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| Islands in Africa - Lodge
Marketing, Sales and Reservation Services |
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| Strategic Planning Development |
| IIA Management focus on the development of
marketing strategies for organisations within the tourism, ecotourism,
conservation and environmental fields. Product strategies; public relations
and promotional strategies; website development and Internet marketing are
covered. |
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| Some ecotourism operations may require a fresh look
at their marketing, promotions and public relations strategies and tactics
in order to improve their occupancy levels and consequently their
profitability. |
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| Independent Marketing, Advertising and
Communication Specialists |
| IIA Management has access to the services of a
number of specialists with regard to the advertising and marketing of the
portfolio. Each of these specialists has been identified by IIA Management
for their knowledge and understanding of ability to provide our clients with
the quality of service required. |
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| Travel Trade Marketing and Sales |
| IIA Management will promote each of the lodges and
their products to the retail and wholesale travel trade, corporate clients,
conference organisers, incentive agencies and airlines on a local, regional
and international basis. |
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| International Sales |
| The promotion of destinations and lodges by IIA
Management also involves international travel trade marketing, including
Trade shows such as Indaba; WTM in London; ITB in Berlin; Fitur in Madrid;
EIBTM; ILTM in Cannes as well as regular trade visits to North America,
Europe and the Asia / Pacific region. |
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| Media Communications |
| IIA Management views the role of all forms of both
local and international media as crucial to the long-term viability of any
tourism product. This is achieved via the attainment of exposure for our
clients through Public Relations, editorial and advertising in both the
print and electronic media including the Internet. |
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| Database Marketing |
| This may be the single most important marketing
tool at our disposal. There is a process known as integrated or relationship
marketing which encompasses the use of a database to market effectively to a
market that has already visited the lodge. With return business such a
feature of the travel industry there is nothing like approaching the market
directly offering specials for school holidays, birding competitions,
sending of Christmas cards annually, special events etc. |
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| Promotional Material |
| IIA Management ensures that all lodges and their
sales staff are equipped with all the correct promotional material and
selling tools, vital in creating the correct image for our client’s products
in the marketplace. |
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| Merchandising |
| The IIA Management merchandising range includes
clothing, photographic material, video material, CD material, books and
curios etc. This range is developed in keeping with the image created for
each tourism product. |
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| Information Service Provider |
| IIA Management has an "Information Bank" to supply
clients with the necessary information pertaining to the Environmental;
Conversation; Tourism and Ecotourism industries. |
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| Photographic Library |
| IIA Management has a large nature-based
photographic library that can be used by advertising agencies, publishers
and the print media. The library can also be used by lodges for brochure and
website development. The substantial library includes wildlife and scenic
photographs from all the countries of southern Africa. |
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| Website Development |
| Together with an associated company, IIA Management
provides a website development service for lodges and other ecotourism
operators. The websites are hosted in the United Kingdom and the quality of
production and the download times are exceptional. Website marketing
services are also provided. |
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| Central Reservations Service |
| IIA Management offers a professional central
reservations service for our clients, serving to enhance their profile in
the marketplace. This is a comprehensive service and being the first point
of contact for the lodge, it is a vital component that needs to be managed
in a professional manner. The service covers the following: |
- Provision of Central Reservations services for the fulfilment of all
Bookings and Reservations.
- Management of all telephonic, e-mail and fax reservations queries. The
incoming telephone line is answered for each lodge. The e-mail will be a
reservations e-mail for the individual lodge and will be the same as that
on all marketing communication information i.e. Website, brochure etc
- Management of all provisional and confirmed reservations and
communication related to each reservation. STO and commission agreements
are managed jointly between reservation and marketing personnel.
- The reservations office will invoice for all confirmed reservations,
all communication will carry the lodge logo, company registration number,
VAT Registration number and relevant contact details. The reservations
office is responsible for the collection of income, monitors and follows
up on all payments. Each lodge would have its own Credit Card facility to
take Credit Card payments.
- A detailed monthly financial report is submitted with all relevant
information on guests, operators, agents, corporates, commission
structures and gross income.
- Booking sheets are sent to the lodge once per week with any last
minute booking information being sent daily. This is done by fax.
- On-going mailings to FIT, agent, operator and corporate databases.
These mailings and product updates will be done on a monthly basis. The
databases have been compiled through the marketing divisions of IIA
Management, TNW Lodges and The Nature Workshop.
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