Visitor Ready Itineraries
Visitor ready itineraries take tours, tracks, and trails and combine them with lodging, dining, and retail to deliver a ready-made full experience. Many destinations shy away from this one because they have to select some lodging, restaurants, and shops over others. Yet, it’s important to remember that visitors don’t want long lists.
They want selections that help them plan a trip quickly. Many trips are planned on a Wednesday and Thursday night when a couple or family realizes they can get away for the weekend. The most information and visitor-ready examples you have to show them, the more likely they will visit.
Visitor ready itineraries can feature the most important locations in a community or be thematic. The greatest mistake that destinations make is putting too much emphasis on eating. Visitors want to explore. Exploring a learning the story of the place is the only thing that pushes off thoughts of work and allows real relaxation.
Put at least two things in the morning to visit, a stop for a relaxing lunch, and then at least one more location to explore in the afternoon. By 4PM, visitors are going to be ready to return to their accommodations, put their feet up and relax before dinner. Include a list of interesting dinner recommendations which they can research back in their room. Make sure these are local dining locations. Exploring local cuisine is a highlight of many destination visits.
When creating visitor ready itineraries, make sure they are developed in several price ranges. Most of today’s visitors DO NOT want the lowest priced solution, it makes them feel like they are not worthy. But some will likely want a moderately priced itinerary. And of course, at least one itinerary should go all out to illustrate the best of the best in the community.
Most often when we develop a visitor ready itinerary, we put in at least two lodging suggestions, three lunch suggestions, and three or four retail shops, art galleries or other retail, in addition to the attractions/activities that are the core of the itinerary. Put in plenty of images, so visitors get a feel for the experience. Entice them!
