Our visits to UK Tour Operators 21

Spring is when our Tour Operator partners seem to be in a state of flux. Things are getting slightly quieter on the sales side after what was (hopefully) a very busy period during the first quarter of the year. However, Product Departments are all busy trying to ensure that everything is ready for the brochure deadlines, which are just a bit further down the line. In addition, some operators will want to get some of their tours for the following year(s) out on sale earlier, either online, or in a brochure. The deadline for that may have been brought forward, thus causing extra headaches for those Product Managers.

Tables set up for dinner next to an old train in a railway museum

Having worked in tour operating for over 25 years, I can say from experience that the second quarter of the year is indeed rather chaotic, but also great fun. As well as rushing to ensure that those best-selling tours over the years have had a quick refresh before going back out on sale, it’s during this period that you get the chance to put new ideas for tours forward in the hope that they make the cut for the new brochure.

At Swiss Tailor Made, we ensure that we are in constant contact with our Tour Operator partners during this time. As with every destination hoping to feature in their brochures, we face stiff competition. We need to get ourselves in front of Tour Operators during this period to stand the best chance of having our own portfolio of products featured. This is one reason we make an annual visit to the UK in April. However, it’s not just about promoting and selling individual products.

A view of the London Transport Museum main gallery from a balcony

Our extensive destination knowledge also allows us to support Tour Operators not just with the new products themselves, but also with the tour logistics. Featuring two new fantastic hotels in a new itinerary may seem like a good idea, but unless the train timings work between each one, there could be problems around the corner. And, knowing how long it typically takes to walk from a station to a hotel is not something that’s easy to gauge unless you’ve done that walk yourself – not just once, but many times, and in all weathers.

It’s this intricate destination knowledge, combined with our portfolio of fantastic products, that we shared during our recent visit to the UK. Together, these elements ensure that both Tour Operators and our partners here in Switzerland can look forward to a really positive few months of new product development. And, of course, plenty of new revenue once the tours go on sale.