Are you tired of working in silos and missing out on potential partnerships? Well, it’s time to say goodbye to those lonely days and hello to the power of collaboration!
In the travel and tourism space, we have a diverse set of views and opinions, but that’s the beauty of our industry. We’re a passionate group who loves a good debate. But when the going gets tough, we come together like a tight-knit family.
At Wetu, we’ve always believed that collaboration and connection is the key to success. We know that we’re great at what we do, but we also know that we can’t do everything. That’s why we’re always on the lookout for like-minded businesses to partner with.
So, let’s continue to harness the power of collaboration and co-branding as a tool for success.
How can a successful collaboration or co-branding strategy help your business?
With more players entering the market, it has become increasingly important for individual businesses to stand out. By working together, we can create those unique and authentic experiences that resonate with today’s consumers who are looking for something special to share with their loved ones.
As travellers become more conscious of their impact on the environment and local communities, sustainability has become crucial in their decision-making process. By running a sustainable travel business, you can differentiate yourself from competitors and appeal to a growing market of environmentally and socially conscious travellers.
And let’s not forget the boost in exposure that collaboration could bring to your business. By working together, brands can expand their reach and tap into each other’s customer bases. This can lead to increased traffic to attractions, higher occupancy rates for hotels, and more bookings for tour operators. The impact on your bottom line will be immediately apparent. Especially when you consider that collaborating brands can share marketing and promotional costs, allowing them to reach a wider audience while keeping their expenses down.
What does collaboration and co-branding look like in the tourism industry?
There have been several successful examples of brand collaboration and co-branding in the African tourism industry. A few years ago, Abercrombie & Kent teamed up with Sanctuary Retreats to offer customised safari experiences for travellers. The partnership allowed Abercrombie & Kent to offer unique, off-the-beaten-path experiences, while Sanctuary Retreats gained access to a new market of high-end travellers.
Airbnb got in on the action too and partnered with Cape Town Tourism to promote responsible tourism and sustainable travel. They held workshops and training sessions for Airbnb hosts and launched a marketing campaign to show off Cape Town’s beauty as a responsible tourism destination.
And Wetu established partnerships with notable companies such as NightsBridge and Tourplan. Wetu makes magic with travel content, NightsBridge conjures up live availability for property marketers, and Tourplan simplifies tour quotations and finance. It means technology has been tailor-designed to manage each of those moving parts expertly. We collaborate to innovate comprehensive solutions that bring you the best benefits from each system.
But you don’t have to be a big player to make an impact. Even smaller initiatives with SMEs in the tourism space can make a difference. Think a hotel partnering with a local tour operator to offer guided tours of the area or teaming up with a local artist to offer painting classes to guests. By offering unique experiences, businesses can set themselves apart from their competitors and create an unforgettable experience for their customers.
How to get started?
It can feel overwhelming to come up with a successful collab strategy. A good place to start is the Wetu platform where the exchange of information is more seamless than ever before.
If you’re a Wetu user, you can tap into an incredible interconnected system. Our software allows you to build a booking in one system, and the details are sent automatically to the other system where a gorgeous, interactive itinerary is generated. The result is easy to update with no duplication of efforts and fewer errors. Quoting gets done faster, with superior outputs.
Imagine this: A tour consultant needs to build a detailed itinerary with beautiful imagery and content, as efficiently and quickly as possible. They start off by populating their Tour Operating System, in this instance, Tourplan, with all the traveller’s preferred accommodations, live availability, and rates. They then send that booking information through to Wetu and within a few clicks, the itinerary integrates into the Wetu Itinerary Builder and populates a high-quality Digital Output. The result is an itinerary that’s interactive and user-friendly, with stunning imagery, detailed descriptions, a map, and directions. The Digital Output can be distributed to a Umapped itinerary sharing platform, where it can be viewed by a global community of travel companies, giving your products even more exposure. In addition to that, the end traveller can explore their beautifully curated and interactive itinerary on Wetu’s TravelKey app – a digital interface that’s intuitive and easy to use.
This scenario shows the power of symbiotic software partnerships that cover all aspects of travel planning, from start to finish. With seamless processes and integrated tools, travel professionals can provide a superior selling experience for their clients.
So why not take advantage of these powerful partnerships and streamline your travel planning process today? Let’s get creative, collaborate, and make the tourism industry an even more amazing experience for travellers around the world!
