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How to reach group bookings?

Offline Marketing

Levi de Souza started this discussion 7 years 10 months ago

Hello Guys!

How can i look for more group bookings?

My hostel is located in Poland (so someone with eastern europe experience maybe knows :) ), and i am already having a flow of walk-ins as well as reservations from Bookings/Hostelworld.

But i still didn't reached the groups to help me fill the occupancy.

Any hint where can i find them?

Thanks and sorry for the stupid question :)

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SilverSeagull

7 years

The most of our group bookings come from travel agencies. The easiest way to reach agencies, in my opinion, is to contact directly with them.

But, take in account, that

- Groups (and agencies) have more requirements

- It will be more difficult to arrange the planning (as groups want private rooms)

- Groups are more difficult to control

- Groups make more damage than ordinary guests

- Having a group in your hostel could result in bad reviews from other guests, who are not the part of the group

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Levi de Souza

7 years

Can you tell me some of the requirements that groups usually make?

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Rucksack Brian

7 years

Some travel agencies geared for backpackers or students:

STA Travel
EF Tours
BusAbout (not really groups as each person on the bus books separately, but potentially a source of large numbers of guests at once)
Kilroy

Does anyone have other suggestions of specific agencies that send student groups or backpackers to hostels?

Once you get a few groups, keep a file on them:

What period did they book?
When did they make the booking?
Was the trip a one-time event or is it recurring?
Who was the organizer? (collect all contact details)
What type of traveler were they?
Total number of nights booked, negotiated price, total revenue, atrition?
What special requests did they make?
What challenges arose during their stay?
Your general impression of the group?

Contact the groups you liked the next year just before the period when they made their booking. Invite them to come back and offer to arrange any of the requests they previously made. By getting a jump on the group you make the organizer’s job easier and reduce the chances that they will look for other options.

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Luis Sanchez

7 years

What is your payment policy regarding group bookings? Some % of the booking upfront or some time before the check in? everything at check in like most normal bookings?

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SilverSeagull

7 years

2Luis Sanchez

50% to confirm the booking, 50% at least two weeks prior to arrival. Non refundable.

Percentage and deadline date could depend on agency, but with no exception everything should paid in advance.

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Luis Sanchez

7 years

Great, thank you very much

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