Want to add a burst of energy to your bike rental business? Electric bicycles, or e-bikes, might be just what you need.E-bikes bring a new sense of adventure to your bike rental business. While this form of transportation has been popular with millions of riders in Europe and China for years, they've now gained traction in the United States too. And e-bikes help you attract new customers who might not be able to enjoy traditional bikes due to their fitness level or your area's terrain.Whether you're starting a new company from scratch or adding e-bikes to your current rental offerings, the opportunity is prime for promotion. Here are seven ways to launch and build an electric bicycle rental business:

1. Start with keywords. People who want to rent an electric bike will probably already know about this mode of transportation, and go to the Internet to search for a rental company. Take advantage of the organic traffic by optimizing your website for search engines, using keywords, such as “[city name] electric bike rentals" and “[city name] electric bike tours," throughout your site. A search for "electric bike rentals San Diego," for example, turns up 23 results on Google Maps. Make sure you add your business to Google Maps, and add keywords to your Category and Introduction section.
2. Spread the word to current customers. If you have an existing rental business, let your current customers know you're now offering e-bikes by spreading the word on social media and through an email-marketing campaign. E-bikes are trendy and new, and current customers may not know they exist or that they're available for rent. You can send a promotion or discount code that is exclusive to your followers, or ask customers if they'd like to try an electric bicycle when they call or stop in to book a rental.
4. Organize tours. If your rental business is located in an area with great attractions or history, consider adding tours to your business strategy. Tours bring a higher profit margin as customers will be willing to pay more for an organized trip. You'll also attract a broader demographic of participants as e-bikes help everyone keep the pace–especially if your area has challenging hills. Before you add tours, however, do some homework to determine if your ROI is worth your time and money. For example, you'll need to research which locations visitors to your area might like to see, find out if your city or state has additional licensing or insurance requirements, hire personable guides, and advertise or promote your offerings.
6. Partner with hotels. Since e-bikes are an untapped source of transportation, introduce your business to hotel concierges and sales staff. Explain what you offer and give staff members a test drive. Set up a commission plan, and check back often. You can also work with hotels to set up special tours for their guests during different seasons.

If your rental business is located in an area with great history consider adding tours to your strategy

1. Work with area restaurants. If the scenery in your area is breathtaking, partner with a local lunch spot to offer guided picnic tours. The restaurant can promote the offering to its current customers, and you'll spread the word of your rental business.
2. Reach out to retirement communities. E-bikes are a great form of transportation because people of virtually any fitness level can enjoy riding them. This makes them especially popular with Baby Boomers. Approach retirement community associations in your area, and offer to organize special outings and activities.
3. Contact local tourism boards. Reach out to your local tourism office and provide information about your tours and rentals. Tourism offices are eager to build their portfolio with interesting activities, which helps them attract new visitors to the area. Help them do their job by offering special rates and excursions.

The wellness tourism market is a huge pie that's perfect for tour and activity operators to slice into. Global wellness tourism has risen to become a nearly $500 billion market, according to the Global Wellness Summit. While this industry includes mind and body retreats, in also encompasses fitness vacations and adventure travel focused around improving a sense of well-being or improving life balance.Tour and activity operators can take advantage of this demand for health and wellness-oriented vacations by offering experiences that focus on healthy living or recreational activities for a more balanced life—guided hiking adventures, rainforest excursions, half-day biking tours, and boating trips are just a few experiential travel options for travelers in need of that much-needed escape to restore work-life balance.Here's a closer look at the ongoing demand for active tourism and a few ways tour and activity operators can capitalize on this emerging trend:

Understanding The Adventure Tourism Market

A Adventure Tourism Market Study, conducted by George Washington University and the Adventure Travel Trade Association, revealed several emerging trends among adventure travelers around the globe. One key finding relevant to tour and activity companies: adventure travelers were much more likely to turn to guides, tour operators, and instructors to plan their trip. According to the study, during their previous trips, 22 percent of adventure travelers used a guide, 18 percent turned to a tour operator, and 13 percent used an instructor.So positioning your business as an authority in adventure trip planning and understanding this demographic better can help you generate more business from this highly active market each season.

