Good Intentions

A business professionals, we like to think that we’re on top of our game. Understand our customers. Stand ready to squash the competition. Keep abreast of trends. Until, of course, we’re blindsided! My biggest worry is complacency. I’ve seen it take the legs out from seemingly solid companies that were caught up in their own hubris, or couldn’t get out in front of a trend before being run over by it. With as fast as business moves today, by the time you realize you have a problem, it’s probably too late. The best ways to stay on top of your business is being connected to your customers. By understanding their wants and needs and how your customer base is changing, you’re in a better position to predict future results and modify products or services to meet these new expectations. In all honesty, we would have never gotten out of first gear here if we didn’t listen to what was happening in the trenches of the tour industry. Armed with this knowledge, we built a brand around it. Having spent nearly 19 years publishing Leisure Group Travel, I think I have a fair assessment of what’s happening in the industry. But frankly, it’s been too long since I booked hotels in batches of 20, and I can’t tell you the last time I checked how many restroom stalls are inside a rest stop. I no longer haggle with airline group desks, futz with tour-pricing spreadsheets or dangle early-booking incentives in front of reluctant customers. I stopped vetting tour guides long ago (thank heaven!) and haven’t stuffed documents in two decades. I just might be slightly out of touch with what’s happening on the front lines.

Help Us Help You!

If we’re going to produce a magazine that’s indicative of today’s group travel market, it’s important for all of us to understand what’s happening in your business. Trends you’re witnessing, new markets developing or old ones closing. This is our third year compiling this study of the group marketplace, and we use the results to spot  tendencies and help shape our editorial coverage in the coming year. We’ll compile these results and publish them in December’s edition so you can see how you stack up against others in the field.