Thanks for Joining Us for Growvember!

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We had another incredible year of learning and connecting with the tours, activities and attractions industry. Peek hosted 7 30min workshops on topics ranging from pricing and business strategy to PR and TikTok, and we caught up with 4 awesome operators and got their thoughts on the year to come.

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Big thanks to all of the speakers and to those who joined us live for the discussions. Growvember 2022 is now over, but don’t worry! You can access the recordings of all talks right here.

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‍Mitch Bach

Co-Founder, TripSchool

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Catherine Warrilow

Managing Director, Daysout.com

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Joanna Gruau

Multi-day Trips Product Manager, Wheel The World

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Casey Clark

CEO, Cultivate Advisors

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Jazlyn Richardson

Social Media Manager, AAMP

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Kelsey Tonner

Founder & Lead Coach, Guest Focus

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Joshua Pacheco

Account Executive, Peek

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Tour Operator Roundtable

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Forrest Parker, Undiscovered Charleston, Paola Osuna, Tomatl Mexican Culinary Experiences, Mark Runyan, Kayak Connection, Jaime Lewis, Islandz Tours, John Lynch, Peek

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See you next year for Growvember 2023!

Thanks for Registering for Growvember!

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Peek gathered experts from around the tourism industry to share their knowledge in 40-minute workshops and roundtable discussions! These industry experts delivered invaluable workshops centered around customer communication, accessibility, digital marketing, social media & much more!

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Big thanks to all of the speakers and to those who joined us live for the discussions. Growvember 2021 is now over, but don’t worry! You can access the recordings of all talks right here.

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Arturo Gaona

Co-Founder, Wheel the World

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Alan Armijo

Co-Founder, TripSchool

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Ben Page

Director of Search Marketing, Blend Marketing

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Evan Tipton

Founder & CEO, TOMIS Tech

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Oskar Bruening

Co-Founder, Peek

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Chris Torres

Founder & Director, Tourism Marketing Agency

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Mitch Bach

Co-Founder, TripSchool & Campfire

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Robin Harnish

Co-Founder & Head of Operations, TourismSolved

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Marica Mackenroth Brewster

Founder & CEO, Von Mack Agency

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Tour Operator Roundtable

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Brian Cain, Owner & Operator, Crawl New Orleans, Lori Ventura, Owner, Kansas City Fountain Tours, Juan Carlos Carraza, Commercial Director, Selvatura Park, Austin Riley, Chief Pilot & Director of Operations, Branson Helicopters, John Lynch, COO, Peek

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See you next year for Growvember 2022!

We have created this page as a hub for advice, resources and updates regarding the impact of Hurricane Ian on tour and activity operators.

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We wanted to let you know that we are here to help and it’s not a losing battle – there are many ways of support to help you return to daily operations.

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We know this is a difficult time for those affected and understand that you may have questions about rebuilding or the future of your business. The Peek Team is here to help if you or any other tour operator need assistance during these difficult times.

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How to Take Action

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Government Financial Support

• IRS

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Stay up to date on the latest updates from the IRS of any changes to tax relief applications for those living in Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina who were impacted by Hurricane Ian. The IRS has also recently expanded many of its deadlines from October 17th to February 15th giving victims extended time to apply for different forms of financial support. If your tax and financial records were damaged or lost due to the hurricane, learn more at this guide to help reconstruct your records to properly apply for financial aid.

• FEMA - Florida

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FEMA has set up a designated page to provide all information needed to access support on both a federal and local level. On this page, you can find resources translated to multiple languages, the direct link to apply for Disaster Assistance and many more key resources offering support. FEMA has also created this helpful video on the different ways you can apply through phone, web and mobile app.

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FEMA has also set up dedicated pages for North Carolina, South Carolina and Seminole Tribe of Florida.

• Small Business Association

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Through the SBA, you can check if you live in a county that qualifies for an SBA Disaster loan. The SBA has created this helpful fact sheet that goes more in-depth on the different types of loans, loan limits, interest rates and more. While completing your SBA loan application, the SBA is available to answer questions and provide support through their support line at 800‐659‐2955.

