The Travel Coach: Infectious Enthusiasm
Staying on track with industry trends
There I have said it, and I have been spreading the message to travel counsellors, lo these many years, that this is one ‘tool’ in their kit that is a winner when speaking to travellers about their holiday destinations.
As for me? I don’t sell travel but as president of Talking Travel, I spend a great deal of time coaching travel professionals about various aspects of travel, travel professionalism, and revenue generation. I feel it’s incumbent on me to practice what I preach or, as the common parlance goes, to show ‘leadership by example”.
Therefore, and especially when it comes to destination training, ‘infectious enthusiasm’ is a huge factor.
I just returned from my eighth trip to Japan and I kept thinking during my vacation about all the possible itineraries I could put together if I sold travel, to respond to so many niche groups that are crying for creative ways to enjoy their niche.
Here are some examples:
Culinary Tourism (a.k.a gastronomic tourism, food network tourism, thirsty-traveller tourism etc).
Japan has so much to offer, from sushi and sashimi preparation classes, to tours of sake breweries. On this trip I spent a day in Myajima, just outside of Hiroshima, where, aside from the famous Torii gate in the water (located in the Itsukushima Shrine), the local cuisine is very oyster-oriented. An oyster feast of raw, deep-fried and smoked oysters, along with oyster-friend rice, miso soup and, of course, some sake, will set you back $20.00 CAD.
Not into oysters?
Then consider the Okonomiyaki in Hiroshima. This is similar to a pancake but prepared on an open grill with cabbage eggs, noodles and your choice of seafood or meat on a pancake-like base-- and smothered in a special sauce. The restaurant ‘Meeshan’ is the place to go and the line-ups attest to its popularity. A meal will cost less than $10.00.
Clients want a bit of excitement in their diet?
Try the set course of Fugu in Osaka—yes I mean that poisonous fish that is very popular in western Japan. It is a bit more expensive—about $50.00 per person for a meal of Fugu skin, Fugu sashimi (raw), deep fried Fugu, served with rice and miso soup. For drinks you can sample sake or beer or shochu (usually a potato or rice- based alcoholic drink (45%) that you can mix with lemon or lime or even cream soda.
And in Tokyo, on days when the famous Tsukiji fish market is open, the quality of the sushi in neighbouring restaurants in the Ginza is unbelievably melt-in-your mouth fresh.
A meal at Sushi-Dai (literally, Big Sushi) will be about $75.00 CAD per person, and worth every penny (or yen). It will also change your mind forever about eating sushi anywhere but in Japan.
And here are some snippets of other niches that will fuel your client’s enthusiasm.
Adventure Tourism
Walk up the mountain through hundreds of red Torii gates at the Fushima Inari (Fox) shrine just outside of Kyoto; Take the ropeway, past incredible vistas of forest and islands on the top of Myajima and then make the 30 minute trek up to Mt. Mizen for spectacular views of the Bay. Or take the gondola in Hakone up one of the mountains to enjoy a breathtaking view of the snow-capped Mount. Fuji and the hot springs steaming through the snow covered mountainside.
Religious Tourism
Visit the shrines and temples in every town and city. Philosophers walk in Kyoto is a 2 km stroll that takes in 5 temples and 2 shrines, beginning with Ginkakuji—the beautiful silver pavilion.
You can also visit the love valley at the Kiyomizu-Dera Temple in Kyoto and test your true commitment to your significant other. The temples in the nearby city of Nara are awe-inspiring, as was our visit (among hundred of others) to the Asakusa Temple in Tokyo on New Years Eve.
Military Tourism
Many of the castles in Japan were rebuilt over the years but provide a fascinating history of Shogun-era Japan. On this trip we explored the castles in Osaka, Hiroshima and Nagoya.
On a more somber note, the famous iconic ‘atomic bomb dome’ in Hiroshima and the nearby Peace Memorial Museum provide a stark reminder of the horrors of warfare.
Architectural Tourism
Japan has ancient and modern architecture that will leave your clients awestruck.
Check out the beauty of the new fashion-design buildings in Tokyo and Nagoya, as well as the Fiat building in Harajuku, Tokyo. The Metropolitan Building in Shinjuku, Tokyo has two amazing observation floors (one facing north, the other facing south) where you can see Mt. Fuji on a clear day.
The town of Takayama, has streets crowded with traditional houses, shops and breweries dating back centuries while the nearby town of Shirakawago features the UNESCO protected ‘praying-hands homes’ (Gasho-Zukuri) which, in the winter, covered in several feet of snow, make a memorable scene.
Meditation Tourism
Some temples in Japan offer mini-retreats where visitors can experience Zen meditation first-hand. On the other hand, the Japanese gardens provide absolute tranquility—with bonsai trees, rock gardens, coy (carp) jumping out of water and cranes flying about. And just gazing at the perfect symmetry of Mt. Fuji has inspired artists and poets for centuries.
Shopping Tourism (aka Bazaar Tourism).
I was in Japan during the Christmas/New Year period and there were sales galore, offering anywhere from 10% to 70% discounts. The big items to buy were clothing and electronics and it was rare to see anyone walking around without 2-3 bags filled with purchases. I have to admit that I found the best used CD store I have ever visited, anywhere, while in Shinjuku. I finally found that CD of ‘The Innocence Mission” that was sold out everywhere in Japan.
And of course there are many more niches and ways to enhance your client’s travel. In this world of H1N1, bird flu, seasonal flu and all the various ailments that can beset travellers from time to time, it is nice to know that something infectious is good.
