How to Sell Tours, Conferences, and Trips

Many creators and entrepreneurs can benefit from offering group trips, tours, or conferences as part of their business. These experiences are not only new ways to earn money but also help grow your authority in your niche and create lasting memories for your clients and audience.

If you're a content creator, or a service provider like a coach or consultant, adding in-person experiences to your offerings can help you connect with your audience like never before.

This article will explore how organizing trips and conferences can be a strategic growth move. Read on for tips on designing appealing experiences and actionable steps for selling them through Squarespace. 

How selling tours, trips, and conferences can grow your business

Offering in-person experiences is more than just a creative venture—it’s a way to diversify your income, establish authority, and expand your community. 

Here’s how tours, trips, or conferences can impact your business:

• Diversify income streams: High-ticket experiences can help create additional revenue and provide a significant boost to your income, especially when planned thoughtfully and marketed effectively.

• Deepen audience engagement: Hosting in-person events allows you to connect with your audience on a personal level. Shared experiences, whether it’s a yoga retreat, a culinary tour, or a business conference, foster a sense of community and belonging among participants and naturally enhance their loyalty to your brand.

• Establish expertise in your niche: Curating unique and memorable experiences positions you as an expert. Whether it’s organizing a conference for creatives or creating a guided tour for photographers, these events showcase your knowledge and provide value to your customers beyond digital content or services.

• Broaden your reach: In-person events often generate organic buzz through word-of-mouth and social media sharing. It’s a built-in way of expanding your reach—and therefore your community.

For example, Natalia Swarz, owner of Hôtel Weekend, started a travel blog on Squarespace. After growing a dedicated audience, it’s since evolved into a community-driven platform offering curated travel experiences and guides in addition to members-only events. 

Design a conference or trip package

Creating an appealing trip or conference begins with an understanding of your target audience, then building a plan and pricing around that information. What do they like? What are they willing to pay for a trip?

1. Do some research and identify interests, goals, and preferences. For example, a wellness coach might cater to clients seeking relaxation and mindfulness with yoga retreats, while a travel blogger could offer culinary tours for food enthusiasts.

2. Build a compelling itinerary. Strive for a balance between scheduled activities and free time, giving participants the chance to enjoy both structure and connection with other members of your community.  

3. Offer tiered packages. Basic, premium, and VIP options can accommodate various budgets and preferences. Factor in all costs, including accommodations, meals, transportation, and any additional expenses, such as materials or guest fees. Beyond covering your costs, ensure your pricing includes a profit margin that values your time and effort. 

4. Add value with thoughtful perks. Consider what your audience would appreciate, like branded merchandise or keepsakes. These can leave a lasting impression and make attendees feel valued.

A well-designed package will resonate with your audience, so you’ll be able to create memorable experiences that sell and leave a lasting impact on your clients.

Create a website to sell conferences or trips

Your website is the central hub for promoting and selling your trips, tours, or conferences. A well-designed, user-friendly website not only attracts potential participants and earns their trust but also simplifies the booking process.

If you have a website already, it’s easiest to add a page to share information on any tours or conferences. Otherwise, choose a website building platform and get a custom domain URL. Once you’re ready, keep these tips in mind to help turn visitors into attendees.

1. Make sure your messaging is clear. Highlight the unique value of your experience on the page. Use engaging headlines like “Explore Italy’s Hidden Gems with Our Exclusive Culinary Tour” or “Join Our Creative Retreat for an Unforgettable Weekend of Inspiration.” Include benefits that address priorities, such as stress-free planning, unique experiences, or community building.

2. Use high-quality visuals. Use professional photos or videos that showcase destinations, past events, or the essence of your offering. If you’re just starting out, work with local photographers or use stock imagery.

3. Feature testimonials. These, along with participant photos can help build trust and excitement for booking.

4. Create a simple navigation that helps you sell. Ensure users can easily find details about the trip, pricing, and booking options. Create a dedicated page for each trip or conference with sections for the itinerary, pricing tiers, FAQs, and call-to-action buttons like “Book Now” or “Learn More.”

5. Create a dedicated landing page. Create a specific landing page for your trip or all of your trips, optimized for conversions. This page should include a strong headline, the clear benefits of the trips, testimonials or reviews, and prominent booking or trip information links.

Use a good booking system

A seamless booking process is essential for ensuring a professional and user-friendly experience for your participants. A few features and tools can help your bookings run smoothly and professionally:

• Embedded booking options. Sell a trip like a product in a store and embed the listing on your trip page. Or use an appointment booking tool to book conferences and shorter trips.

• Take payment methods visitors trust. Use a payment tool that allows you to accept credit cards or other trusted options, so visitors feel comfortable making a payment.

• Offer options for deposits or installment payments. This can make your trip more accessible especially for higher-ticket packages

• Send automated confirmations and reminders. These keep participants informed and excited, and automation cuts down the administrative work on your end.

Squarespace users can do all of the above on a website, embedding an Acuity Scheduling or an online store and Email Campaigns to manage reservations, payments, and communication. You can display available slots and allow participants to book their spots directly from your website. This feature creates urgency by showing availability in real-time.

Sell and promote your trips

Effectively promoting your trips, tours, or conferences is key to driving bookings and generating excitement. Tap into social media, promotions, travel guides, and flexible payment plans to get in front of potential customers and convince them to book.

Social media is one of the best tools at your disposal, offering myriad opportunities to create buzz. 

• Share engaging content such as behind-the-scenes planning, past participant testimonials and photos or video, or sneak peeks of the itinerary. 

• Encourage word of mouth by creating shareable moments, like countdown posts or photo contests. 

• Consider collaborating with influencers and content creators in your niche to expand your reach. Authentic recommendations from trusted voices can build credibility for your brand and attract new participants.

Discounts and promotions are another effective way to incentivize early sign-ups and group bookings. Offering early bird discounts creates urgency, while group or referral discounts encourage participants to bring friends or share your event with others. These strategies not only boost attendance but also foster a sense of community around your brand.

If you’re looking to sell travel packages or vacation packages, listing your trip or event in travel directories, local tourism boards, or niche guides can help you reach new travelers who are already searching for experiences like yours. 

Offering flexible payment options, such as deposits or installment plans, also makes it easier for people to commit to high-priced packages. Use a mix of these strategies to maximize your trip’s appeal.

How to sell trips on Squarespace

Squarespace has tools to help you sell and organize group trips and conferences and keep in touch with your community of participants before and after the event, all in one place. Here’s how you can set up a trip on Squarespace.

1. Plan your event. Finalize the itinerary, pricing, and logistics. Ensure all details are clear, from accommodations to activity schedules.

2. Build a landing page. Use templates to create a professional, visually appealing page. Include eye-catching images, detailed itinerary, pricing and package options, FAQs and cancellation policies, and prominent CTAs like “Reserve Your Spot Today”.

3. Set up a booking system. Create store products or add Acuity Scheduling to your website to manage bookings. Enable payment options like full payment, deposits, or installments.

4. Promote your event. Use Email Campaigns to promote your events to your subscriber and attendee list. Create a content calendar for social media posts, ads, and collaborations. Use SEO strategies to ensure your trip page ranks for relevant search terms.

5. Manage bookings and prepare for the event. Track manage participant details through the Squarespace dashboard. Communicate with participants with email updates, keeping them informed and creating a sense of anticipation.

6. Gather feedback and testimonials. After the event, follow up with participants to gather reviews and testimonials. Use their feedback to improve future trips and feature in marketing materials.

Adding tours, trips, or conferences to your offerings can significantly enhance your brand, deepen your connection with your audience, and diversify your income.