Position your business as an authority in adventure trip planning to generate more business

Some other takeaways from this study:

• Adventure travelers turn to social media and consult friends and family only when researching different options
• 78 percent of adventure travelers use Facebook

• Adventure travelers cited relaxation, exploring new places, spending time with family, and learning about different cultures as most important to their travel experiences.

Organized Adventure Activities and Fitness Retreats

Whether you're a kayak tour operator or sell biking tours, consider creating special packages and exclusive experiences specifically for the wellness traveler or adventure seeker. Organized group trips, seasonal retreats, and fitness-oriented programs may be attractive to travelers looking for activities that support their healthy lifestyle. You could offer seasonal packages based around a certain theme, such as winter getaways, back-to-school retreats, or even holiday escape packages.Another option is to focus on the health benefits of vacations. The U.S. Travel Association reports that leisure contributes to overall well-being and has positive effects on both physical and mental health. In addition, an annual vacation can cut a person's risk of a heart attack by 50 percent. So you can appeal to the wellness market by promoting your activities and experiences as a way to reap health and wellness benefits.

A few ideas for tour and activity operators:

• A multi-day whitewater rafting excursion during peak season, such as the wilderness journeys offered by Rafting the West
• A biking and camping weekend package, such as the overnight biking tours offered by Trek Travel
• A meditation and fitness retreat for hiking enthusiasts, such as the fitness, yoga, and wellness programs offered by Mountain Trek
• Rainforest preservation and education treks for nature enthusiasts, such as the volunteer and educational excursions offered by Responsible Travel
• A sailing adventure with yoga experience, such as the sailboat journeys by Sailing Collective
• Mountain biking and camping adventures, such as the tours offered by Northwest Adventure Tours

Relaxation Getaways

But high-energy activities aren't the only way to tap into this trend. There's also an ongoing demand for relaxation getaway—trips planned around stress reduction, pampering, and an escape from the hustle and bustle. Spafinder reports on the growing demand for traveling to "destination spas," where guests travel to a resort or hotel specifically for wellness-immersive retreats and activities. The International Spa Association defines destinations spas as properties "with the primary purpose of guiding individuals to develop healthy habits."From weight loss bootcamps to meditation retreats, these destinations cater to wellness travelers with a variety of activities that complement their healthy lifestyle message. Consider that many of these spas and resort destinations will be looking for local activity providers when putting together their programming. If you offer tours or activities that may complement a destination spa's program—yoga classes or healthy eating cooking classes, for instance—consider reaching out to offer discounted pricing or exclusive packages for spa guests. This can be a simple and effective way to co-market your business and generate referrals throughout the year.

Promoting Your Healthy Living or Wellness Message

Statistics from the aforementioned Adventure Travel Market Study and MDG Advertising confirm that many travelers turn to social media to research travel options—52 percent of travelers use social media to find vacation inspiration and 29 percent count on Facebook for trip planning ideas. A study by Google and Ipsos MediaCT found that two out of three U.S. consumers watch online travel videos when thinking about a trip. You can take advantage of these trends by posting videos or video testimonials about your business on your website and social media sites.Whether you're promoting specific wellness activities and packages, or sharing photos and videos of adventure experiences, the goal is to engage social media users on their favorite platforms. Consider adding an online booking option on your website and Facebook page so that interested travelers can complete their reservation without even making a phone call. With platforms like Peek Pro, you can set up a secure online booking checkout process and also follow up with the guest with an automated email confirmation.As more travelers seek out leisure activities to de-stress and keep up with their healthy lifestyle, tour and activity operators can appeal to this growing market by promoting their adventure activities and opportunities for planning an escape. Whether you sell land or water-based excursions, consider tailoring some of your marketing efforts specifically for wellness and fitness travelers.

