It’s no secret that Americans don’t use up their vacation days, which means when they finally do get away they don’t really know what they’re doing for the first half of their trip. Instead of relaxing, they’re learning the ropes of how to make the most of a resort or how to navigate the city they’re visiting.
If you’re concerned this will be the mindset of your clients, here is a little cheat sheet you can provide them with to smooth the way, right up front.
- If they tell you they don’t care where they sit on the plane, ask them if they really mean that. I’ve seen couples keen to sit together on airplanes realize all too late that one of them is stuck in the middle seat for the next eight hours. Suggest that aisle seats next to each other are the way to go if they want to have a little breathing space during the flight.
- If they’re really into Uber and don’t want to reserve a hotel transfer for when they land, remind them that Uber is different in many destinations. Convince them to book a luxury transfer to the resort they’re staying in to avoid any pitfalls in dealing with a local culture they’re not familiar with, especially if they’re facing jet lag. Being in the hands of the hotel as soon as they get off the plane provides an immediate feeling of relief and comfort.
- If there are any issues with the room they are given when they check in, they should make that known at the front desk before going up to the room. Tell them they’ll just be wasting their time if they accept the accommodation that’s in a lower category than they purchased and then sulk about it upstairs for the next two hours. Be sure they have your phone number to call or text you from the front desk so you can assist in any confusion.
- Encourage them to not be afraid to ask for more, such as more hangers in the room to hang up all the resort wear they bought just for this trip, more blankets for the bed and pillows that aren’t made of feathers. There’s no need to suffer in silence – hotels are set up to fulfill requests at all times.
- They should use the spa. Most luxury resorts include the use of the sauna, steam room and pool with a stay, or include it if the guest is paying a resort fee. Paint the picture for the client of what it will be like to take an hour of each day to sit in a relaxation room of the spa, sipping tea and having amazing facilities at their fingertips.
- Advisors, this one’s for you: Be sure to arm your clients with a list of things to do on a rainy day if you’re sending them to a beach resort. Get their mindset in gear ahead of time that there are plenty of shopping or cultural options available to them, should the weather turn stormy.
- Are they landing in Europe very early in the morning? Insist they reserve the hotel room for the night before so they can go right upstairs. Sitting in a lobby at 7 a.m. in need of a shower and a nap is one of the least glamorous experiences you can endure when traveling.
- Appoint a guardian angel: If you belong to a good agency network that gives your clients special status at a hotel, request that the guest relations rep check in on them periodically to ask if there is anything they can do for them. Sometimes having the simplest request fulfilled without effort is one of the greatest luxuries of all.
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