — especially in Hawaiʻi, the network’s busiest region.

Why local partnerships matter in Hawaiʻi 

Hawaiʻi ’s tourism industry is deeply interconnected, with businesses relying on each other to craft the perfect visitor experience. Hotels recommend tours, activity operators collaborate with transportation providers, and restaurants partner with cultural attractions to create unforgettable itineraries.

The benefits of partnering with other local operators in Hawaiʻi 

• Keeps revenue within the community: Supporting local businesses ensures tourism dollars remain on the islands, strengthening the local economy.
• Creates authentic experiences: Visitors appreciate curated experiences that highlight Hawaiʻi ’s rich culture and natural beauty.
• Builds trust with customers: Seamless recommendations between trusted businesses enhance credibility and guest satisfaction.

​​Leveraging local networks in Hawaiʻi

Hawaiʻi’s tourism thrives on strong community ties, making local partnerships key to success. Below are a few tips to master your affiliate partnerships. 

• Use your existing relationships: Strengthen ties with hotels, restaurants, and transportation providers to cross-promote and increase bookings. Hawaiʻi’s close knit community makes collaboration easy, keeping revenue local and enhancing visitor experiences.
• Incorporate flexible booking methods: Affiliates are already using all of FareHarbor’s available booking methods — online, offline, concierge desk and FHDN. Operators can take full advantage of FareHarbor’s booking tools to ensure smooth and convenient transactions.

What is the FareHarbor Distribution Network (FHDN)?

The FHDN is a powerful affiliate program that connects activity operators with hundreds of local operators, niche OTAs, travel blogs, and other affiliates through a single contract. This eliminates the hassle of managing multiple agreements, commission structures, and payout timelines, allowing businesses to focus on what they do best — delivering amazing experiences.

Operators can have their experiences sold by other FHDN partners, sell other businesses’ experiences, or do both! But no matter your strategy, joining this program means more money in your pocket. You’ll also enjoy: 

• Low commission rates compared to traditional OTAs, making it a cost-effective solution to filling bookings and expanding reach.
• Faster payouts, ensuring better cash flow for reinvestment, payroll, and other expenses.
• Increased visibility through FareHarbor’s vast network of trusted partners.

How FareHarbor supports Hawaiʻi ’s tourism ecosystem

Strengthen collaboration across local businesses

By FareHarbor’s affiliate tools, businesses can effortlessly cross-promote other tours and activities on their website or on site. For instance, if you run a snorkeling excursion, you can recommend that your customers finish off their day with a historical walking and food tour. 

Pro tip: Many operators have found success by creating an affiliate-focused page on their website, recommending local tours that compliment their offerings. 

Enhance your customer experience

Travelers love to get recommendations from the locals! When partnering with other businesses, you can craft potential itineraries that help your customers explore more of Hawaiʻi . By combining experiences from other vendors, you’re going the extra mile for your guests and creating a more immersive and convenient visit. 

Showcase authentic Hawaiʻi 

Collaborating with like-minded businesses ensures that visitors experience the true essence of Hawaiʻi  — whether through locally owned eco-tours, traditional hula performances, or farm-to-table dining experiences.

Maximize your earnings with dynamic FareHarbor affiliate tools

Make it easy for customers to book with handy booking links 

Whether you’re selling other operators’ offerings on your website or having other partners sell yours, it’s easy for all parties to embed booking links on their websites. This allows for a seamless booking experience for your customers that builds trust and encourages more purchases. 

Upsell with add-ons for higher revenue

To make your experiences stand out, you can offer an exclusive package or premium add-ons for certain partners. This will not only strengthen these local relationships, but also make it harder for travelers to resist your unique offering. 

For example, when someone books your whale-watching tour on a certain partner’s website, you can offer a photography package with a local professional. 

How Sea Maui made $109k in FHDN bookings in only 6 months

Sea Maui offers many activities to its customers like exciting snorkel adventures and breathtaking sunset cruises. While business was already thriving, they decided to join the FHDN for an extra boost in profits. 

After cultivating exceptional local partners, they saw $109k in FHDN sales alone in the first six months of 2024. Read more about Sea Maui’s experience along with 5 key insights that can help you succeed once joining the program. 

“Everyone should be on the FHDN and everyone should be using it. The program is very controllable and it’s easy to use” – Captain Phil Le Blanc, COO of Sea Maui

How to harness the power of the FHDN in Hawaiʻi 

Once you’re opted into the program as an operator or an affiliate, you can explore potential partners within the FHDN directory. Simply choose your region, then filter by tour type, city, island, or company to find the best options for your business. 

Next, use your FareHarbor Dashboard and our new reporting tools to track your success and optimize partnerships. 

Already on the FHDN? Tips for building strong local partnerships

• Make your business stand out using these three tips to capture the attention of affiliates. 
• Identify complementary businesses and propose collaborative opportunities that will boost profits and exposure for both parties.
• Use the FHDN to automatically streamline commission payouts and establish clear terms that protect your business.

FareHarbor’s affiliate tools are revolutionizing how businesses in Hawaiʻi  can collaborate, driving revenue while enriching the visitor experience. By leveraging the FHDN, you can foster deeper community connections, simplify operations, and showcase the best of Hawaiʻi ’s tourism offerings.