It’s been a topsy turvy spring. But summer looks like being long and hot again!
It’s time to run a quick check that you’re ready to attract summer holiday travellers and deliver a memorable (reviewable) experience. Here are some simple ‘must do’ tasks to prepare your business for a boom time summer… it’s going to be hot… damn hot!
If you have a holiday house for rent or small hotel, do a quick ‘spring clean’ of rooms, common areas, and outdoor spaces. In Australia, spiders are the bane of everyone’s life so get rid of the cobwebs (international travellers HATE spiders and creepy crawlies!).
Service air conditioning units, ceiling fans, and ensure adequate shading outdoors. And don’t forget the garden and lawn! Trim overgrown bushes, and make sure the lawn is mown, fertilised and watered. Also tidy up outdoor amenities like BBQs, swimming pools, or garden seating.
With the pressure on laundry and supply, maybe increase inventory of linens, toiletries, and summer essentials like sunscreen, and beach towels.
If you’re running tours or activities, is everything serviced (buses, boats, bikes) to ensure they are road and water-worthy? Don’t forget safety equipment, such as life vests, helmets, and first aid kits? And test your outdoor gear like kayaks, paddleboards, and hiking equipment.
For the really hot days, I’d plan routes that provide shade, and rest stops and offer early morning or late afternoon options to avoid peak heat.
The number one priority is your guests’ safety, so go through all the necessary safety checks. Give your staff first aid training and bushfire emergency drills, especially for holiday houses and outdoor tours in the bush.
If you have a holiday rental or small hotel, replace the batteries in the smoke detectors, test all electrical appliances, and check the currency dates on all fire extinguishers.
For everyone in bushfire zones, make sure you have a comprehensive emergency plan with clear procedures, contact information, and how to access local services.
After the experience of the last few summers, keep your eye on seven-day weather forecasts and have contingency plans for extreme weather like heatwaves, flooding rains or bushfires. It is Australia after all!
To dwell on that point, ensure your insurance policies cover seasonal risks and confirm any licenses or permits you need are up to date and aligned with local regulations.
For Christmas and January, personally curate a list of local attractions, restaurants, and other activities. Write these up as your ‘local’s secrets’ tips to beat the crowds. And highlight these and other summer-specific experiences in your marketing use ‘summary’ images of beaches, nature trails, and outdoor adventures.
Run campaigns on your social media channels featuring user-generated content. Encourage guests to leave reviews. They will improve your visibility and credibility.
Importantly. ensure your website and listings on all your distribution channels including OTAs are updated with fresh ‘summer’ photos. If you’re using TXA you don’t have to worry about pricing and availability as it will be drawn live from your booking system.
If you’re interested in understanding how to improve your online visibility, use OTAs and social media to farm more direct bookings, follow us on Instagram and Facebook, we can help.
Stay tuned. I’ll be explaining the meaning of life in my next blog.
