Going for Group Travel

Deirdre Brown

Great Potential has been assisting Stoke Rochford Hall near Grantham with its Group Travel marketing since spring 2015. Spearheaded by GP Associate Deirdre Brown, the campaign has produced significant gains in both volume and value at the hotel. Increased business in this sector is in excess of £90k and the average rate per guest has improved by over £10 per person.

Work has included a full in-house training for team members about handling group market guests with he simple motto “arrived together but treated as individuals” at its core.

A marketing campaign  to the domestic group tour operator market combined with group tour organisers has produced the desired increase in the sector. This was underpinned with a ‘groups welcome’ drivers pledge to help the drivers and tour guides with their visits including routes and information about nearby attractions, an early warning of arrival by mobile phone and text plus individual welcome letters for all guests.

Inbound operators are now the next target along with some special interest activities aimed at some specific overseas markets using local attractions in the area and for meal and overnight stops for longer-haul groups travelling between London and Scotland.

Deirdre Brown is Great Potential’s Group Travel specialist and also runs Deirdre Brown Travel that was established in 2015 following the sale of Eddie Brown Tours in 2014 which Deirdre Brown operated for over 30 years. The new company specialises in fully escorted travel holidays and was a finalist in the Coach Tourism Awards for ‘Best Programme of the Year 2016”.
Contact Deirdre at: deirdrebrown@greatpotential.co.uk

Hotel manager ‘loses’ pet Labrador in pets welcome initiative

Pets Welcome Initiative at Stoke Rochford Hall Grantham

Hotel general manager ‘loses’ his pet Labrador as guests can’t get enough of him in ‘pets welcome’ initiative.

Barry Clark Stoke Rochford Hall general manager is wondering where Russell his pet Labrador is some days as guest are loving walking him so much.
Pets receive their own booking service and welcome letter as well as a welcome pack of treats and a toy. The hotel is a registered ‘pet friendly’ hotel and welcomes dogs, cats and other guest pets as part of the service. Staff care for guest dogs them when guests want to visit local attractions that do not accept pets and they also provide a free dog walking service.

“The biggest attraction of dog walking seems to be the fact that the grounds at Stoke Rochford Hall are so large and a great asset where guests love to bring their dogs, let them free and have no worries about traffic or other perils.”
comments Barry Clark, general manager at Stoke Rochford Hall.

Stoke Rochford Hall is set in 28 acres of landscaped grounds with quiet seating areas, lake and charming woodland walks. Stoke Rochford Golf Club is adjacent to the hotel where resident guests can book tee times and enjoy a special price for a round.  The hotel is easily accessible directly from the A1 just south of Grantham.
“Russell seems to be really enjoying his new friends and guests are helping me out when I have a busy day and have less time to walk Russell myself.” adds Barry.