Success starts here: Collect all five stamps to grow your tour business
Remember: growth is a continuous journey, not a single destination.
Welcome to the ultimate business safari — a virtual adventure where every step brings you closer to growth and success. Running a tour or activity business often feels like navigating the wild: unexpected twists, challenging terrain, and rewarding discoveries around every corner.
To guide you on this journey, we’ve mapped out five critical milestones, or “stamps,” that if you collect (figuratively), will help you future-proof your business, increase revenue, and stay ahead of the competition.
1. Wildlife Stamp: Build a more resilient business by diversifying your channel mix
In the wild savanna of business, the most resilient creatures are those that can adapt to different environments and food sources. Similarly, diversifying your sources that drive bookings, also known as your channel mix, ensures your business remains strong no matter what changes lie ahead.
Do you know where your bookings come from? We recommend that tour and activity operators establish these three sources for your channel mix:
- Direct offline or in-person bookings: When a customer calls your business or walks up to your reservation desk to purchase a ticket.
- Direct online bookings: When a customer makes a reservation on your website.
- Affiliate bookings: When a customer books through an affiliate or Online Travel Agency (OTA).
When you utilize all three sources, you give customers more opportunities to discover your business — which in turn will help you fill up your tours.
You may be asking yourself, “why is diversifying so important?” And, the short answer is survival, aka future proofing your business.
Booking trends can change over time and having a diverse portfolio means that no matter what happens, your business will not be reliant on any particular type of traffic. This not only brings in more revenue, but strengthens your overall business structure.
Pro Tip: If you haven’t yet ventured into affiliate partnerships yet, use affiliate rules to manage when affiliates can book your tours or activities. You can decide which days, times, or specific affiliates can book your tours, ensuring every opportunity is managed to fit your operation.
2. Expedition Stamp: Be the first to know important updates by re-engaging with our emails
Giraffe with trees in background during sunset safari in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. Wild nature of Africa. Safari car in the road
A great explorer knows the importance of staying informed before setting out on an expedition. Each month, FareHarbor sends a collection of emails that share our latest product updates, new service options, and business-building resources that will set you up to navigate the ever-evolving business landscape.
Plus, we have reduced the number of emails we send each month so you’re only receiving the most important and exciting news.
Why trek through uncharted territory alone when you can have insider knowledge? By engaging with our updates, you’ll always know what’s happening at FareHarbor and in the industry — keeping you one step ahead of the pack.
Pro Tip: If you are a FareHarbor client and do not receive our emails, you can resubscribe! Simply reach out to our Support team to get re-added to our list and be sure to check your spam folder.
Re-subscribe and rest easy knowing that every major release is sent straight to your inbox.
3. Ranger Stamp: Bring in extra profit during checkout by enabling Trip Protection
Every ranger knows that preparation is key to a safe and enjoyable safari. Similarly, offering Trip Protection gives your customers peace of mind, knowing they’re covered if unexpected bumps in the road appear.
Here’s how it works: Guests can purchase Trip Protection for a small fee, giving them a more flexible cancellation policy. Most won’t need to use it, but just knowing it’s there helps them feel secure — much like having a trusty guide on a trek through uncertain terrain.
For your business, Trip Protection means added revenue with minimal effort. It’s a simple and effective way to increase the basket size at checkout while improving your guest experience.
Three tips for Trip Protection success:
- We recommend setting your fee at 15% of the booking subtotal to make it both attractive and profitable.
- Craft a more strict cancellation policy to encourage guests to purchase this add-on.
- Enable auto-selection so the option is conveniently added for guests (they can always opt out).
4. Camp Stamp: Connect with your peers joining the FareHarbor Community
No safari is complete without gathering around the campfire to share stories and insights from the journey. The FareHarbor Community is your digital “camp,” where operators like you come together to learn, network, and grow.
By joining the Community, you’ll gain access to a wealth of knowledge, advice, and camaraderie from peers who’ve walked similar trails. Whether you’re looking for solutions to challenges, inspiration for new strategies, or simply a chance to swap success stories, the FareHarbor Community is the perfect spot to recharge and connect with thousands of your peers.
5. On the Horizon Stamp: Never miss a booking by building out your calendar in advance
In the wild, the keenest explorers always scan the horizon to spot opportunities before they pass by. Similarly, building your calendar months in advance ensures you’re ready to capture early bookings that others might miss.
10% of bookings are made two months in advance, which means that if your calendar is not ready, you’re missing out on easy revenue.
Having the foresight to prepare months before your season starts, captures early planners and starts filling up your availabilities — which can make your business more appealing to guests later on!
The difference between a customer booking with you over a competitor can simply be who has a bookable calendar. So be sure to always have your calendar ready to go.
Luckily, as a FareHarbor operator, preparing for the future is as simple as following a trail map. Watch our 30-minute webinar for a visual guide to building your calendar, or take the journey at your own pace with our step-by-step resource.
Remember: growth is a continuous journey, not a single destination. The tools and actions you’ve collected on your business safari will serve as your guide to success tomorrow. So, keep exploring, adapting, and striving for new horizons — your next big win is just around the bend.
To unlock more intriguing insights and actionable strategies, continue to explore the FareHarbor blog, where you can expect new articles every week!