Business travelers are increasingly mixing business with leisure. Today's business traveler is no longer limiting their business trip to a flight and hotel stay. Now, whether they're traveling to attend a conference or making a trip to settle a contract, these "bleisure" travelers are finding new ways to make the most of their business trips. In some cases, these travelers are even going as far as bringing the family along to enjoy the destination to make it a memorable vacation.This type of "bleisure travel" is becoming so common that Fortune magazine pointed to it as one of the emerging travel trends to watch in 2016. The New York Times even reported that 47 percent of American business travelers added leisure days to at least one of their business trips.These emerging trends open up several revenue opportunities for tour and activity operators. Here's a closer look at this trend and some ways tour and activity operators can market to today's bleisure traveler:

Emerging Business Traveler Trends

Many of today's entrepreneurs and business owners establish rapport with clients, prospects, and business partners by planning events or outings. The golf meeting is no longer the norm as business meetings can take place over a yoga retreat, farm-to-table dinner experience, or even a kitesurfing or paddleboarding excursion. According to Entrepreneur magazine, “outdoor adventures are becoming the new golf for business." Instead of organizing luncheons and other special events at a country club, the new generation of business owners are busy organizing mountain biking adventures and other outdoor activities. “Business is now being made personal," reports author Lisa Evans.Another trend is to extend the business trip for personal reasons. According to The Bleisure Report from BridgeStreet Global Hospitality, almost 80 percent of business travelers are open to the idea of adding more leisure activities to their trip, and 73 percent believe bleisure opportunities benefit them as an employee.So whether it's making connections with clients or getting the most out of their destination, it's clear that the majority of business travelers are interested in enjoying a few leisure experiences outside of company time during their trip.

Marketing Tips and Strategies for Bleisure Travelers

As a tour and activity operator, there are several ways you can position yourself as a prime destination or activity of choice when business travelers—or their travel planners—are mapping out the itinerary.

Make Yourself Known to Travel Planners

Reach out to corporate event planners and business travel agents to make sure they are aware your business exists and what types of packages and activities you offer—these are the decision makers for many a business traveler, and are in charge of recommending or suggesting various tours and activities to round out their client's visit. Making contact with these individuals and sending them marketing materials, such as brochures, flyers, or website information, can help you stay "top of mind" as they pull together suggested itineraries for their corporate clients.

Connect with Human Resources Departments

Business owners and managers in charge of organizing employee retreats may also be interested in incorporating tours and activities you offer as part of their quarterly excursion or annual getaway. Reach out to a company's human resources department to find out who is in charge of planning events and activities for the company. You can send marketing materials via snail mail or email your website and contact information with group pricing and package options available. Set up group pricing and tiered pricing options using an online booking software program, such as Peek Pro to streamline the booking process for multiple guests.

Offer Convenient Online Booking Options

According to The Bleisure Report, 50 percent of those surveyed would add on two or more days to their business trip. A single-day excursion at your venue, such as a kayaking adventure, mountain hiking experience, or a full-day horseback riding tour could be the perfect addition to these travelers' itineraries. Make it easy for these travelers to book a full-day activity or multiple activities as a package by offering online booking options on your website with customizable itineraries. You can make use of add-on features at checkout to include additional tours or activities, or extended tours and activities priced at 30-minute or 60-minute increments. Giving travelers the option to customize their itinerary can make trip planning that much easier—and make your company an attractive option during the trip planning process.

A single day excursion at your venue could be the perfect addition to these bleisure traveler's itineraries

Promote Couples Packages and Last-Minute Offers

According to an Orbitz trend report, 43 percent of American business travelers had a significant other accompany them on a business trip. Many business travelers may be looking for ways to spend some quality time with their significant other during this trip, which means tour and activity operators that offer special packages for couples or even discounts on last-minute bookings for those who are searching for things to do in the area may be able to capture this market. You can promote couples packages on your website, and promote last-minute booking options for those who may be searching for local activities at the last minute.Whether you offer group excursions targeting corporate event planners or promote couples packages for business travelers traveling with a significant other, there are several ways to tap into the bleisure travel market. Use these tips to fill your calendar and maximize revenue opportunities throughout the year.

