Category: Uncategorized

What Does a Concierge Service Do?

There are many benefits of a concierge service – we will arrange every aspect of your life that you don’t have the time, inclination or expertise to do yourself so that you can maximise your free time.

We will arrange your holidays, recommend and book restaurants and bars all over the world, source tickets for the theatre, concerts and VIP events, and advise on a range of lifestyle services.

We can also help with your every day tasks and errands to help life run more smoothly (where to find a good gym, sending flowers to a family member or arranging a Christmas party, for example) – we’re a bit like a virtual personal assistant but for your leisure time.

Who Are Concierge Services For?

Concierge services are aimed at people who lead busy lives, who want or need someone to help with running their lives – it’s for people who would rather spend their time actually enjoying life instead of planning to enjoy life.

It’s also for people who want great service, who want to tap in to an insider’s knowledge and for people who want to be able to access exclusive events and services.

The benefits of a concierge service include freeing up your time, offering you convenience, making you ‘in the know’ and giving you great access.

Below we have listed the key benefits of using a concierge service such as Bon Vivant.

A Personal Pro-Active Service Tailored to You

The best concierge services will give you your own personal concierge, so that you deal with the same person at all times, for all requests. Your lifestyle manager will learn your tastes and know exactly what you need, offering a pro-active service, pre-empting what you would like to do.

At Bon Vivant, we like to say that there isn’t always a best place for everyone – but there is always the best place for you.

Your Personal Guidebook and Search Engine

Researching holiday destinations, booking hotels and restaurants or sourcing a unique birthday or anniversary gift can be extremely lengthy and arduous tasks.

Why search blindly on the internet when you can ask for a personal recommendation from an expert with a huge book of contacts?

We’ll recommend someone you can trust, removing the unknown element of encountering untested ground.

Save you Time

Most clients will say that the main benefits of a concierge service is to free up precious time, enabling them to experience the things they love instead of spending time researching, sourcing and booking them.

We offer today’s most priceless commodity – your time.

Access An Expert’s Insider Knowledge and Skills

A good concierge service will always be looking for the best of everything to recommend to their clients, so you will have access to their insider knowledge and expertise.

Want to know the best hotel in Paris? The best new restaurant in New York? The secluded beach resort in the Caribbean? The hidden bar in London? Your concierge will know.

At Bon Vivant, we have a fortnightly luxury lifestyle newsletter and an almost daily travel and lifestyle blog with information on the best new restaurants, hotels and exclusive events, especially for our members.

We also get invited to new openings, launches and exclusive events – one of the many benefits of a concierge service.

The Convenience

Sometimes it’s not about saving time or offering solutions to a problem you can’t solve yourself – it’s about the convenience of having someone on hand, at the end of the phone or email, to help run your life, enabling you to maximise your free time. It can be as simple as that.

Special Privileges and Complimentary Benefits

A true concierge service will strive to negotiate for special privileges and benefits for its members, looking to add value where possible.

Whether it’s an upgrade and additional complimentary benefits at top luxury and boutique hotels, priority reservation and complimentary drinks at the best restaurants, free entry to exclusive clubs, or discounts at a host of other lifestyle services.

One of the benefits of a concierge service is that we can add value, make you a VIP and save you money.

Your Own Personal Travel Expert

Through our Virtuoso affiliation, we can make you a VIP every single time you travel.

Your travel concierge will find out what kind of holiday you prefer, what style or design of hotel, what level of activity you prefer and much more to tailor the perfect holiday for you.

Online travel resources can sometimes be a great source of knowledge, but how do you know if that recommendation can be trusted or if it’s right for you? Online review sites and guides are often skewed to the middle and lower market and can show a distorted view of the luxury market.

Your personal concierge will become your own personal guidebook, making sure you get the best out of every trip.

Your Home Help

A concierge can source any home service to improve the quality of your life. Want to hire a cleaner? Find a reputable decorator? Find a nanny? Your concierge will have the contacts to help.

Grant you Exclusive Access

We are able to obtain tickets, including VIP and hospitality tickets, to a wide variety of exclusive and sold out events, including music concerts, theatre and opera performances, sports games, premières, charity balls and events in the world of film, fashion and TV.

For music fans, we have access to VIP seats and boxes at all major concert venues, so you never have to miss your favourite artist.

Conclusion

A concierge service is not for everyone – some people will always choose to do things themselves, others will enjoy spending hours on research and some will feel they just don’t need external help.

But for those in the know, there are countless benefits of a concierge service  who can help client with every travel, lifestyle and leisure need that they don’t have the time, expertise or inclination to do themselves.

What is a concierge?

Firstly, it’s important to understand what we’re talking about when we say ‘concierge’ because while the word may be used interchangeably with a ‘lifestyle management service’ and they both offer assistance with tasks and errands, the two are very different.

