Author Archives: stephan

At a trade fair, we talked to tourism organizations about our guestadvisor concept. We think that this is an enrichment especially small places. People in nature can offer a better service to travelers.

A good example is Oberstdorf in Bavaria. For the visitor’s tax they offer visitors free city tours. There are also several free guided hikes per week.

We have also talked about small incomes for locals who offer tours and hikes on their own. Of course, such reasonable wages are heavy to get. And is should be a friendship service. We still need to clarify, if there are insurances neccessary.

Such initiatives must first and foremost be initiated locally. As soon as this is taken up by big portals, professionalization, constantly higher prices. Less and less hospitality follows, as the example of Airbnb shows. Therefore it needs a high local orientation and support.

Maybe you’re traveling to Oberstdorf

Tourism Oberstdorf
Prinzregentenplatz 1
D-87561 Oberstdorf

+49 8322 7000
info@oberstdorf.de
www.oberstdorf.com

I had a conversation with the NGO “Forever Kids Kenya” in my office. The organization from my region finances the elementary school for children in Mombasa. The most important source of income in Kenya is tourism. Kenya is also an important exporter of roses. This is in line with the discussion on the Fairtrade page , which I initiated, and it’s about developing ideas for tourism.

An MBA for tourism, cooperation with NGOs, Rose Tourism, Concept Friends.Guide, I conducted a strong monologue and had more question marks than concrete ideas. I did not succeed in convincing the two membery of the association. They currently an intern in Mombosa, he has no relationship with tourism and I did not even know where roses grow. I should working on the concept!

But it is more important to me to do what I can shape myself. Therefore Swissvoyage, there I am the guestadvisor. Currently I am designing a day trip to Switzerland for coffee and cocoa, to design people for long-distance travel. So only aconcept for Kenya, if we have an understanding for cooperation.

The meeting with people is very important and there are some providers who follow a similar service.

Greeters
The Greeters have their roots in New York. Guests should be greeted in a foreign city by Greeters. Especially in the larger cities are active. It works together with tourist information. The greeters shouldn’t take any groups, for not competing with the professional city tours.

Flying Concierges
Basel works with the voluntary organization Flying Concierges, who, in my opinion, provide information to arriving guests, and maybe also take small tours.

Friendly Hosts from Lucerne works in a similar way. Volunteers from Lucerne stand in different places and are easily recognizable by their red polo shirts.

Couchsurfing
Couchsurfing is in our opinion the best portal, which corresponds to our offer to a large extent. The finances are excluded here and in our opinion the desire for income is very common.

Airbnb
This portal has been pioneer for sharing private accommodations. Today, the company has evolved into a commercial booking platform that disappears from idealism.

Google Local Guides
With this program Google wants to improve its map service Google Maps. The Google Local Guide can make entries and organize events.

Get your Guide
A platform for the mediation of guided tours. There is a large selection and Get your Guides take a commission of 20%.

Viator
Also arranges guided tours and local experiences. Now that Viator is working with Tripadvisor, Viator can benefit from synergies.

Localbini
The company wants to provide surprising experiences with locals for a fee. They are gradually establishing different destinations, currently Zurich, Paris and Lisbon are online.

Other providers
Thanks for the hints to other providers of Matthias (discussion on Gründen Live)

http://www.rent-a-guide.de
https://www.regiondo.com
https://www.rentalocalfriend.com
https://www.toursbylocals.com
https://www.withlocals.com
http://shiroube.com
http://www.whosmyguide.com

In Switzerland, we visit cheese dairies, chocolate factories and watch shops in Switzerland with our travelers. Especially with watches, the question arises about the commissions. It is common for sellers to pay commission on such products and it is the question of asking or not, the customer usually has no price penalty. But the guest relations loses the neutrality.

It is a question of whether revenue improvement through commissions should be achieved. Carpet dealers or fashion retailers have discovered tourism as a source of income and established travel groups as a sales channel.

With Friends.Guide we can experiment. So we’ll ask watch dealers, but it’s something that is not talked about openly. How should we behave?

How can we get acquainted with our services? First principle, for every idea, customers are enthusiastic, adapt to existing demand is usually easier. There may be some reports in the press, they help a little bit, important is the continuous work and the participants to join in activating.

This is difficult, especially when it comes to disregard and is strongly doubted about the idea. Frequently, there is a shortage of money and it is difficult to find help. It’s about developing enthusiasm and finding the right environment. It needs understanding that few people want to go new ways and are involved in their everyday worries.

One motivation that works most of the time is to pay people fairly. There are financing options, such as crowdfunding, Facebook, Google+, Twitter, classifieds portals. But also the classified ad in the supermarket next door and many discussions help. Use the money quickly and carefully, invest again and again. However, never see the finances as a hurdle, otherwise failure is guaranteed. The most important always communicate!

A post about classified ads

Nr. 1 für Internetmarketing, Kleinanzeigen

With our concept we want to realize friendships between travelers and guides. We have no travel guides, we have guestadvisors. Above all, this means being able to get to know each other. A travel guide that explains the sights of a city to a group is hardly a friend, he is concentrated for the sightseeings. In addition, we are focused on private travel. Our guestadvisor, should take care of the needs of the travelers and immerse them in the country and culture. This task can also be taken over by a travel guide. Conversely, a travel guide can be assigned with the explanation of sights.

Our portal is therefore not a platform to find travel guides. Rather, we want to stimulate thematic journeys away from mass tourism and prefer the regions.