Last-minute travel booking is on the rise, thanks to the immediacy of the Internet age. Forty-four percent of leisure travelers and 56 percent of business travelers in the United States book at the last minute, and 34 percent of these travelers book a trip of 0 to 3 days in duration. Further proof that the majority of travelers are making plans on the go and not spending weeks mapping itineraries: 72 percent of mobile bookings on an OTA site or through an OTA app were made within one day of the stay.

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In fact, the last few years have seen an explosion in mobile bookings—reservations made via a smartphone or tablet—with at least 38 percent of travelers booking on a mobile device in 2014 alone. And, experts say, many travelers use their smartphones for booking last-minute hotel rooms and other travel-related purchases.

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What's driving this trend?

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Many travelers now travel on impulse. Experts at HotelTonight report on research that shows many last-minute mobile bookers are drawn to the idea of "impulse rates," where companies post deep discounts for a short period of time or run 24- or 48-hour sales and special offers to generate business. In addition, last-minute travel bookings can help travelers save some money, reports Time magazine.

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What last-minute travel trends mean for tour and activity operators

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While many of these statistics pertain to hotel bookings and related travel bookings—car rentals, shopping, etc—the fact that travelers are waiting until the last minute to create an entire trip itinerary on a smartphone gives tour and activity operators some indication of what many travelers are looking for. If you can make your online booking process extremely simple for these mobile-savvy travelers, you may be able to capture some of this market.

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If you can make your online booking process simple for mobile bookings, you can capture this last minute booking market

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Here are some ideas for marketing your offerings to the last-minute traveler:

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Promote last-minute travel offers

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Create artificial booking window "deadlines" of 24 to 48 hours so that travelers can take advantage of a last-minute deal. You could drop your rates for a certain time period or promote an exclusive offer as a "flash sale" to generate business. This may be attractive to both locals looking for something interesting to do and travelers who are in town for a few days and are feeling spontaneous. Promote this offer on your website, social media sites like Facebook and Twitter, and also via email newsletters to your subscriber base throughout the year.

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Extend a discount for online bookings

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If you offer the option of booking over the phone and online, encourage more travelers to book their reservation online and receive a discount. This can attract tech-savvy travelers who are shopping for last-minute deals, and also encourage more traditional travelers to try the online booking process. Using an online booking system, such as Peek Pro, makes it easy to create promo codes that customers can redeem online during checkout. You can set custom pricing for group discounts and large parties.

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Promote the value of single-day trips

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Put the spotlight on tours and activities that are of a shorter length to promote the idea that travelers or visitors looking for something fun to do in an afternoon or early morning can head to your venue for a unique experience. For example, you could promote your one-hour sunset boat tour or a two-hour beginner's kayaking course to guests who are only in the area for a day or two. Highlight the fact that these are single-day experiences and perfect for locals and last-minute travelers on your website or on social media sites. Those shopping around for a fun activity for a single day may be more keen to book something like this since they do not need to create a complex itinerary or do too much planning.

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As more travelers become reliant on their mobile device to book travel and are comfortable with booking trips at the last minute, you can position your company as the perfect addition to the guest's travel plans. Offering online booking options and catering to the demands of travelers looking for local activities at the last minute could help you generate more revenue each season.

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Read about Zipline Utah and their success story moving onto an online booking system

There's no getting around it: Positive online reviews are one of the strongest forces attracting more customers. In a survey conducted by The Statistics Portal, 86 percent of respondents admitted they almost always read online travel reviews before making travel plans. In addition, 88 percent read reviews to detriment the quality of a local business, according to a BrightLocal survey. As a tour and activity operator, how do you ensure that happy customers actually take the step to post a review or give your business high ratings? Ultimately, it comes down to customer service and the ability to make the review process as easy and stress-free for your customers. Here are 10 things you can do to make customers want to share positive reviews and high ratings about your company.

