I recently traveled to India as a tourist with a group of people. We all agreed that it was wonderful to see the country and we would do it again—but I noticed another theme. Some were surprised by the amount of walking, complaining of swelling and aches after excursions. Others had difficult flight experiences, citing cramped seats, inattentive staff and general physical discomfort.
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I recently traveled to India as a tourist with a group of people. We all agreed that it was wonderful to see the country and we would do it again—but I noticed another theme. Some were surprised by the amount of walking, complaining of swelling and aches after excursions. Others had difficult flight experiences, citing cramped seats, inattentive staff and general physical discomfort.
Although these are just a few comments from a few individuals, you can imagine the thousands of travelers who are suffering with similar issues. Whether it’s business trips with work colleagues or family vacations, the experience should be smooth and painless.
Spas can play a crucial role in supporting clients by improving their travel experiences. It’s a great opportunity to reflect on your services to help those suffering from pain before, during and after travel, which has cascading impacts on their experience, their work productivity and their companions.
Here are three key steps you can take to support your traveling clients who may be in pain.
Update Your Intake Form
Your intake form is like your business card. The type of information you collect there demonstrates what kind of spa you are, i.e., how much you care about your clients.
It can be tough to rebook guests, advertise promotions and grow retail sales without being perceived as “pushy,” but it is possible—and your intake form can support you in those efforts. When the intake form is done right, it should help you grow sales; when it’s not, it is a wasted a sales opportunity every single time a client visits.
Your intake form should include questions about travel experience to help you identify areas of concern. You can also find out when the most challenging moments occur during travel, so you’ll know ahead of time when your clients will experience pain and have a need to manage it.
Related: How to Make Your Spa a Travel Destination
Understand Travelers’ Challenges
The travel experience starts the moment the person plans their trip. They need to make arrangements for their accommodations, flights, transportation and more. Once that is complete, they need to physically get ready and pack clothes, snacks and beauty bags. Then they have to prepare their body, mind and spirit, even though they haven’t taken off yet.
When the moment of travel arrives, the excitement peaks—along with stress and anxiety. This is a moment of concern. Once the individual is officially traveling, their body starts to ache—their legs, back, arms, feet, head. It’s the result of long hours spent in cramped seats, walking, lack of sunlight, time spent in conference rooms and so much more.
Understanding these challenges will help you consider how you can get your guests ready to travel and help them avoid the mental and physical pain that goes with it. What products and services can you offer them before they leave? Think about how you can proactively support them by preventing body aches, swollen feet, headaches and other pain.
Create a Package for Travelers
Your clients come to you for long-lasting relaxation and rejuvenation. They are also looking for a solution that will help them better experience and enjoy their travel.
Start by identifying the services that they will need before and after a trip. Pre-travel services should help them prepare, hydrate inside and out, and relax the mind and spirit. Make a list of all the services you can offer to get them travel ready, such as: body contouring, hydration, facials, nail services, etc.
Then, think about what at-home products you can sell to help them achieve these goals. Products like face and body exfoliants, serums, extra thick face cream and body lotions, nail polish, muscle relaxants and many more are ideal.
Post-travel services should detoxify the guest’s body from the challenges of their trip. When they return home, they may feel swollen, dehydrated and achy. They also may have dry, flaky skin, hair and nails. Lymphatic drainage, de-stressing massages, hydrating facials, tension-reducing bodywork and similar treatments will help get guests back to their better selves.
In addition to services, make a list of all the products you can sell after a trip that are geared toward rejuvenation and rehydration. Vitamins, supplements, serums and creams, bath soaps, body lotions and many more are the perfect way to support these clients once they come home.
Travel packages should be prominently positioned on your website; just like you create wedding packages, you should also have a traveler well-being package. Remember to price these specials accordingly. Your clients will pay extra bucks for you to help them make their pain go away faster—especially those who travel frequently and previously experienced severe pain.
Many people go through surgeries and other medical procedures shortly after they travel on business. Try to identify these clients, who will not only appreciate your care and support, but will also become your most loyal advocates.
Follow these steps to start supporting your clients in managing pain during travel, improving their travel experience, along with growing your sales. Keep in mind that you are not just selling products; you’re selling your expertise. It’s about your ability to provide the right advice, manage guests’ uncertainty and make their experience as relaxing and safe as possible, while ensuring the growth of your bottom line!
Edyta Satchell, founder and CEO of Finelle.com, is a corporate executive, speaker and wellness practitioner. A certified integrative nutrition health coach who has more than 20 years of global travel leadership experience, Satchell helps spas rejuvenate their revenue with customized, modern sales programs targeting frequent travelers.
