Hi there, we had our first season for our SC villa last year which went well (I think!?) as we had 10 weeks booked and that was without photos of our new pool etc. We are on OD and Sawdays nowm although all our bookings for 2016 so far are from OD, I assume Sawdays must help?
Our house is targeted at the high-ish end baby/toddler market really but we really need to get some upswing this year in May and June and I wonder what else I should be doing?
Any experience with Tots to Travel or BFB? We are in the Var so I have been told to go for birdwatchers and pensioners (!) out of season but I wouldn't have a clue how......and also am very wary of wasting hundreds of pounds. Thanks for reading, HJ. [/b]
Newbie in Provence - low season - babies or birdwatchers?!!
-
French Cricket
- Posts: 3058
- Joined: Thu Apr 10, 2008 3:47 pm
- Location: French Pyrénées
- Contact:
A warm welcome (and what a lovely day it is!) to LMH!
The Provence market is very different from ours, for sure, but we market to, and attract, a lot of birdwatchers.
The one thing I would say that birders tend to flock (sorry
) to accommodation where the owners are themselves knowledgeable and enthusiastic, as they like to get all the inside info and to talk birding. If you're not into it yourself it's not an easy market to get into.
The Provence market is very different from ours, for sure, but we market to, and attract, a lot of birdwatchers.
The one thing I would say that birders tend to flock (sorry
) to accommodation where the owners are themselves knowledgeable and enthusiastic, as they like to get all the inside info and to talk birding. If you're not into it yourself it's not an easy market to get into.Thank you for the reply French Cricket! Yes, fair enough, I have absolutely no idea about our feathered friends so would be no use in that sense. Which sites do you use, if I may ask? I'd be interested to see in any case!
I wonder which sites people use for what seems to now be called the 'silver economy'? Any ideas please? Thank you!
I wonder which sites people use for what seems to now be called the 'silver economy'? Any ideas please? Thank you!
-
French Cricket
- Posts: 3058
- Joined: Thu Apr 10, 2008 3:47 pm
- Location: French Pyrénées
- Contact:
Hi hj1208
I accept babies and toddlers too, but after nine 'destructive' toddler years I'm very keen to get more into the bird/walking market. I recently went to a conference on the matter and am now developing a whole page on my website dedicated to this market. Luckily we have an abundance of Buzzards and Red Kites which are quite an attraction. If your area has anything to attract this market, I think it would be worth your while reading up and learning about it, whether it interests you or not. Personally, I have no real interest in walking or birds, but I can be a good ambassador if need be. I'd take walkers and birders over toddlers any day.
I accept babies and toddlers too, but after nine 'destructive' toddler years I'm very keen to get more into the bird/walking market. I recently went to a conference on the matter and am now developing a whole page on my website dedicated to this market. Luckily we have an abundance of Buzzards and Red Kites which are quite an attraction. If your area has anything to attract this market, I think it would be worth your while reading up and learning about it, whether it interests you or not. Personally, I have no real interest in walking or birds, but I can be a good ambassador if need be. I'd take walkers and birders over toddlers any day.
Hi Bunny, that's really helpful, thank you very much. I will take a look into it. Though with 2 babies its hard to get to conferences, I'll see what I can do! I really had thought the under 4s baby market would fill weeks out of season. No idea where to start with contacting walking or birding groups though?! Am certainly willing to learn....!
The problem is that those under 4's often have siblings of school age which tie them to the peak seasons. Walkers and birders tend to be of the older generation who have absolutely no timescale ties whatsoever. I take babies and under 5's but to be honest I tend to get most children during school holidays. Possibly because parents still want activities to entertain them and that can be in short supply out of season. Keen walkers & birders are happy to do it any time of year and some actually prefer it when it is not too hot. When I do get enquiries out of season with young children it tends to be just for weekend breaks or families sharing, but then I find there are too many toddlers in the party for me to want the carnage that sadly often ensues.hj1208 wrote:I really had thought the under 4s baby market would fill weeks out of season.
It's a bit difficult for me to make any recommendations because I'm in the UK. You could try a listing on responsibletravel.com. I list on specialist websites promoted by local authorities etc, but I don't know what the equivalents would be in France. Regional websites maybe? We are in an area of outstanding natural beauty and on The Ridgeway National Trail, so I list on their websites too. I'm also putting as many links to bird watching and walking sites on my own website too. I'm definitely finding that retirees are getting more and more internet/Facebook savvy but I've yet to obtain a booking through Facebook. It's early days for me too in trying to tap into this niche market and I don't think it will be easy but definitely worth the effort. I get plenty of bookings all year round, but after nine years, I know what type of guests I prefer and which groups I'd rather not have. Hence, I'm spending time in developing my own website with dedicated pages to attract these groups. Unless some of the other French LMH's can give you some pointers it may be a matter of googling French walking and birding sites.hj1208 wrote:Thanks Bunny. It makes total sense and really what I have been coming around to, albeit slowly! Any tips on which groups are active on the internet for walkers/birders please? Do retirees use facebook groups and so on from what you have found? I'm a bit stuck where to start!
Hi
We too are in the VAR, where are you based?
Our out of season booking all tend to be short breaks and often visitors from USA or Canada.
We also get bookings during the holiday season from people visiting family in the area.
I will be interested to see how you get on with the birdwatching people.
James
We too are in the VAR, where are you based?
Our out of season booking all tend to be short breaks and often visitors from USA or Canada.
We also get bookings during the holiday season from people visiting family in the area.
I will be interested to see how you get on with the birdwatching people.
James
Thanks again Bunny. I will certainly start researching and asking about. My father's friends are in Yorkshire and v much into rambling etc so maybe worth a try with them first. As for birders, who knows, but I am finding the toddler reaction v amusing!! I thought it was such a liquid market and the house is so new and full of stuff for them, but really you're exactly right and not to mention that neurotic parents take up a lot of time on email pre-holiday vs. well travelled and relaxed retirees (generally!) I shall find some time to do some research. So far, I know we have an owl who visits !!! Best to you, thanks again.