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1. Make it a no-brainer task.

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No matter how great their experience may be, very few customers are going to go out of their way to find out where to submit a review or rate your business. Make it as easy as possible for customers to share their experience by sending them a direct link to your profile page on major review sites or encouraging the customer to rate your company on Facebook. Be direct with your request; a post-visit email encouraging customers to take action, or handing out postcards or business cards that list URLs to review sites as customers leave can be just the prompt they need to give you a review.

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2. Participate in positive social media interactions.

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Companies that maintain a positive social media presence may be able to garner more reviews and customer feedback than those who do not. A report by Syncapse reveals Facebook fans tend to “spend more, engage more, advocate more, and be more loyal," which is why it's imperative for businesses to invest time in social media activities on some level. Those activities can be as simple as quickly following up to all comments posted on your Facebook page, or responding to all reviews. This will show your fans that you're more than willing to communicate and interact with them—an important element of great customer service.

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3. Send a personalized follow up.

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Thank you emails to customers are a great tactic. But your customers will be less likely to forget about you when you follow up with a phone call or a handwritten letter. Instead of relying solely on an automated email to get feedback from your customers, consider calling them instead for a quick check-in to make sure they enjoyed their visit and to ask for feedback directly. This opens up the line of communication and adds a personal touch to the entire experience, which, in turn, may earn you a positive review.

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4. Provide incentive to post a review.

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For ethical reasons, you can't bribe a customer to post a review. But you can encourage more customers to share their feedback in exchange for a discount on a future visit as a way to show your appreciation for their efforts. Promote the fact that you extend a discount to all customers that take the time to complete a short survey after their visit, rate your business on Facebook, or post a review and rating on Google+.

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5. Share reviews on social media.

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Social media opens up the door to recognition and helps generate more business for your tour and activity company. Make the most of platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram by promoting rave reviews about your business and tagging the customer who wrote it. This puts the spotlight on the customer, makes them feel good about their review, and may also encourage other customers to follow suit so they can enjoy a few minutes in the spotlight. Customers who see how other reviewers are treated—whether that's in the form of promoting video testimonials on a dedicated section of your website or promoting a customer's comments on Facebook and Twitter—may help generate more reviews.

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6. Host a contest.

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Encourage customers to submit a review as their entry form for a contest to win a gift card or gift certificate, tickets for one of your experiences, or an exclusive package you are offering for the season. Mighty Leaf ran this contest in 2009 to encourage more ratings and reviews of its teas and other products. Contestants had to write a qualifying review to be entreated into a random drawing for $100 in tea. The company made it easy for contestants to participate by including a "Write a Review" link on their product page and explaining they would contact winners by email.

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7. Provide a seamless checkout process.

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Your main focus as a tour or activity operator may be delivering amazing experiences for your customers and introducing them to a new activity, but don't forget the importance of the customer service experience before your visitor even sets foot on your property.

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Don't forget the importance of the customer service experience before your visitor even sets foot on your property

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When you use an online booking software program to coordinate reservations online, you want to make sure customers are going through a seamless checkout process. Monetate reports on how 75 percent of online shopping cart purchases are abandoned, and HubSpot explains that this could be because "your checkout process is too complicated or appears insecure." Other reasons for abandonment, according to HubSpot, include a checkout flow process that is too lengthy and technical difficulties with the shopping cart.If you can present a seamless checkout process for your customers, you can not only secure a booking but also contribute to a positive customer service experience — something that many of your customers will be willing to share in the form of a positive review and high ratings.

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8. Respond to negative reviews professionally.