For starters, lifestyle management services typically offer a broader range of services beyond traditional concierge tasks. This may include assistance with travel planning, event coordination, household management, personal shopping, wellness services, and more. On the other hand, concierge services are typically more thought of in a hotel or upmarket residential building setting, where they focus on assisting with immediate and practical tasks for guests, such as making reservations, arranging transportation, procuring tickets, running errands, etc.

Lifestyle management services offer highly personalized assistance tailored to each client’s individual needs and preferences. Lifestyle managers often develop long-term relationships with their clients, working closely with them to meet ongoing needs and adapt to changing circumstances. In contrast, concierge services may often have more transactional relationships with clients, fulfilling specific requests quickly and efficiently without necessarily delving deeply into the client’s lifestyle or preferences.

One small caveat here, too—the term “concierge” isn’t always met with a smile. In specific contexts, particularly within the adult entertainment industry, it’s used euphemistically. So, you definitely wouldn’t want to mix up your dinner reservation with, ahem, other services!

What are the types of lifestyle services?

Travel lifestyle service

A travel lifestyle service ensures a seamless and personalized travel experience. They plan trips, including flights, accommodations, and activities tailored to client preferences. VIP airport services expedite check-in and security. They book luxury accommodations, arrange transportation, and curate bespoke excursions. Special occasion planning, like birthdays and proposals, is also available. Travel insurance guidance and 24/7 assistance are provided for emergencies.

Hotel lifestyle service

Hotel lifestyle services assist guests during their stay, offering personalized dining, shopping, and entertainment recommendations. They arrange transportation, event tickets, and restaurant reservations, catering to guests’ preferences. They organize tours and activities, ensuring a memorable experience. Special requests like room amenities or occasion arrangements are also handled. Some hotels provide access to exclusive concierge lounges with additional amenities.

Medicine lifestyle service

A medicine lifestyle service offers personalized support in managing healthcare needs. Services include medical appointment coordination, healthcare provider referrals, and prescription management. They assist in organising medical records and act as advocates in navigating the healthcare system. Additionally, they provide access to health and wellness resources and benefits such as 24/7 medical professional support.

Shopping lifestyle service

A shopping lifestyle service provides personalized assistance for various shopping needs. They offer services like personal shopping, gift sourcing, and product research. They handle special requests like customizations and facilitate luxury shopping experiences. Additionally, they manage returns and exchanges and offer rewards programmers.

Lifestyle management concierge

Any good lifestyle management service should ideally encompass all of the above and potentially much more. Besides providing comprehensive support and assistance to aid individuals in daily tasks and enhance efficiency and enjoyment, they handle errands, home management, event planning, travel booking, and medical aid. They can also go further by mirroring family offices, which might include tax and legal advice, wealth management, etc. While more specific boundaries separate a concierge from a lifestyle management service to a family office, some overlap while transitioning between them is to be expected. A good lifestyle management service should also provide health and wellness guidance, personal shopping, and entertainment arrangements. Specialized services like pet care or relocation assistance are also available, tailored to unique needs.

What are the benefits of a lifestyle management service?

Saves time

It can save someone time by taking on tasks, coordinating processes efficiently, providing expert guidance, offering round-the-clock availability, and delivering personalised assistance tailored to their needs. Whether managing daily errands, planning a special event, or organising a complex trip, a concierge service helps individuals reclaim their time and focus on what matters most to them.

Reliable

A good lifestyle management service should be reliable and instil confidence in customers by offering consistent assistance, prompt response times, efficient execution, dependable resources, consistent quality, and peace of mind. Customers can rely on the service to be a trusted partner in managing tasks and achieving goals, leading to enhanced satisfaction and loyalty over time.

Exclusive privileges and benefits

It should come with exclusive privileges and add an extra layer of luxury, convenience, and sophistication to the customer experience. By offering access to exclusive events, VIP treatment, priority reservations, special discounts, personalised recommendations, and insider insights, customers can enjoy enhanced experiences and create lasting memories that go beyond the ordinary.

Exclusive access

Exclusive access is necessary for any high-level lifestyle management service, allowing customers to enjoy unique and privileged experiences beyond the ordinary. By providing access to restricted locations, exclusive events, private tours, VIP treatment, reserved seating, and special discounts, customers can elevate their experiences and create genuinely unique, memorable moments.

Emergency assistance

Emergency assistance is a critical aspect where a top-tier lifestyle service shines, outperforming basic concierge services. With exclusive access, customers benefit from swift and reliable support in times of need. Whether it’s a medical emergency requiring immediate attention or a last-minute travel hiccup threatening to derail plans, a trusted lifestyle management service ensures peace of mind with efficient solutions tailored to individual needs. The round-the-clock availability of dedicated professionals ensures that no matter the situation, help is just a call away.

