6. Use the hub-and-spoke strategy.
If you are planning a tour that includes several destinations or attractions within driving distance of one another, consider finding a small town that is centrally located among those cities and using it as your hub for the trip. The hotels in these smaller communities are almost always lower priced than their counterparts in larger cities, so you can save money by staying there each night and then “spoking” out to the cities you want to visit each day.
7. Limit inclusions.
It’s nice to be able to offer three meals a day, enhanced attraction experiences and other special touches on your tours. But since there’s no such thing as a free lunch, these inclusions come at a price, and incorporating too many of them can cause the overall cost of a trip to inch upward. If you want to offer a low cost of entry for your travelers, consider planning your trips with minimal included meals and activities. They will have to pay out of pocket during the trip this way, but they will have more choices and control over how much they spend.
8. Prorate comps.
This tip is somewhat technical but can offer some real savings if applied properly. When working with groups, many travel companies, hotels, attractions and other organizations offer complimentary goods and services as an incentive to group leaders. Policies vary from company to company, but it’s not uncommon for an organization to offer one free room, admission, meal, etc., for every 10 to 15 paying customers. If you’re traveling with the group, the first comp should be used to make sure your trip is free. But if your group is big enough to earn two or three comps, you can spread the benefit of those additional savings across the entire group, lowering the cost for everyone. Always ask for comps when working with travel vendors.
9. Ask for help.
No matter where you travel, you should always have local experts helping you put together a great trip. Whether it’s the convention and visitors bureau in a destination or a tour operator that has taken hundreds of other groups to that region, these experts know the ins and outs of the places you want to go, and they will have insights about how to save money. Always ask these partners what they can do to help you fit the trip within your budget.
10. Get creative.
If you have taken advantage of all the above tips and are still coming in over budget, it’s time to exercise some of your own creativity to find ways to cut costs. Find ways to maximize the value you deliver while cutting out the extras that don’t matter as much. Don’t let old habits or outdated traditions hold you back. Instead, take a fresh look at every aspect of your trip to find ways to save.