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Not all of your customers are going to be happy customers. Learning how to handle negative reviews effectively, however, can open up the door for more positive reviews since customers will see that you'll go out of your way to rectify a seemingly difficult situation. As we explained in our post about best practices for handling negative online reviews, sometimes the best approach is to turn the comment around by apologizing sincerely and then highlighting what you do right. Anything you post publicly that shows a casual visitor that you take care of your customers can improve your online image and, in turn, may attract more positive reviews and high ratings.

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9. Go above and beyond with customer service.

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First impressions and final impressions are going to leave a lasting effect on your customers. How your staff welcomes visitors as they settle in for their tour and activity and how the customer feels when they leave your venue will be some of the most memorable interactions your customer will have outside of the actual experience. Train your staff to welcome every customer with excellent customer service practices, whether that involves greeting customers with a welcome package, providing a brief tour of the premises, or introducing them individually by name to key staff members. Leave customers with a token of your appreciation in the form of a thank you card, a gift bag, or any other type of tangible souvenir to leave a lasting impression.These small gestures will help a customer feel more welcome and connected to your company—and may generate a positive review.

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10. Offer free upgrades or gifts.

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Whether you offer boat tours, run a bike rental company, or host any type of adventure with the option to add on extra time or upgrade to a better experience, occasionally offer complimentary upgrades to customers to ensure they enjoy an unparalleled experience. Consider how many customers will be raving about free upgrades they received when booking their tour or how thrilled they are that they received a free gift or souvenir upon departure. These freebies may be just what it takes to set your company apart from other tour and activity operators in the area, and generate some positive feedback in the form of online reviews and high ratings.From personalizing the follow-up process to going the extra mile with customer service, there are several ways you can increase the chances of prompting a customer to post a positive review about your business online. Use these tips to help more customers share positive reviews and high ratings of your tour and activity business after each and every visit.

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Learn the results of King's Landing's use of Peek Pro's SmartReviews+

Traveler demands are evolving. Instead of spending a week lounging by the pool at a generic hotel, travelers increasingly want to experience their destination and the unique activities, food, people, and culture it has to offer.As the holidays are quickly approaching, there is no better time to discuss this trend, and how tour and activity operators can capitalize on it leading up to the season of gift giving.The desire for experiential purchases is growing. More and more, consumers prefer these over material purchases. In fact, 145 million Americans, or 62% of the U.S. adult population, would forgo physical presents for the gift of a trip, according to a spending and saving study from American Express. And on the flip side, another recent American Express survey found that 72 percent of adults would rather spend money on experiences than things.The demand for experiential travel rages onIt's all connected—the evolution of consumer preferences and the desire for deeper connections and experiences when they travel.The travel industry is seeing the trend develop. In a recent report from Skift on the growth of experiential travel, it's noted that the United States Tour Operator Association (USTOA) is seeing proof that today's travelers want more immersive experiences. In that same Skift report, it's also noted that a recent poll of American Express travel counselors showed that 34% said their clients are now “specifically looking to immerse themselves in the destinations they visit and to travel like a local."Travelers are looking for authenticity, and something more meaningful. They want cooking classes inside a local family's kitchen, private surf lessons on a secluded beach with an instructor who has spent their life riding those waves, an off-the-beaten-path tour of a unique neighborhood not found in their guidebooks. Through travel, they are seeking emotional connections with destinations and the people and cultures that inhabit them.

Through travel, they are seeking emotional connections with destinations and the people and cultures that inhabit them.

Travelers want these immersive experiences because making connections is increasingly what leads to a happier travel experience overall. According to a recent “Road to Happiness Study" looking at the connection between travel and happiness, one of the four key ingredients in having a happy travel experience is making a local connection. Another 78% of travelers said that on their best trips, they had either had a knowledgeable friend in the destination or a local guide.As it becomes more apparent through research and statistics that experiences like this result in a more enduring happiness, the demand for achieving this through travel grows. As the season of giving draws near, now is the time for tour and activity operators to make sure they're positioning themselves to capitalize on these trends and attract experience-seekers.Here are some tips to consider.

