06 Aug 09 Fourth Quarter Play Strategies–Vacations

While this sounds like a chapter out of a football playbook, it sort of is and sort of isn’t. Like football, it describes the final chapter of an arbitrary time frame that we use to determine our actions and push for a winning game. However, it is being applied to our business in this blog. What are we going to do for the rest of a stressful year?

What We Do Best

As planners, what we do best is help others. Sure, it’s a business, but it’s one that can help others from losing their marbles trying to book their own events. What may change about that in the fourth quarter is that some of them may want to save money on events by planning some of it themselves. You can be prepared by having a short list of things that they can do that won’t be too difficult but can lop off at least a little bit of your bill. Consider this another service in your collection of offerings.

Be Aware

Some believe that the financially “comfortable” among us will be splurging a little when the financial scene improves; a few of those people think that will be in the fourth quarter. Be ready to serve those who would like to reward themselves for their belt-tightening with a few exotic travel packages.

Think About Your Clientele

Where do they go when they “get away?” Do they like hideaways, or do they like places where they will likely see friends? Do they want a short weekend away, or would they rather put all their weekends together into a huge vacation? Be ready with a list of vacations of varying sizes so you won’t have to hunt them down when you need them most.

So the lesson here is to watch trends, listen to clients, and be prepared–this plan should be no different than any other time in your professional life.

Tags: Arbitrary Time, Blog, Clientele, Exotic Travel, Financial Scene, Football Playbook, Fourth Quarter, Game, Hideaways, Little Bit, Marbles, Money, Offerings, Planners, Professional Life, Sounds, Time Frame, Travel Packages, Vacations