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Entrepreneurs usually agree that cooperation with tourism companies and local/regional authorities is essential for starting a business - for destination promotion, getting permits, licenses, etc. It is often omitted, though, that cooperation with other accommodation and outdoor activities/sport entrepreneurs can be very important for successful marketing.
Together you have more opportunities to work out your advertising campaign and attract more people. If the activities of the cooperating entrepreneurs are sufficiently diverse, each of you will benefit from the clients of the others. So, for example, it can be very profitable to unite into a cross-country or skating network, with the long-distance trail, luggage transfer services, a number of accommodations located within 1-day distance, and some food catering facilities along this trail. For attracting clients, each member of the accommodation network can offer discounts on the room rates for tourists travelling from one member to the other. The product in this case becomes more attractive, the marketing campaign can gain a wider scale with rather a small contribution from each participant, and the occupancy rate is higher.
For efficient work, you need to make agreements with your colleagues. Such agreements usually include the following: the form and terms of cooperation, possibilities and measures to stimulate the exchange of guests, number and services of partners, allocation of activities and their costs among the cooperating parties, role of each entrepreneur. These points look rather formal, but the conditions have to be set very clearly, since a lot of money can be involved, and it is important to envisage and prevent any kind of conflicts. The organisation of activities and budget will determine how fruitful the cooperation will be.
To formalise a co-operation it is useful raise a foundation to stimulate regional and transnational co-operation in the field of organisation, training, marketing and research in regional and rural tourism in different countries.
One of the tasks of such a foundation or group of foundations is the creation of arrangements on behalf of track-bounded tourism with an infrastructure of (to create or existing) small-scale B.& B. companies and camping’s (SMEs) and other micro recreation enterprises.
In the Dutch pilot agricultural tourist project in the Gelderse Valley for example the foundation “Farming house and Valley” was raised. Nowadays more than 100 entrepreneurs are member of this foundation. It is the basis for regional and rural tourism in the Valley.
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Example 1. The B&B Club (BBC) is an organisation which aims to promote the B&B activities in the region of ... 2. The Provincial Tourism Organization (PTO) and the local Committee of the BBC decide on the admission of new members and continuation of the membership of the BBC. 3. If in the opinion of PTO, a member does not fulfil the requirements, the member will be excluded from BBC. 4. Quality control of the accommodation of the BBC members is the task of PTO. 5. The charge of BBC rooms is fixed at the rate of 20 Euro per person for the first night and 18 Euro for the following nights including breakfast. It is not allowed to put the same accommodation in other promotion materials for a different price. 6. The access to a shower is to be provided to all the guests with no extra costs behind. 7. It is not allowed to accommodate guests in other places than the official BBC rooms. It is not allowed to have next to the BBC rooms other rooms in use to accommodate tourists. 8. BBC members cannot discriminate people who want to stay only one night 9. The number of guests at each accommodation shall not exceed ten persons at a time. 10. Members with more than 4 BBC rooms should be registered at the National Board of Tourism. 11. Breakfast should consist of min two kinds of bread, marmalade, butter, cheese, meat or eggs, and tea and/or coffee. 12. Apart from the sleeping facilities, each room should contain at least a table, two chairs, and a closet/wardrobe. 13. For the promotion of the BBC rooms, each member pays an annual fee of 60 Euro to PTO, new members also pay an extra charge of 25 Euro for the first year. Plates with the BBC symbol (to be placed on the wall) can be acquired at PTO at a price of 7 Euro/piece. 14. PTO insures each member against ‘legal responsibility’ (WA) and against damage of the furniture in the rooms. The obligatory insurance fee is 20 Euro a year. 15. PTO only considers and replies to written complaints. 16. Membership is valid for one year starting January 1 and finishing January 1 next year. Members wishing to exit Membership should report to PTO in writing before December1, otherwise Membership will be automatically renewed 17. All the BBC addresses can be booked at the offices of PTO. Guests pay the first night to PTO, after PTO has verified if space is available. The guests get reservation confirmation. Handling fee for each reservation is 1 Euro extra for each client. PTO also charges the BBC members 1 Euro for each reservation. 18.The annual meeting of BBC members is scheduled in the fall with the aim to make arrangements for the next season. 19. PTO carries out an inspection of the facilities of all BBC members at least once a year to verify whether the required standards are maintained. 20. PTO has the right, in consultation with the local BBC Committee; decide to increase the rates for the next season. The rate for the next season is to be fixed prior to August 1. 21. PTO offers all services under the conditions mentioned in the Agreement. |
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Example: Accommodation Feasibility for a B&B | Virtual Community |
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