As a recreation entrepreneur at heart, you often have one goal: to provide your guests with an unforgettable experience. When they leave your park satisfied, your mission is accomplished. An automated guest journey contributes to guest satisfaction in many ways. We have written a blog series so you can create the ultimate guest journey. In this part, we zoom in on phase 2 of the guest journey: Orientation.

Phase 2: Orientation

After you've inspired potential guests to go on vacation, it's time to win them over. Guests are in the orientation phase. They know they want to go on vacation and are exploring the options and possibilities. In this phase, they are actively searching for a destination and accommodation that perfectly suits their needs. Now is the time when you can make a difference by providing an effortless and engaging orientation experience. By using smart technology and automated tools, you can guide guests to find their ideal stay.

Search & Book: Make it simple

A user-friendly Search & Book is indispensable to support guests at this stage. Give visitors the ability to easily filter based on their preferences, such as the:

• Date: Show availability within the desired travel period.
• Accommodation type: Allow guests to choose between options such as a glamping cabin, holiday home or hotel room.
• Group size: Include the number of people directly in search results.

• Filter options: Make sure your guest can easily filter by amenities. Think of wellness options, a fenced garden and child-friendliness. By setting this up correctly and using a full content link with OTAs like Booking.com, you increase the likelihood of an actual booking.

With intuitive filter options and clear results, you can make a potential guest's search easier and more efficient.

Search on the map: Location matters

The location of an accommodation is often a decisive factor. With an interactive map, you give guests the ability to choose their own place within your park. This can be based on preferences such as:

• Quiet locations
• Close to facilities such as a playground or swimming pool
• A beautiful location by the water or overlooking nature

This visual support allows guests to not only choose an accommodation, but also the place that suits them best. By automating this, you give the guest control over their own vacation and save time for your employees.

Tip: You can also charge preference costs for this → Upselling.

Collaborate with OTAs

In the Orientation phase, Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) play an important role. Platforms like Booking.com and Expedia can attract a large audience to your park. Make sure your offer is consistent and up-to-date on these channels. Work with a channel manager to effortlessly synchronise bookings and availability between your own system and the OTAs. This automation guarantees your offer is always up-to-date and the guest won't come across any unwanted surprises like overbookings or a property that doesn't match their expectations.

Tip: Filter options play an important role. Make sure you set them up properly in your PMS so that the moment a guest filters for a property with a sauna on Booking.com, your accommodation becomes more visible.

Conclusion

The Orientation phase is all about attracting and convincing guests. With smart tools like search filters and an interactive map, choosing your park is easy and attractive. Combine this with strategic partnerships with OTAs to create a solid foundation for an automated and successful guest journey.

After the guest has oriented themselves, it is time for the third phase of the guest journey: the booking phase.