Evaluate your experiential offerings

Take a look at what you currently offer, and consider what may appeal to today's consumers who want more immersive experiences. Do you offer homestays, access to less-frequented locales, experiences in local villages, or behind-the-scenes jaunts to neighborhood shops or attractions? Do you employ local guides who are fiercely passionate about your niche? What sorts of truly unique opportunities do you provide for your customers?Experiential offerings should include opportunities for personalization and immersion. Instead of just sitting on the sidelines, travelers want the chance to jump in there and participate. Instead of just taking a ride in a gondola in Venice, they may rather take a lesson and learn how to operate one themselves.Think about how you can incorporate more localized, authentic, and unexpected elements into whatever it is you offer, providing opportunities for learning, growth, and stepping outside of comfort zones.

Market effectively to experience-seeking travelers

When you know what you offer that will speak to these travelers, you then need to promote those things in the places and ways that best speak to them.As the Millennial generation grows up, they will be leading the charge for experiential travel, and they engage in new and diverse ways. They are technologically savvy, and they want content, inspiration, and recommendations.A recent travel trends report from American Express notes that interest in authentic cultural experiences is at least in part being driven by social media in particular. The vast availability of images and content throughout social media showing other travelers experiencing desirable destinations and taking part in activities inspires people to get out there and plan their own travel experiences. And in general, increasing numbers of travelers are relying more than ever on digital inputs to make all sorts of travel decisions, according to a Google travel study.Tour and activity operators need to use digital channels like social media, blogs, email, and beyond to share information and inspire. Think about creating content that is compelling, readily available, and actionable, as well as emphasizing what you know is important to experience-seeking travelers – exploration, discovery, and authenticity.It's extremely important to make investments in digital promotion, technology, and tools that will help you draw these customers in and give them the experience they're looking for to convert.Strive to create a connection with consumers by building their anticipation before their experience, and then cultivating their fond memories afterwards. These feelings are often what make an experience more enjoyable and help to leave a more lasting impression—all extremely valuable for travel businesses.

Get creative with social media

Social media envy is real, and it's driving consumerism in new ways. But it's not enough to just be on social media and share some pretty photos every now and then. For the experience-seeking traveler, you need to get creative.Experiment with different types of posts and content and see what best results in your audience growing, and getting them to engage. As Expedia looked into travel advertising tends for 2015, they found that social and video would see the largest growth. Play around with video as a form of content to share throughout your social media channels in different ways.On top of that, you could experiment with content ranging from promotions, exclusive deals, or contests that promote your business and get people talking about it, content centered on light-hearted stories, travel tips, powerful and inspirational images, storytelling, and even showcasing and re-purposing user-generated content. Firsthand recommendations and influencer marketing via social media can have a huge impact, showing what you offer through the eyes of someone was has experienced it for themselves.But the most important thing to remember about social media is that it's all about engagement and cultivating a conversation. A recent survey of Twitter users found that 40% have engaged with a travel brand on Twitter, 28% of those users received a response, and of those, 73% felt more positively about the brand afterward. This is a huge opportunity for tour and activity operators to make sure you're encouraging engagement, responding authentically and constructively to interaction, and developing a positive relationship with this demographic.

Remind your audience that travel experiences make the perfect gifts

Put two and two together for consumers, and lead them to do what you already know many of them want to do.Get creative here and use content, email marketing, social media campaigns, promotions, and contests to prod them in the direction of purchasing experiences as gifts for the holidays this year. You can even use some of the statistics from this post as proof. They may know what they like and want to buy, but show them why their loved ones will love receiving experiential gifts as well.

Don't expect them to think of it on their own. Give them a little nudge, and keep reminding them.

The demand is there. People crave experiences, and the experiential travel market is hot. Evaluate and tweak your offerings if necessary, and then get creative in promoting them effectively this holiday season and beyond.