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Other Forms of Support

• Red Cross

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The Red Cross is still providing assistance to Hurricane Ian victims by helping find open shelters, offering support for pet owners and raising donations to be distributed to those in need. The Red Cross is on the front lines assisting hurricane victims and will continue doing so in the near future. Read some stories to learn how the Red Cross is helping victims in need.

• Disaster Distress Hotline

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Available 24/7, 365 days a year, the Disaster Distress Hotline helps connect victims with trained counselors to help find support and offer crisis counseling. If you’re looking to speak with a counselor, you can call or text the hotline at 1-800-985-5990.

• Tripshock GoFundMe

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Our friends at Tripshock have created a GoFundMe page to raise money specifically for watersports and boat operators impacted by Hurricane Ian. 100% of the funds raised will be distributed to operators, their families and staff. At the time of writing, the GoFundMe has raised just under half of its goal of $20,000. Tripshock also maintains a Facebook group specifically for watersports and boat operators where you can learn more.

• Operation Blue Roof

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Created by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Operation Blue Roof aims to construct safe, stable temporary roofing for those whose roofing has been damaged or destroyed on their home due to natural disasters. If you’re a Florida resident of Lee, Sarasota, Collier, DeSoto or Charlotte county, you may be eligible for assistance from Operation Blue Roof.

Additional Resources

• US GOV

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Dedicated to all things Hurricane Ian relief, this homepage set up by the USA GOV is a great resource to use for general information. Along with key details on obtaining financial relief, the homepage has links offering disability services, veteran support and updates on resources for those employed by the federal government.

• FDIC

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The FDIC is actively working to ensure victims of Hurricane Ian can access their finances and is keeping a running list of banks

currently operating in affected communities. FDIC also has created numerous resources for avoiding possible scams run by those looking to take advantage of those most vulnerable.

• Website of Florida Governor

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The official website of the Florida Governor is providing updates on all things related to Hurricane Ian recovery on his official website. From frequent updates on health and safety to cleanup processes, the Governor’s site is a good one to follow to stay informed.

The summer travel boom looks to continue into the fall as demand remains high and the price of flights begins to drop. Travelers are determined to make up for lost time with beach stays, city breaks, road trips and even “staycations” as COVID restrictions relax.

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Part of Peek’s mission to connect the world through experiences means empowering businesses in the travel and activities industry to reach more customers and capture growing demand. In a continual effort to expand distribution opportunities for partners, Peek is incredibly excited to announce a new partnership with JetBlue!

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Peek helps customers who have purchased a JetBlue flight enhance their trip with easy-to-find experiences in the area they’ll be visiting. “We are constantly looking for new ways to drive demand for the thousands of business owners on our platform,” says Ruzwana Bashir, CEO of Peek.com. “Businesses that use Peek.com see an average of 30% revenue growth, and this new partnership with JetBlue kicks off a whole new era of connecting people to experiences in 2022.”

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With the summer demand set to continue into the fall, this is an optimal window for partners to access this new stream of demand. Peek operators will be able to reap the benefits of a broad customer base by booking cheaper flights and searching for fun things to do across the U.S.

What does this mean for operators?

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Peek’s partnership with JetBlue offers the opportunity to drive sales for partners in markets where JetBlue flies - with no extra effort on their end. As trip demand continues to remain strong, operators with activities on the PeekPlus network will get to tap into the travel boom and reap the rewards of the JetBlue customer base, eager to discover new experiences on their next trip.

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Partners who are part of PeekPlus will now have the exciting chance to reach more customers faster, easier, and in volumes like never before. This collaboration is an incredible opportunity for all operators to increase exposure to their activities, and is backed by one of America’s largest airlines.

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How do operators start taking advantage of this partnership?

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For Peek operators already on the PeekPlus network, you don’t need to do anything! This partnership simply expands the channels you can receive bookings from. You’ll see any bookings come through alongside other reseller bookings in the PeekPlus section of Peek Pro. All you have to do is enjoy the new influx of customers!

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For partners not yet on the PeekPlus network, it’s easy to list your activities on Peek.com and start enjoying the benefits of an expansive network of additional booking channels. For even more connectivity across resellers, check out the Peek Reseller Hub. The Peek Reseller Hub connects to over 15 reseller integrations giving you increased visibility and sales, while easily managing them in your Peek Pro account!

