| If you love to travel, but can't seam to do it as often | | | | giving value to their members, that club has a limited |
| as you would like, you should consider looking into a | | | | future. |
| good travel club. | | | | |
| | | | | The saying that just popped into my head was "It is |
| My wife LOVES to travel the world as I am sure | | | | better to have a little bit of something, than a whole lot |
| many of you do, but it was always so expensive. I am | | | | of nothing." |
| here to tell you, it does not have to be. | | | | |
| | | | | The resort owners are constantly negotiating deals |
| This is how travel clubs work. | | | | (level of discount) with hundreds of travel club owners. |
| | | | | The owner of a particular travel club may have |
| When you think about it owning a resort property is | | | | negotiated with the resort owners the best prices for |
| just like any other business. They need a steady flow | | | | his club, but if he is trying to make to much profit with |
| of customers to be profitable. Their unique challenge is, | | | | his travel club, his members would NOT be getting the |
| they also need a consistent flow of customers | | | | best deals! |
| preferably evenly spaced throughout the entire year | | | | |
| otherwise many issues start to become problems for | | | | It is very hard to negotiate however, without |
| them. To many customers all at once is lost business, | | | | something the other party wants. Therefore, the more |
| probably to your competition. Not enough customers | | | | members you have in your club the easier it is to |
| means empty rooms and lost business and revenue, | | | | negotiate great deals. But getting lots of members is |
| which makes staffing as well as many other things | | | | no easy task in itself. |
| VERY difficult. | | | | |
| | | | | The most successful travel club owner has figured |
| The challenge is to keep a steady flow of customers, | | | | out how to build a large following (with minimal |
| preferably evenly spaced all year long. But how do | | | | cost) so they have the leverage to negotiate great |
| they do that? | | | | deals other clubs can't, but because of their low |
| | | | | overhead they can pass most of the savings along |
| One way resort owners have discovered to help with | | | | to their members. |
| this is by affiliating with travel clubs to offer club | | | | |
| members unreserved rooms at deep discounts. | | | | We all know that the BEST form of advertising is, |
| This helps keep a steady flow of customers all year | | | | word of mouth. As luck would have it, it is also the |
| long, and helps the owner keep a properly staffed | | | | least expensive. (free) So, if you (as a club |
| business running. | | | | owner) were to pay your current members (for |
| Think about it from their perspective, would you rather | | | | new memberships) to advertise by word of mouth or |
| have an empty room and NO income, and have a | | | | however they choose, and generate members for |
| staff to pay with no customers to serve or income | | | | you just by telling potential members about your club |
| being produced? Or, to keep a good quality staff busy, | | | | and the huge savings they had received, you would |
| have customers that may only be paying enough to | | | | have a growing membership with minimal |
| cover your expenses with little or no profit? | | | | expenses, therefore, you could pass dramatic savings |
| | | | | on to your members which in turn would help generate |
| It does not take long as a business owner to figure | | | | more members more easily and get better discounts. |
| out that "when possible" you sell at full price, when | | | | |
| necessary you take a discount and less profit, and | | | | As I stated earlier, not all travel clubs are created |
| when push comes to shove at least cover expenses | | | | equal, just as with any other business. You must do |
| to avoid taking a loss. | | | | your research to find a club that offers a large |
| Even taking some loss is acceptable if it helps with | | | | inventory of locations, at deep discounts to its |
| staffing issues, inventory, food shelf life, advertising, | | | | members, without charging too much for their |
| budgeting, exposure and many other | | | | membership. That travel club will continue to grow in |
| business issues. As long as it is not the norm, | | | | size and value, and provide you with a lifetime |
| obviously. | | | | of deeply discounted travel for minimal cost so you |
| | | | | can travel the world and enjoy what the world has to |
| Now, keep in mind, all travel clubs are NOT created | | | | offer. |
| equal. | | | | Travel clubs can be a great opportunity to save your |
| | | | | hard earned money. Just make sure you do your |
| The owner of the travel club is also doing business. He | | | | research and find the right one, otherwise you are not |
| wants to provide his members with an attractive offer | | | | going to get the most value possible for your money. |
| to build membership, but also wants to make money | | | | |
| in HIS business, which IS the travel club. If the owner is | | | | Good luck, and I'll see you on the beaches of the |
| more concerned about profit, than they are about | | | | world. |