Experience personal lifestyle management services tailored to you with errandables

With so many lifestyle management services available today at various prices, choosing one that’s right for you can be difficult. That’s why we’re going to explain how errandables bests its competition with The errandables Difference:

Meaning What We Say
Many lifestyle management providers claim to fulfil your every request, but what sets errandables apart is our ability to substantiate our promises. When we say we go above and beyond, we mean it. For example, if you want a table at a fully booked restaurant, we’ll send a lifestyle manager to charm a reservation out of the manager in person. This philosophy drives everything we do, and we proudly say “yes” to the impossible.

• 98% fulfilment rate on lifestyle requests
• “The ultimate wish granters”—FT Wealth
• Quality control monitoring from start to finish

The Human Touch
At errandables, we take an active interest in our members, getting to know them personally so that we understand their unique needs and desires. We’re not reactive; we’re proactive. We make suggestions and recommendations based on your tastes, preferences, and requirements. Our job is to be here for you.

• 24/7/365 Dedicated Personal Assistant
• Truly personalised services
• In-house team of luxury specialists and lifestyle managers

Financial Freedom
Our mantra is “more personal attention for each valued member.” Because our service is by invitation only, we know each member intimately. You’re not just a client but a member of our errandables family. Our personalized relationship with you means that we fully understand your creditworthiness and history, allowing us to be more flexible than other card issuers when it comes to changing spending limits to suit your needs. You won’t have to fill in forms before planned big purchases or wait for authorizations—we give you financial freedom on your terms.

• Specially negotiated discounts on yacht charters, private jets and more
• Transparent and competitive pricing
• Spending limit flexibility to give you true financial freedom

Effortless Living
We anticipate your needs and preferences, whether it’s a bowl of fruit or a chilled bottle of champagne in your hotel room upon arrival or arranging a chauffeured transfer to the airport. We make your experience seamless, monitoring every aspect of your itinerary to identify and solve any kinks before they become problems. With errandables, you’ll enjoy a perfect, personalized, and hassle-free service every time—that’s the errandables Difference.

• Invitations to a spectrum of desirable events
• Bespoke promotions tailored to your tastes
• Access to a global network of luxury experts and specialists

Procurement as a service is an emerging procurement strategy transforming how organizations of all sizes purchase goods and services. In 2022, the global procurement as a service market was valued at USD 6.15 billion, with an estimated growth of 11.1% from 2023 to 2030.

Similar to the SaaS model, the idea behind procurement as a service is simple: instead of relying on in-house teams or traditional procurement models, organizations can outsource some, if not all, of their procurement needs to a provider that uses technology, people, and expertise.

By streamlining the procurement function, this model gives organizations greater control over their spending and better visibility of the entire process.

In this guide, we’ll cover the basics of the modern purchasing process, including procurement as a service, how it works, its benefits, and what to look for when selecting a provider.

Procurement as a Service Definition

At its core, procurement as a service is a comprehensive cloud-based procurement model that involves outsourcing a portion or the entire process to a company that provides access to procurement services and software on demand. Also called Platform as a Service (PaaS), it’s a great way to embrace digital transformation without incurring all of the costs.

Traditionally, procurement operations have been handled internally by a company’s employees or outsourced to a third-party provider (business process outsourcing). The former is often time-consuming and expensive, requiring a dedicated staff to source and manage vendors throughout the procurement lifecycle.

On the other hand, procurement outsourcing to managed services can be beneficial, but may not offer the same level of cost savings and control over procurement processes.

From sourcing and negotiating contracts to promoting the timely delivery of goods and services, the procurement service provider typically ensures all your procurement needs are met without investing in your own IT infrastructure or staff.

Procurement service providers offer a more efficient, cost-effective procurement solution for organizations by leveraging technology, automation, staff, and expertise.

By taking care of all or part of the procure-to-pay process, businesses can pare down the time and resources needed to manage the day-to-day activities associated with procurement (like contract management, risk management, supply chain management, and more), allowing them to better focus on income-generating tasks.

What Are the Types of Procurement?

Procurement is an integral part of any organization’s operation. It involves the acquisition of goods and services from external sources, typically through a competitive bidding process. The four types of procurement are:

• Direct procurement: Involves the purchase of goods and services that directly relate to the operations.
• Indirect procurement: Focuses on non-core items (indirect spend), such as office supplies or janitorial services.
• Material procurement: Tangible items purchased from a vendor, such as raw materials or software subscriptions.
• Services procurement: People-based services required for the operations, such as consulting or IT services.

What Is the Difference between Procurement and Purchasing?