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Head to your Peek Pro account to start listing your activities - our partner support is always on hand to address any questions or concerns you may have. Not on Peek Pro? Reach out for a free demo to learn more about Peek Pro’s industry-leading booking software!

2022 is looking to be the year that travel makes its long-awaited comeback to pre-pandemic levels. Some even think that this year’s summer season will eclipse previous ones to be the busiest travel season ever. Take a look at some of the biggest travel marketing trends so you can prepare your marketing strategy to find new customers and ultimately, boost revenue.

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1. Short-Form Video Content Continues its Meteoric Rise

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While TikTok was once viewed as a platform for Gen Z to recreate their favorite dances, the rapid growth and potential of this app can no longer be ignored. TikTok’s short-form videos are perfect for the average attention span - which currently sits about 8 seconds. The platform averaged close to 1 billion monthly users in 2022, growing to 1.4 billion in 2023, and represents a key tactic in reaching younger markets. 55% of 18-24-year-olds use the app while research shows that its demographic range is only growing.

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Along with TikTok, imitation from competitors now gives brands even more options for promoting their short-form content. YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels and Facebook Watch are just a few of the options to take advantage of. The multitude of options means short-form video content is great to be easily repurposed and distributed with little editing for different channels.

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Wondering where to start on your short-form content? Some options to get started include:

• Highlights of your activities
• A behind-the-scenes look at your business
• “How to” or educational videos
• Responses to customer questions and comments

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Though TikTok may not be the biggest part of your marketing spend, its success shows that short-form content is here to stay.

2. Membership and Subscription Boom

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From movies to chocolate to hygiene products, subscription services took off during the pandemic. Americans spend an average of $273 a month on subscription services, and the subscription economy is expected to double to a worth of $1.5 trillionby 2025.

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Subscription services have already infiltrated the tourism industry through programs like TSA PreCheck, America the Beautiful National Parks Pass, and Selina Hostel’s CoLive digital nomad subscription.

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With the future of subscription and membership programs looking bright, now is a great time for more tourism businesses to offer some sort of subscription pricing plan. Subscriptions generate recurring revenue while creating brand loyalty among customers. Options for using memberships to your advantage are endless, but here are some examples to help you begin:

• Seasonal memberships
• Loyalty programs for frequent customers offering exclusive offers
• Punch passes gifting a free activity or discount after 5 uses
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Programs like these are great ways to start taking advantage of this membership boom happening throughout the tour and activity space. Watch for more operators to integrate a membership program into their operations in the coming future.

3. The Arrival of VR and Metaverse

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If Facebook’s recent multibillion-dollar bet on the metaverse tells us anything, it’s that we’ll be seeing more and more industries make the jump to virtual reality in the future. While still in its early stages, the tourism industry already made a jump into VR. Over the past few years, museums have introduced more creative ways to interact with exhibits. This practice only accelerated during the pandemic when we wanted a piece of history or art, but couldn’t physically go to our favorite museums.

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Travel company Thomas Cook let customers get a test drive before booking through 360° VR videos. These VR videos of available destination results were incredible with the initiative helping grow New York bookings by 190% and showing that there is a place for VR in tourism. While real-world travel isn’t disappearing any time soon, technological advancements such as VR offer endless possibilities for the future of tourism. Watch out for more major companies investing in VR programs as the technology becomes more inexpensive and available.
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4. More Opportunities for Influencer Promotion

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When used correctly, influencers can be a relatively cheap way of marketing that pays dividends. Influencers are becoming a force in marketing, as studies show that nearly 2 out of 3 consumers trust messaging coming from influencers rather than directly from the brand. Not only are these  “micro-influencers” (influencers with 10,00-50,000 followers) more trusted than brands, but relatability is also a key component to influencer success. 70% of Gen Z consumers put more trust in YouTube content creators than celebrities. This growing trust is the reason why last year 71% of marketers had plans to increase their budget to include a greater focus on influencer marketing.

