I don't know about you but recently I have seen more memes about HOLD UP 2025 is 4 months away and I haven't even recovered from 2020 yet.
Although I share in the same sentiment of how in the heck has it been 5 years, the travel industry is bouncing back faster than a woman after a divorce. (GLOW UP QUEEN). "ALEXA PLAY SHE LET HERSELF GO BY G. STRAIT"
For the rest of us our Pinterest boards were filled with far off destinations and Amazon carts were full of all the outfits we were going to wear when things returned to "normal". With that there is an increase of 35% in Group Travel than pre-pandemonium. I don't know if we all learned a valuable lesson that life really is short, or if we were so far in credit card debt what's one more trip to add on? I'd like to be positive patty here and say we all missed our friends and family and now want to get the heck out of the house.
Get those passports ready everyone because IT IS TIME! (also apply for those passports now, they can take up to 8 weeks to come in : )
Once you and your group have sat down and presented your vacation ideas via PowerPoint or chose it from a bowl until one was left, here are some perks to group together when booking.
FIRST THING IS HIRE A TRAVEL AGENT
If you haven't noticed so far when reading my blogs, I am not just a delightful, witty, blog writer. A travel agent is exactly what I am. I have spent countless hours training, creating, studying, quoting, and learning all about how to make sure your trip is everything you want and more. So of course, my #1 would be to hire me to help you. I have access to vendors, suppliers, and properties with exclusive benefits that I will highlight in this article.
So now that I got my shameless plug out of the way, here's what I can do for your group...
Group Pricing
If you have ever priced a Solo Cruise vs. a room with 2 people you will see the price is higher. (I can't do anything about that BTW) but think of shopping for a vacation is like buying in bulk. The more people you have the cheaper each item (person) is going to be.
Discounted Deposits
This kind of goes hand in hand with Group pricing, companies see you spending a lot of money on them, so they are going to do you a favor and knock down those deposit prices. I mean it is all about keeping customers happy. Travel is a customer service industry.
Perks
How does chocolate covered strawberries, a champagne flute upon arrival and an intimate dinner for you and all of your fellow group sound? When you book with an agent, they have those relationships with suppliers to do just that for you.
Customized Sites
I need you to imagine the look on everyone's face when they see your complimentary personalized website for your destination wedding. The suppliers we work with can provide a personalized web address for your special event, you can have schedules added, pictures, and even that registry they can purchase straight from.
Customized Schedules
I am fortunate enough to still be friends with the same group of girls since Elementary School, there is only one problem. I live in Louisiana, and they live in New England. Soo.. we all won't be able to start out at the same airport, but a good agent can look at all flight options and either have you all meet up at the same connection or have you land at the same time as your other group and get that private transfer to your destination.
Activities
Have you ever been on an excursion or day trip while on vacation? It usually ends up with you having half your body in someone else's lap while riding a bus to your destination. When you have a large enough group, we can charter out buses where the only time you're sitting on someone else's lap is your choice. (Let's keep the lap dances down to a minimum).
Memories
Although my job is making sure you get there, and you having an amazing place to stay, it is up to you to make the most of it. I cannot control the weather, flight delays, or your partners snoring (don't use a pillow). You had to have liked these people, be related to these people, or work for these people in your group to somehow be on this trip with them.
I need everyone to do some girl math with me. Why pay $150 deposit when I can pay $50? Why share a shuttle with people I don't know instead of having a private transfer of me and everyone in my group? Why would I want to give the satisfaction to anyone thinking I don't have the best destination wedding planned with a customized website? Why would I pay thousands of dollars up front when I can use finance options available.
The most important question of all is WHY would you not hire Samantha (that's me) to do all of this for me?
As always Take the Trip
-Samantha Cooley
Worth The Miles Travel
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