Regarding procurement vs. purchasing, the two are often used interchangeably but refer to two different processes. In a nutshell, procurement is the broader process of acquiring goods and services for an organization. It involves research, negotiation, and evaluation, to ensure that the right products are purchased at the most cost-effective prices.

Some of the most common procurement activities are procurement data management, strategic sourcing, supplier relationship management, cost analysis, spend management, and risk mitigation.

In contrast, purchasing is just one element of the typical procurement process. It’s essentially ordering from a vendor or supplier after due diligence on pricing and quality. Other purchasing activities include supplier management, contract execution, and payment processing.

What Are the Benefits of Procurement as a Service?

Even though procurement as a service is still relatively new, most companies see the value and benefit of leveraging this best-in-class model. With procurement services, they can streamline their operations and reduce costs without sacrificing quality.

As with any business process, procurement is time-consuming and complex. By outsourcing some or all of this process to a service provider, businesses can free up valuable resources for more important tasks.

Here are some of the key benefits of using the procurement as a service model:

1. Cost savings opportunities

Tapping into the economies of scale provided by a service provider can help organizations save money on procurement functions, particularly for high-volume purchases. They often get access to better deals and discounts that businesses wouldn’t have been able to negotiate on their own.

In addition, you can save significantly on labor costs and other overhead expenses since the provider will take care of some or all the necessary tasks involved in sourcing and procurement.

2. Access to deep procurement expertise

Most procurement service providers have deep experience in the field, which allows them to leverage their expertise when selecting suppliers, negotiating contracts, and managing the overall process. They also provide valuable guidance on market trends and industry best practices, which helps businesses stay ahead of the competition.

This expertise is incredibly helpful for companies just starting their procurement strategy or looking for optimization of their existing processes.

3. Faster procurement process

With new technologies and automation, many of the manual and tedious tasks involved in procurement are eliminated or streamlined. As a result, the process can be completed in a fraction of the time it would take using traditional methods.

Necessary documents such as purchase orders, invoices, and contracts can be accurately generated in minutes, allowing organizations to reduce cycle times and make quick decisions to stay agile in a competitive market.

4. Better control and visibility

Since the provider is doing the bulk of the procurement work, organizations have more control over the procurement process and can keep better tabs on where their money is going.

With the help of technology, they can get real-time insights into their procurement activities, enabling them to make more informed decisions about what to purchase and when. They also get more visibility into their suppliers and vendors, allowing them to track performance metrics, such as on-time delivery or cost savings over time.

5. Improved compliance and value tracking

Rather than relying on manual processes and paper trails, procurement services use advanced automation tools to capture and track data, which ensures that everything is recorded accurately and compliant with internal policies and external regulations.

It makes it easier for organizations to track spending more closely, identify opportunities for savings, and demonstrate compliance with relevant regulations.

What to Look for When Selecting a Provider?

Getting started with procurement as a service is relatively simple, but selecting the right provider for your needs can be tricky.

When choosing a provider, organizations should look for one that offers flexibility and scalability in their offerings. It is also crucial to ensure that the provider can provide comprehensive support throughout the process, from category management to contract negotiation.

1. Identify your level of need

Start by auditing your current procurement processes to assess the strengths and weaknesses of your operations. This step will help identify areas needing improvement and the amount of support you need from a provider.

If you’re just starting, basic procurement services may be enough. But if your organization is more complex and has multiple departments, you should consider a provider that can provide end-to-end support.

2. Determine your provider’s level of involvement

The level of involvement you require from your provider will depend on the complexity of your procurement needs.

For instance, an intermediary may be enough if you just need help with vendor selection and negotiation. If you’re looking for a hands-off approach, you should look for a provider that can handle the entire process from start to finish. On the contrary, you may only need minimal help, in which purchasing software would suffice.

3. Consider offshore and onshore providers

Budget is often a major consideration when selecting a procurement service provider. Offshore providers may be more cost-effective but may not provide the same quality or guarantee results as onshore providers.

While onshore procurement can be more expensive, it offers greater control over the process. Onshore providers are also often better equipped to deal with specific local regulations and taxes.

4. Check the provider’s affiliations

Larger providers often have affiliations with professional organizations and industry-leading companies. These affiliations can give you an insight into their practices and provide additional assurance that the provider is reliable and trustworthy.

However, providers act as middlemen between sellers and buyers, so a little bias may be unavoidable, especially if they receive seller commissions.

Pick the Right Procurement Service Solution

Procurement as a service is quickly becoming the go-to solution for businesses looking to reduce costs and optimize efficiency in their supply chain operations.  If you plan to grow your business, look for an all-inclusive, comprehensive solution with custom controls.