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Remember that while influencers can help you reach new markets and grow your customer base, you should be doing your research on what the results should be from offering your services free of charge. Make sure you get all necessary information like number of subscribers, general demographics (age, location, gender) and ROI from previous collaborations.
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5. Google SEO is Alive and Well

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With marketing budgets growing and strategies becoming increasingly more complex, it’s easy to consider SEO an afterthought with so many other options for marketing your business available. While it’s important to have a well-rounded strategy, SEO should remain a top priority for its importance in driving direct bookings, long-term effectiveness and overall cost-effectiveness.

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Getting your name on the first page of results is crucial to success when 93% of searches start with a search engine and more than 25% click the first result that comes up. This organic traffic is key to boosting bookings directly from your sights rather than a third party or even worse, a competitor. While you may have already spent on SEO in the past, it’s a good idea to have an SEO check-up from time to time to make sure you’re following strategies that are relevant to Google. Since Google owns close to 92% of the search engine market share and is constantly making changes to its SEO algorithm, it’s important to keep your site updated even with your core practices set (quick loading times, relevant keywords, and an easy to navigate site).

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Not only is SEO still very relevant, but it’s also cost-effective. Spending on paid ads can get expensive quickly and doesn’t guarantee results. SEO, on the other hand, is relatively inexpensive to maintain. Improving your SEO can be obtained through tools like including functioning links and quality content that increases time spent per page. Now, this isn’t to say SEO isn’t worthy of marketing budget allocation. The price you pay to not cut corners will ultimately be worth it when you see your ROI.

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With these trends in mind, you can now create the marketing strategy that best fits your business and demographics. Remember that while these trends are popular in the industry, your marketing strategy is unique and you should choose tactics that best fit your business and customer demographic. Keep an eye out for new marketing trends that could help you get a leg up on your competitors in the new year!

Managing a helicopter tour company is never easy. There are a lot of moving parts and your team has to be on the same page with bookings, confirmations, and payments. You want to make sure your site is easy to navigate and your booking software is reliable, while also helping you to boost revenue. With travel and in-person experiences set to restart and customers beginning to look for the best tours, it’s time to  prepare for this new wave of business. We’ve highlighted some of the key tools you need to automate check-in, boost revenue and manage your flights from the ground while your customers enjoy the amazing views from the sky.

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Go Contactless

‍As you head into your peak season, contactless check-in is key to building trust with guests and starting their experience off right. Here are a few ways to cut down on time spent waiting in line and avoid unnecessary contact with staff:

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Embrace the Power of Digital Waivers

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We all agree: safety is of paramount importance for any helicopter tour. This is even more true with safety measures during a pandemic. Digital Waivers (like Peek Pro’s) allow guests to sign before or at arrival from any device, saving everyone time and cutting down on contact. See who’s all set for takeoff and who still needs to sign off in the same place as all your booking info. Best of all, digital waivers collect the emails of all customers who sign a waiver, giving you quick access to contact them for that five star review after the tour is over! Never worry about scrambling for a pen or clipboard to sign those pesky paper waivers!

QR Codes

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Check-in shouldn’t be a long process. That’s why QR Codes are perfect for streamlining your guests' in-person experience. The QR code market already exists in a big way, with 37% of Americans saying they used QR codes in 2019. Complete the process from a safe distance using any QR Code, whether it's embedded in an email or printed out on a ticket or receipt. Standing in line at the front office is a thing of the past!

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Custom Manifests

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Multiple tours happening at the same time? Manage and send information to your pilots with Custom Manifests. All information for specific tours found in one place and sent directly to those in charge means knowing when to take off and when to land without worrying about communication in the middle of the tour.

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Set Free Your Pricing

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Control your activity prices effortlessly with these three amazing features. Set prices to fill up every tour and seat you offer to maximize profit while providing a cost suitable for your customers.

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Set Up Dynamic Pricing Rules

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Specific times call for specific pricing. Airlines and major retailers  change pricing for certain days, so why shouldn’t your helicopter tour? When the department store Sears implemented price changes on 25% of its products during the holidays, they saw a 17% increase in online sales! Whether it's holidays, peak summer, or just a particular day of the week, automatically optimize your pricing based on the time or day to grow revenue. Charge more in the busy season or offer discounts for offseason to maximize sales no matter the time of year. Looking to fill seats on a flight? Easily lower the price once your tour has met the minimum to encourage bookings so that all tours are filled with happy customers.

