First Contact  - and we are not talking about aliens

Date: 29 May 2024

Author: Felix Borenstein

I'm sure you have heard the expression 'the devil is in the detail' and I'm here to tell you it absolutely is. 

Doesn't matter what type of fishing lodge, hunting lodge, fishing camp, dude ranch, or mountain climbing cabin you own - it is all about the detail.

The detail starts with your website, have you got your phone number on the bottom of every page? Nothing infuriates me more than spending far too much time searching through someone’s website for a telephone number, and if it annoys me it's going to annoy your potential guests.

A potential guest has just emailed you -  the next most important thing is to respond in an efficient, speedy manner – and of course, please make sure you answer all of their questions.

Your initial e-mail should include any pertinent marketing collateral you have like a room guide or a list of activities that can be conducted at your place, how to get there,  the gear you supply and what you don’t supply, transfers, how to get fishing licenses, hunting licenses…..

Put yourself in the shoes of your potential guest and make sure that you answer all their questions and of course, make sure you include your payment terms and what I call “the rules of war” - your cancellation policy. 

I’m amazed about the number of anglers who don’t eat fish – so make sure you ask about dietary requirements – and let your kitchen team know !!

Nothing is more annoying than when a guest has told you they don’t eat Salmon and then you serve it to them on their first night with you.

Once you've secured the booking, and you've clarified dietary requirements the next most important thing is to understand if their stay is because of a special occasion. Is it their wedding anniversary, birthday, or college graduation present?

Whatever the special occasion is -  make bloody sure that you celebrate it and let the kitchen team and your guest relations team know all about it, after all, it's all about delighting your guests.

That’s all for today's installment on how to build your business…..

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