Errandables offers a procurement solution that covers every aspect of the user experience, from simple intake management to advanced PO approvals, streamlined supplier management, real-time integrations, and much more. Companies also benefit from AP automation, multi-entity management, and other modules that make Errandables a one-stop solution for all of your modern accounting needs.

The right procurement solution will eliminate the need for in-house staff, allowing organizations to access the expertise of experienced procurement professionals without investing in costly infrastructure, staff, or training. With the right provider, organizations can benefit from cost savings, industry expertise, more efficient procurement processes, enhanced visibility, and improved compliance.

Destination Services

What is Destination Management and Why is it Important

Destination management plays a vital role in helping organizations in the travel and tourism industry achieve their goals. It can unlock many benefits, such as delighting the travelers so they return to the destination, increasing revenue, and building a sustainable plan for the future.

However, the term destination management still escapes many people. Given how important it is, we wanted to help you understand the definition of destination management. We even went one step further and refined a list of the most important stats, best practices, and real-life case studies.

What is destination management?

Before we define destination management, we have to define a destination. A destination can be anything, including a country, region, province, district, city, park, museum, neighborhood, etc. Destination management is a comprehensive process that includes the management of different aspects of the destination.

Destination management can include anything of the following:

• Local resources
• Accommodation
• Amenities
• Events & activities
• Environmental concerns
• Marketing efforts
• Transportation
• Tourist attractions

Destination management can also include local businesses and leverage local knowledge to help create immersive experiences and attract even more travelers to visit the destination. Every destination management system (DMS) is unique. Some may focus on local resources and accommodation, while others can focus on tourist attractions, events, and activities.

Stats about destination management

The most important stat for assessing the success of a destination management strategy is the length of stay or LOS. LOS is a parameter that shows you the ratio of the number of guests and the number of total arrivals. A recent study assessed and compared LOS across 32 destinations worldwide, including well-developed destinations and those in emerging economies.

The global trend of LOS is falling by almost 15%. There is one exemption, though – the LOS of individual destination countries is increasing.  

Next, we have the noteworthy change in how destination management organizations (DMO) approach destination management. Over 50% of these organizations will enlarge their scope. They are no longer only focused on brand promotion and traditional marketing – DMOs are shifting toward enhancing the sustainability of destinations and their overall competitiveness.

It goes in line with the fact that over 50% of global travelers want to travel more sustainably, and almost 70% expect to see more sustainable tourism options the travel industry offers. Furthermore, over 60% of travelers want to contribute to supporting the destination’s recovery efforts. 

What is the importance of destination management?

Destination management is vital for several reasons as it benefits the entire area defined as a ‘destination’. Many people only see the benefit of tourists bringing more money to the destination. However, this is only one side-benefit of a well-planned and executed destination management strategy.

Destination management can help attract sponsors and investors. This financial injection can help local businesses to grow and thrive. Thanks to this cash, the villages and towns in the area can be revitalized. The surplus of money can help revitalize the economy of an entire region or even an entire country. 

Since destination management adds value to a destination, we are talking about a long-term effect. It simply means the destination and country it’s in will continue to reap these benefits in the foreseeable future. 

What is the difference between destination marketing and destination management?

Destination marketing and destination management can not be used interchangeably as these are two completely different things. As previously stated, destination management refers to managing different elements found in one destination. On the most basic level, these elements include physical locations, people, products, and services.

However, when you combine these elements, you have the attractions, transportation, accommodation, and hospitality of a destination. The role of destination management is to manage these elements and ensure sustainability and consistency in the travel experience.

Destination marketing is one of the most important elements of destination management too. In other words, destination management has to encompass destination marketing as a strategy. Destination marketing aims to inform potential visitors about the destination by focusing on communicating its values. Ultimately, it has to be able to persuade travelers to visit it.

What is the function of a destination management company?

Before you work with a DMC, you need to know what it is. The best way to understand the function of a destination management company (DMC) is to know what this management organization stands for.

Gain a richer perspective on the pivotal roles and advantages of Destination Management Companies in the tourism sector. This article delves into the operational nuances of these companies, shedding light on their integral part in shaping travel experiences.

DMC is a for-profit tourism business that can offer various services to groups and individual travelers. These services range from meeting your travel and accommodation needs to meeting your entertainment and leisure interests. 

DMCs have extensive knowledge of the destination and resources and are well connected with local businesses. It enables these organizations to coordinate and implement anything found on their travel options and itineraries. Not all DMCs are the same, which makes their specific functions vary. 

For instance, a DMC can specialize in program design and logistics management but offer no supplier management and accounting services. Other DMCs can have all these services included in their offer.

Best practices in destination management

Destination management encompasses many unique destination aspects, making it hard to distinguish good from bad practices. Here are the noteworthy best practices in destination management that touch on different aspects of destinations.