Split Payments

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Cash or Credit? Doesn’t matter! Facilitate larger group bookings by offering the option to split payments. Split Payments allows customers to pay for the tour among multiple people with any form of payment. Not enough cash? No problem! Charge custom amounts and see the remaining balance updated in real time. If one customer needs a refund, easily manage the transaction with the click of a button. Don’t hunt through the register or rack your brain getting the correct change ever again!

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Bundle Tours Together

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You’ve probably got some amazing tours. Let your customers take advantage of reserving multiple tours at once! Encourage your customers to book another tour with the Bundles feature. Offer sunrise and sunset tours with a simple, one-click booking rather than offering them as separate activities to increase revenue. Build itineraries for longer trips, offer group discounts and combine popular tour packages together to upsell the best experiences to all your customers.

Boost Revenue At Every Step

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Finding new ways to grow revenue is never easy. That’s why we’ve done the hard work for you! Showcase additional services with ease with tech features that help you boost cart sizes and reach new markets.

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Upsell with Add-Ons

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Do you offer a VIP service for your helicopter trips, such as celebratory champagne, photography or video packages? Offering premium products is a great way to increase shopping cart size and add additional revenue to existing activities. In 2020, Peek Partners saw a revenue uplift of 3% when using Add-Ons. Easily include these services right from your booking flow so that your customers enjoy a one-of-a-kind experience that helps you grow revenue at the same time.

Custom Gift Cards

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Customers leaving satisfied? Let your previous customers bring in new ones through the option of Custom Gift Cards. On average, helicopter tour operators using Peek Pro see that gift cards make up 4% of their total revenue! If your guests loved their time in the sky, they’re more likely to want to share it with their friends and family as well. 76% of adults decided to purchase at least one gift card or e-gift during holiday shopping last year. Gift cards go unused? No problem - you receive the revenue when the card is purchased, not when it’s redeemed. Easily create your gift cards using Peek Pro’s pre-customized templates to boost sales during slow season, holidays or for any special occasion.

Personalized Reseller Links

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Explore different ways to advertise your business aside from the conventional tactics. Working with hotels, influencers or other resellers is a great way to grow revenue and market yourself outside of your own endeavors. Make reselling simple with Personalized Reseller Links that direct customers from the link directly to your tours. Just set up your trusted affiliates and attach their commission. Then include specialized URLs to track the bookings that go through your resellers and remain organized as the reservations flow in. Don’t worry if the customer abandons the booking - Peek Pro automatically tracks the purchase so we’ll know if they come back to purchase later.

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Automate, Automate, Automate

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Focus more on your experiences and spend less time in the office. Time-saving automation tools will save you the hassle of repeatedly contacting customers with messages for reviews and follow-ups.

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Capture Abandoned Bookings

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Everyone hates abandoned bookings - that’s a given. Customers may leave your page to search for similar options or simply to forget to return to their cart. Make the most of this lost opportunity with Abandoned Bookings. Peek Pro gathers contact information early on in the booking process and follows up with an email if customers leave the page, allowing them to pick up exactly where they left off. Find extra success by offering promo codes or highlighting customer testimonials to reel in those lost customers. Best of all, Peek Partners have seen a 10+% increase in bookings using this must-have feature.

Showcase Reviews

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Reviews spread out over different sites? Build customer trust and grow interest by highlighting all of your stellar reviews using the SmartReviews tool! Our reviews widget is embedded directly on your page to showcase honest and verified customer comments. This is a great tool to increase reviews and some Peek Partners have even tripled the amount of their reviews through this feature. Your customers shouldn’t have to switch from site to site to find honest testimonials about your helicopter experience and won’t have to anymore!

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Use Automated Emails

‍Did you know that 51% of businesses use some kind of email automation? You should too! Whether it’s a confirmation or reminder, Automated Emails reduces the time spent contacting customers and allows for customization to include your own personal touch. Even if it’s a cancellation, you can stay friendly and offer a rescheduled tour later on. Streamline your email process while staying consistent with your message using this simple feature!