Discounts, price wars and bargain deals seem to dominate the travel market these days and it’s no good for the industry.
Hotels, tour operators and travel agents are all undercutting one another assuming that the consumer is concerned about price and price only.
Yes, the recession has forced both business and leisure travellers to re-think their budgets and the travel choices they make.
Even Emirates Holidays has revealed that travellers have downgraded this year and opted for bog standard packages rather than splashing out on customised itineraries and specialised personal experiences such as cruises and safaris.
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The tour operator has seen prices drop around 29% year on year according to senior vice president destination and leisure management division Hans Haensel, however, the fact that Emirates Holidays is still a profitable business is testament to the tailor-made approach they take where value for money is emphasised over price.
More than ever, consumers demand value. They don’t mind paying top dollar if they receive the quality of service and products promised.
In fact, any good travel product or service provider should be exceeding those expectations in this day and age where providing a positive experience to remember is a key differentiating factor.
Travel companies should be making memories and creating experiences while making their customers feel valued and well looked after.
They should not be slashing prices and treating travel as a feature-less base commodity.
If you do that, you are taking the magic out of travel.
The travel industry has a responsibility to keep the spirit of travel alive and make dreams come true.
So next time you think of emphasising price over value, remember what you’re selling.
Don’t make travel cheap.
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Nov 24, 2009 , Lebanon
Dear Gemma, I have met you few years ago at the ATM Dubai and unfortunately, we never had the chance to finish our conversation. I grab this opportunity to share with you my Thoughts & Insights on this crucial Subject: 1. Gemma, it is becoming at least - the trend in Lebanon to enter into Price...