Moving away from one-size-fits-all

Many DMCs have a one-size-fits-all approach to communicating the value of a destination. However, the recent COVID-19 pandemic proved that it might not be the best approach. Diversifying the marketing mix and adding personalized messages to attract both local andinternational travelers is a better solution.

While it may increase the research and marketing costs, this tactic can offer better results in the long run. It enables DMCs to identify destination aspects that cater to the needs of travelers in the local and international tourism markets. It can help the destination thrive, even if unforeseen circumstances occur.

Development of the infrastructure

The destination’s infrastructure is key to attracting new tourists and accommodating the increasing number of tourists visiting the destination. Given the scale of work that has to be planned, managed, and completed, this practice involves the authorities in the destination. The local governments and councils must be swift to recognize the need of travelers. 

To do it, they need to work with tour operators and travel agents. They must quickly follow with required infrastructure upgrades or developments, which often involves issuing relevant permits, funding the projects, and overseeing their development.

Smart visitor dispersal

The famous 5-places-to-visit and 10-things-you-must-do travel blogs have the tourists always visiting the same locations in the destination. However, this practice hinders the development of the destination as a whole. That’s simply because tourists always end up dining at the same restaurants and staying at the same hotels.

The best way to facilitate the development of the entire destination and drive its economic growth is to disperse visitors across the destination. At the same time, this practice can improve traveler satisfaction rates as they get to explore new and less-famous locations while still having access to the most famous sights.

Custom-tailored tourism destination marketing

We’ve already established that destination marketing is one of the key aspects of destination management. In the era where travelers look for personalized experiences, traditional marketing has very few things to offer.

That’s why DMCs started custom-tailored tourism destination marketing campaigns. They use a variety of channels to reach out to potential visitors. However, instead of delivering a uniform message, they communicate the unique destinations’ values to attract people with specific needs and expectations.

Travel responsibly

The increasing number of tourists in one destination can disrupt the everyday life of the locals, affect the region’s sustainability, and even result in an increased number of traffic accidents. That’s where the next best destination management practice, ‘travel responsibly’, comes into play.

Responsible travel can encompass various initiatives, including educating visitors about the local’s way of life, ensuring safety on the roads, enhancing public transport capacity, and building new parking spaces. The goal is to minimize the disruptions tourists can create while improving the safety of visitors and the locals.

Real-life examples of destination management that used best practices

A best practice in destination management is just a tip. To see the value of the best practice, you need to see it used in real-life.

Hotels in La Cerdanya focus on the local tourism market

La Cerdanya is one of the most attractive areas that international travelers like to visit while exploring Spain. However, the number of guests significantly decreased due to the travel restrictions. The hotels in the region recognized the current one-size-fits-all destination planning and management is no longer viable.

Catering to the needs of people in the local tourism market enabled the hotels in this Spanish region to attract more guests from Spain, keep their doors open, and even increase revenue.

Croatian cities accommodating to the cruising industry

The international cruise industry is one of the fastest developing sub-sectors of the travel industry. As a country with a beautiful coastline, it has a limited number of ports to accommodate cruises. The particular need for this type of accommodation exploded after some Croatian cities were featured in famous movies and TV shows.

In collaboration with DMCs, cruise companies, and tour operators, Croatia identified the key ports that need to be upgraded to accommodate cruisers. As a result, cruising tourism in Croatia exploded, generating more than 400% of revenue compared to previous seasons.

Copenhagen visitor dispersal program

Wonderful Copenhagen, the Danish capital region’s official tourism organization, recognized the visitor dispersal needs and benefits it can offer both local and international visitors. The study found that 80% of locals want more dispersal of visitors, and travelers are more satisfied when they visit five or more neighborhoods.

Wonderful Copenhagen took action in collaboration with the local authorities. The new framework is named 10xCopenhagen. Over 50% of the new hotels in Copenhagen are being built in surrounding neighborhoods. It will help promote sustainable tourism and improve the visitors’ overall experience and satisfaction rates.

The ICS travel inspiration magazine

The ICS is one of the world’s leading DMCs. While the company still relies on traditional marketing to achieve some of its goals, it has also launched a more custom-tailored campaign. The company found a sweet spot for its campaign not to be too aggressive.

The ICS launched an online magazine with the sole purpose of helping travelers look for travel inspiration. They named the magazine The ICS Odyssey. Every new edition features a new destination highlighting a unique experience it can offer.

Destination Queenstown’s responsible travel initiative

When it comes to alpine destinations available on our planet, few can compare to Queenstown, New Zealand. Recently, this destination has become very popular among international travelers. Many people even decided to invest in the region, buying land and building their new homes.

