Venture Out and Prosper
When it comes to selling adventurous vacations, the best sales weapon is personal experience.
As demand for more adventurous and exotic vacations continues to soar, so too do the number of options you are able to offer your luxury clients.
SmartFlyer has been at the forefront of this ever-growing market. Back in 2005, Stuart Campbell—who is currently the general manager of Blue Sky Utah, which is scheduled to open in 2017—was the GM of Uma Paro, the flagship lodge of COMO Hotels & Resorts in the Kingdom of Bhutan.
Without a doubt, my visit to the property—and to this region on the eastern edge of the Himalayans—measured up to being one of my most important trips.
Why? It enabled me to forge personal relationships with the country’s suppliers while also providing me with a bird’s-eye view of Bhutan’s myriad tourism attractions. Simply put, the trip enabled me to get to know a bit more about the offerings in this remarkable off-the-beaten-path destination than the next guy.
We all have access to webinars and supplier meetings, but nothing beats breathing the local air, riding on a donkey and shooting at a local archery range, to name just a few activities!
That visit 12 years ago represented the first of my three trips to Bhutan. I returned to visit five Aman Resorts lodges—and now I’m looking forward to visiting the country again this year, this time with Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas, which is opening five luxury lodges in Thimphu, Gangtey, Punakha, Bumthang and Paro.
These up-close-and-personal experiences lead to much more animated conversations with clients, which in turn lead to increased sales and more referrals!
READ MORE: Follow Bhutan's Lead With Endangered Species
Additionally, I have had the opportunity to spend time in Bangkok, Thailand, and Delhi, India—the two lead gateways cities to Bhutan, which enabled me to discover new products and experiences in those markets as well.
It also provided me with the chance to share wonderful Facebook and Instagram images with my clients along the way.
In the end, seeing really is believing. Get out in the field, educate yourself, press the flesh and see your numbers rise!
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