Earlier in the year, I said that 2011 was predicted to be a year of ups and downs. Gas and food prices have been on the rise, and as a result, you would think that travel would be down. After a slow February, I thought that that prediction was going to hold true, but I’ve started seeing a slew of reservations that seem to be following a couple of patterns:
- People are looking for packages – because guests want the most bang for their buck and spending their money frivolously is not an option, guests are looking for package deals. This year, I’ve put together more packages than ever, and have been pleasantly surprised to see them selling well. We have a 3-Night Biltmore Ticket & Room Package, a Girlfriends Getaway Package, a Singles Package, and several Romance Packages. A little something for everyone.
- People are traveling in groups – guests want experiences that include those closest to them and we are seeing more group reservations this year than in the past. We offer a Group Discount for 3 or more rooms for 3 or more nights, which is available year-round.
- More people are traveling with their pets – people come to Asheville for outdoor adventure and it’s the perfect place to bring their pets. Blake House has always been pet-friendly, but we’ve turned up our focus on dogs and have added a page dedicated to dogs as well as a Romance Basket for Fido. We’re also running a monthly Cutest Dog Photo Contest on the Inn’s Facebook Page and the winning dog each month gets a $150 Blake House Inn Gift Certificate.
While 2011 is just getting started, travel trends are showing us what guests want, and we are doing our best to offer the types of packages and experiences that people are seeking. Guests are always welcome to submit their ideas for packages that they’d like to see or experiences that they want us to focus on. We have a Contact Form on the website for anyone with a travel trend idea. You never know, if we use your idea, you may get more than just a Thank You!