However, Destination Queenstown, a regional travel organization in charge of Queenstown, discovered that residents are troubled with several concerns ranging from over-tourism to sustainability.

The organization reacted with many destination management initiatives to make the stay and travel in Queenstown more responsible. They invested in roads, public transport, and parking, but most importantly, they also introduced a visitor care code to enhance and promote travel responsibility.

Conclusion

While tourism can be one of the factors that help a destination or entire area to thrive, it has to be well-planned. Destination management is the only holistic approach to delivering this to a destination. As a coordinated process, it helps manage all the key elements that make a destination.

Now that you know what destination management is, the best practices, and real-life examples, you can better understand this concept and see the value destination management creates for the destination and tourists, DMCs, and travel agents.

Executive Apartments? Corporate Apartments? Short-Term Rentals? Serviced Apartments? Oh my!
Some business trips don’t require more than a few nights in a hotel room before you’re on your way back home. However, those more extensive work travels don’t have to be relegated to small, cramped hotel rooms. If you’re visiting a new city for a few months, especially frequently, you deserve a space to stretch out and call home – especially since booking a hotel room for months at a time can rack up a huge bill.

The long term guest will look to executive apartments, corporate apartments, short-term rentals, and serviced apartments for accommodations. These all fall under the umbrella of corporate housing.

What Is Corporate Housing?

Corporate housing apartments are fully furnished.
The expectation of the long term guests is quite different from the short term traditional hotel guest. The long term guest is looking for an experience of a home away from home. They want to duplicate the experience of home, looking for features like a full service kitchen, comfortable bed, and stylish décor.

Most corporate apartments offer the above without all the bells and whistles. Corporate apartments are fully furnished with custom selected furnishings, linens, and décor with amenities such as weekly housekeeping services and all-inclusive utilities.

Who Uses Corporate Housing and Why?

You’re on an assignment for a project in a new city. Your manager has chosen you to head up this initiative, but it requires traveling to a field office and finding housing in your new city. You know you’ll be there for at least three months, but chances are you’ll have to extend your trip. As a business traveler, you’re likely going to look for a corporate housing facility for your “medium-term” accommodation.

Over a billion room nights are sold each year across all hospitality platforms. Between 87% to 90% of these are transient travelers who stay between 1 to 3 room nights in traditional hotels. The remainder are looking for stays that can range from a couple of weeks to 6 months or more. These travelers are traditionally relocating employees or on medium-term assignment, and they come from a variety of industries:

• Healthcare
• Education
• Interns
• Consulting
• Technology

There is no finite clientele for short-term corporate housing. The need is changing often, and as new industries begin booming and more specializations are created, the need for corporate accommodation will continue to increase.

What Are the Benefits of Corporate Housing?

Cost-effective
Corporate housing corners the market between exorbitant hotel stays and cost-inefficient furnished apartments by blending aspects of both at a more effective price. Typically these apartments are fully furnished, and include all utilities. Errandables short term corporate apartments are booked under one all-inclusive fee, so you won’t ever see a surprise bill at the end of a month.

Corporate apartments are also serviced, meaning that hotel-like amenities from housekeeping and concierge assistance can be included. Errandables all-inclusive price covers weekly housekeeping and a 24-hour concierge service. Your Errandables residence comes fully furnished with Samsung HD televisions, an LG two-in-one washer and dryer, linens, and toiletries.

The average rate for U.S. corporate housing in 2016 was $150 a day. Revisn beats that daily price, and our leases are flexible. After a minimum 30-day stay, you can extend your reservation a few days, weeks, or months whenever you need. Never pay for more room nights than necessary!

A home away from home
Privacy and safety are important features of corporate housing. In a residential setting, it is easy to feel like you are at home instead of a hotel. Revisn provides state-of-the-art security features like our two-way video intercom entry system and ultra-secure in-room Wi-Fi networks. No one but our residents and their preferred guests can step foot through our door, just like at home.

The commitment of a long hotel contract, or signing a lease for a fully-furnished apartment in your satellite city is inconvenient and dated. Corporate apartments eliminate these contracts and unnecessary fees, all while providing an exceptional hotel-like service right to your residence door.

Errandables corporate apartments are perfect for the long-term business traveler, their family, and their pets. Our executive apartments come fully furnished and fully equipped, including modern designer furniture, high-end appliances, cutting-edge technology, and luxurious personal amenities. For everything else, just ask our 24-hour concierge.

Stay a few weeks or a few months while you explore the city. The flexibility of Revisn lets you decide when your stay beings and ends without being locked into calendar months or long-term leases. All you need to bring is a toothbrush and your clothes. We provide the rest. These short-term apartments provide you the residential experience you’ve been looking for.

Choosing a parcel delivery firm is hit-or-miss. In the digital age, courier companies are sprouting without teams. What should you consider before picking courier services?

