Six Steps for Selling Valentine’s Day Travel

Valentine’s Day is just days away, and though it may be too late to sell travel to your clients for this year, it’s the perfect time to plan ahead and start selling for 2017.

Few things are as romantic a Valentine’s Day getaway, and pitching these lover’s escapes is a fantastic way to not only help couples feel all warm and fuzzy, but also to boost your profits. With all the competition of other travel agents trying to cash in on those same warm fuzzies you are, how can you close more sales than your competitors?

1. First, highlight the benefits of a travel package. Dare to be different! Give customers what they want, but present it in a totally unique way. For example, you could reach out to your travel vendors and tour operators and design a travel package that meets the needs of the couple in love, while also offering an itinerary that is not normally available to the public. Think breakfast in bed followed by wine and cheese pairings in an exclusive villa, couples’ massages on the beach at sunset, a gorgeous dinner by candle light. You get the idea!

2. Add more value and raise the price instead of going the “discount” route. One of the best ways to attract customers is by adding special comps to the travel experience. See if you can get a vendor or tour operator to throw in extra perks to help you sell. This could be something as simple as being greeted with a bottle of wine in their room or a box of chocolates on one of the plates at dinner. The goal is to make it feel special—and that doesn’t have to mean spending a lot of extra time and money to create the ambiance you’re aiming for. Be creative with your perks. The possibilities are endless.

3. Push the upgrades without being “salesy.” The room doesn’t have to be the penthouse, but for the most romantic vibes a junior suite may be just the ticket. Paint the picture of a gorgeous room with candlelight and rose petals. Suggest the bigger jacuzzi tub because it makes for better bubble baths. You’re selling the feel of the trip as much as the trip itself. Your goal should be to have your clients falling more in love with each other by the end minute while enjoying their getaway.

4. Know your destinations! There are plenty of romantic destinations on earth, but you can’t sell places you don’t know about. Be ready to answer all kinds of questions and provide alternatives. If your client can’t afford Tahiti, for example, but still wants that island experience, have a destination in mind so you can still make a sale.

5. Go for the big fish, but don’t forget the guppies. Some agents only focus on the whales for sales, but you also can sell smaller itineraries to couples on a budget. This is the perfect opportunity to sell all-inclusive resorts, where travelers can go without worrying about extra costs for drinks, food, and entertainmen. Sure, they can buy extras if they choose to, but for the most part these Valentine’s Day trips are speedy and hassle-free travel.

6. Reach out to your entire client base, and promote all the feels on social media. You can send a customized message to everyone on your list and then repurpose that message as a blog post that you share on Facebook, Twitter, even Instagram and LinkedIn. Use hashtags like #romantictravel, #loversgetaway, #escapefortwo, etc. Share pictures of couples acting lovey-dovey to plant the idea of romance in people’s minds. Once they have decided that an escape is a great gift for their Valentine, the rest is easy.

Remember, a Valentine’s Day travel experience is one of the best gifts for couples. Travel agents have the chance to offer the best travel packages not only to boost sales for their business, but also to help couples create memories that last a lifetime. And that’s what we’re here for!