Unleash your infectious enthusiasm in 2010!
As for me? I don’t sell travel but as president of Talking Travel, I spend a great deal of time coaching travel professionals about various aspects of travel, travel professionalism, and revenue generation. I feel it’s incumbent on me to practice what I preach or, as the common parlance goes, to show ‘leadership by example”.
Therefore, and especially when it comes to destination training, ‘infectious enthusiasm’ is a huge factor.
I just returned from my eighth trip to Japan and I kept thinking during my vacation about all the possible itineraries I could put together if I sold travel, to respond to so many niche groups that are crying for creative ways to enjoy their niche.
Here are some examples:
Culinary Tourism (a.k.a gastronomic tourism, food network tourism, thirsty-traveller tourism etc).
Japan has so much to offer, from sushi and sashimi preparation classes, to tours of sake breweries. On this trip I spent a day in Myajima, just outside of Hiroshima, where, aside from the famous Torii gate in the water (located in the Itsukushima Shrine), the local cuisine is very oyster-oriented. An oyster feast of raw, deep-fried and smoked oysters, along with oyster-friend rice, miso soup and, of course, some sake, will set you back $20.00 CAD.
Not into oysters?
Then consider the Okonomiyaki in Hiroshima. This is similar to a pancake but prepared on an open grill with cabbage eggs, noodles and your choice of seafood or meat on a pancake-like base-- and smothered in a special sauce. The restaurant ‘Meeshan’ is the place to go and the line-ups attest to its popularity. A meal will cost less than $10.00.
Clients want a bit of excitement in their diet?
Try the set course of Fugu in Osaka—yes I mean that poisonous fish that is very popular in western Japan. It is a bit more expensive—about $50.00 per person for a meal of Fugu skin, Fugu sashimi (raw), deep fried Fugu, served with rice and miso soup. For drinks you can sample sake or beer or shochu (usually a potato or rice- based alcoholic drink (45%) that you can mix with lemon or lime or even cream soda.
And in Tokyo, on days when the famous Tsukiji fish market is open, the quality of the sushi in neighbouring restaurants in the Ginza is unbelievably melt-in-your mouth fresh.
A meal at Sushi-Dai (literally, Big Sushi) will be about $75.00 CAD per person, and worth every penny (or yen). It will also change your mind forever about eating sushi anywhere but in Japan.
And here are some snippets of other niches that will fuel your client’s enthusiasm.
Adventure Tourism
Walk up the mountain through hundreds of red Torii gates at the Fushima Inari (Fox) shrine just outside of Kyoto; Take the ropeway, past incredible vistas of forest and islands on the top of Myajima and then make the 30 minute trek up to Mt. Mizen for spectacular views of the Bay. Or take the gondola in Hakone up one of the mountains to enjoy a breathtaking view of the snow-capped Mount. Fuji and the hot springs steaming through the snow covered mountainside.
Religious Tourism
Visit the shrines and temples in every town and city. Philosophers walk in Kyoto is a 2 km stroll that takes in 5 temples and 2 shrines, beginning with Ginkakuji—the beautiful silver pavilion.
You can also visit the love valley at the Kiyomizu-Dera Temple in Kyoto and test your true commitment to your significant other. The temples in the nearby city of Nara are awe-inspiring, as was our visit (among hundred of others) to the Asakusa Temple in Tokyo on New Years Eve.
Military Tourism
Many of the castles in Japan were rebuilt over the years but provide a fascinating history of Shogun-era Japan. On this trip we explored the castles in Osaka, Hiroshima and Nagoya.
On a more somber note, the famous iconic ‘atomic bomb dome’ in Hiroshima and the nearby Peace Memorial Museum provide a stark reminder of the horrors of warfare.
Architectural Tourism
Japan has ancient and modern architecture that will leave your clients awestruck.
Check out the beauty of the new fashion-design buildings in Tokyo and Nagoya, as well as the Fiat building in Harajuku, Tokyo. The Metropolitan Building in Shinjuku, Tokyo has two amazing observation floors (one facing north, the other facing south) where you can see Mt. Fuji on a clear day.
The town of Takayama, has streets crowded with traditional houses, shops and breweries dating back centuries while the nearby town of Shirakawago features the UNESCO protected ‘praying-hands homes’ (Gasho-Zukuri) which, in the winter, covered in several feet of snow, make a memorable scene.
Meditation Tourism
Some temples in Japan offer mini-retreats where visitors can experience Zen meditation first-hand. On the other hand, the Japanese gardens provide absolute tranquility—with bonsai trees, rock gardens, coy (carp) jumping out of water and cranes flying about. And just gazing at the perfect symmetry of Mt. Fuji has inspired artists and poets for centuries.
Shopping Tourism (aka Bazaar Tourism).
I was in Japan during the Christmas/New Year period and there were sales galore, offering anywhere from 10% to 70% discounts. The big items to buy were clothing and electronics and it was rare to see anyone walking around without 2-3 bags filled with purchases. I have to admit that I found the best used CD store I have ever visited, anywhere, while in Shinjuku. I finally found that CD of ‘The Innocence Mission” that was sold out everywhere in Japan.
And of course there are many more niches and ways to enhance your client’s travel. In this world of H1N1, bird flu, seasonal flu and all the various ailments that can beset travellers from time to time, it is nice to know that something infectious is good.
Unleash your infectious enthusiasm in 2010!