Many companies depend on product delivery. Some companies have their own delivery vans, whereas others use a third party.

These businesses avoid licenses, regulations, gasoline costs, taxes, and driver training by outsourcing delivery. However, choosing the correct courier services can affect your organization. You want your business to be trusted, and who it works with matters.

With so many road hauliers, couriers, and huge national parcel delivery providers, you may be asking how to choose the best one.

To ensure on-time delivery, check out our top 10 courier services considerations. It matters that the parcel was delivered. Our list will help you avoid scammers and cowboy couriers. Our today’s compilation will definitely help you to select the best courier services.

Speed:

This is a major consideration for many people when selecting a delivery service. Delivery times are crucial for many companies. Even if punctuality is normally not a problem, there may be times when it is imperative to expedite a shipment. So, compare the companies’ typical delivery times and the range of times they can deliver in. Some companies may simply offer standard and urgent delivery, while others may provide a wide selection of options to meet your every demand.

Regions Examined:

You should have confidence in your courier’s ability to meet your delivery needs if your company accepts orders for shipment to customers spread out across the country. Several shipping companies if you sell on a global scale, it’s important to work with a courier that can easily do both domestic and foreign deliveries.

Perspective on Caring:

The care with which your courier transports your shipment is crucial if it contains fragile or perishable items. There are constantly horror stories about couriers being careless with packages, destroying fragile objects, or making repeated vehicle changes to reduce delivery expenses. Make sure you study reviews and have a conversation about how they handle the care of your delivery before making a decision.

Experience:

It’s important to compare the experience and years in business of various courier services. A reputable courier who has experience transporting packages for companies like yours is your best bet. That way, they can give you excellent service and give you tips on how to enhance your own method of distribution.

Appearance:

At the delivery stage, your customer’s first impression of your company will be formed by your courier. Consideration should be given to the care with which their cars and messengers are presented.

Flexibility:

Will your courier be flexible and willing to work with you to suit our needs, or will they be a cold and unresponsive service provider? Know that your courier can accommodate any unique needs or time constraints your company may have.

Advantageous Extras:

To what extent can your supplier assist you beyond simply transporting packages from A to B? Packaging, labelling, warehouse management, logistics, print, and postal fulfilment are just some of the value-added services that some couriers (like us) may provide. If any of these tasks are performed in-house, or if they are not performed at all, considering outsourcing as a possible solution to improve efficiency.

Capacity for Keeping Tabs:

How critical is it that you always know where your shipment is? Do you intend to simply send away packages without ever tracking their progress? A better option would be if your courier provided you with full visibility on your package’s whereabouts and history, down to the minute.

Helping Out Customers:

Pick a logistics provider you can reach by phone and enjoy interacting with. One benefit of dealing with a smaller company is having a direct line of communication with the proprietor. Find out if the drivers are willing to lend a hand with manual loading and unloading.

Price:

Although it’s possible this might be your first choice, it’s really listed last on purpose. You see, couriers are like anything else in life; you pay for what you receive. Choosing the cheaper alternative frequently means settling for worse quality. Be wary of any additional fees that may not be explicitly stated. And choose the finest solution for the company rather than the cheapest.

As a vital aspect of their service, product distribution is an integral part of many industries. Road transport is essential for many businesses, including bakers, flooring stores, printers, promotional product suppliers, builders’ merchants, wholesalers, eBay vendors, and machine makers. While some companies operate their own van fleets, the majority prefer to have someone else handle product distribution so they can focus on what they do best while the delivery company handles things like insurance, maintenance, payroll, and payroll taxes. Choosing an outsourced logistics provider may not seem like a big deal — until something goes wrong, that is. An unprofessional or inconsistent customer delivery might do irreparable harm to your company’s reputation. It is very important to hire reputable courier services.

Summing up:

To have a successful courier experience, there are some important things to remember. First, pick a trustworthy courier. Research their history, consumer feedback, and industry reputation. Choosing a reputable courier service reduces the risk of problems. Second, fully communicate and document delivery details. Provide precise pickup and delivery addresses, sender and receiver contact information, and special instructions. The courier services can better organize and execute the delivery. Thirdly, senders must appropriately wrap products. To protect the products during shipment, use bubble wrap, padding, or cushioning. Label and handle fragile things carefully. To protect fragile objects, insure them. Legal limits on supplied items are another important issue. Hazardous or perishable goods may need licenses or packing. Avoid delays by following the courier company’s rules and regulatory constraints. Finally, track the cargo. Senders and recipients may track most couriers online. Tracking allows proactive communication and transparency. When using courier services, individuals and organizations can improve their shipping experience, assure item safety, and get fast and reliable delivery by remembering these key considerations.