LDS Dive Trip

[Wreck Wench]

Maybe airfare was more back when we booked the trip? (about a year ago now)

It absolutely was higher as we were in rapidly escalating fuel prices. If you look at air today a year out to Bonaire you'll find WAY HIGHER pricing then you will a month out.

However not everyone can wait to the last minute to travel nor do they want too if they wish to be part of a group. If they can be flexible with travel dates and don't mind traveling on their own, then savings can often be found.

 

[oly5050user]

Thanks for the discussion WW. I was once offered a 20% commission on the Meals Included Resort price for organizing a trip, but I declined it - discounting the cost of the trip to the members. That would have been over $3,000 in that case, and as that played out, I ended up doing a lot of work for free, but I did not want to mess with tranferring $30-40,000 to an out of US resort, liabilties, etc.

10% commissions are probly more the norm, and I suspect that most LDSs will use those to offset the expenses of the leaders, but the leaders will work on the trips, listen to whining, etc. I would not want the job - nor yours either, WW.


I guess you read over the part where we determined that his trip included Air fare - a good deal, really.

Rottie, on the other hand, may be paying too much for his trip, with the upgrades not yet proimised. His wife is sending him in today to learn more. :rofl:

Even if it includes airfare it is too much..I believe Rottie said $2069..pp for trip..land /dive package alone should be around $805/$850..at Buddy's..so he is paying $1264. for airfare??Sounds like the LDS added $400.+ on top of resort/airline rates..I can see a LDS adding $150.-$175. to trip for expenses and extras like group tee shirts/parties/ a few drinks for group,but also make effort to book at times that resorts offer extras,as I did for my group in April.To charge $400.+ and then to ask for more $ to complete ow training or teach an advance couse is wrong..You may get someone to go for this one time but you can forget about repeat business..

 

[DandyDon]

Even if it includes airfare it is too much..I believe Rottie said $2069..pp for trip..land /dive package alone should be around $805/$850..at Buddy's..so he is paying $1264. for airfare??Sounds like the LDS added $400.+ on top of resort/airline rates..I can see a LDS adding $150.-$175. to trip for expenses and extras like group tee shirts/parties/ a few drinks for group,but also make effort to book at times that resorts offer extras,as I did for my group in April.To charge $400.+ and then to ask for more $ to complete ow training or teach an advance couse is wrong..You may get someone to go for this one time but you can forget about repeat business..

Yes, WW posted to the original poster about his package being $600 over, but we later determined that his package included air fare - he just didn't ask.

Rottie, however - may be paying to much. He is checking on it today.

My OW Inst organized my first trip to Roatan, and when I asked why it was so high since the magazine ads offered a cheaper price, he came down fast. In the end, he wasn't going anyway. No leader for the group at all. There we were on Roatan, Sept 11 2001 without a leader, but we got back a few days later.

 

[oly5050user]

Yes, WW posted to the original poster about his package being $600 over, but we later determined that his package included air fare - he just didn't ask.

Rottie, however - may be paying to much. He is checking on it today.

My OW Inst organized my first trip to Roatan, and when I asked why it was so high since the magazine ads offered a cheaper price, he came down fast. In the end, he wasn't going anyway. No leader for the group at all. There we were on Roatan, Sept 11 2001 without a leader, but we got back a few days later.

Your ow instr was most likely hoping for a comp seat if he had enough people.Thats why he most likely did not go..If I schedule a trip and have people going,comp or no comp I go.Would not leave them on their own,its called integrity.If something comes up I'll send another instructor in my place...I sent Rottie a web address to my site and group posting to take with him to his LDS..its on PADI's site also under travel/groups..

 

[DandyDon]

Yeah, when I organized the trip I mentioned about, I knew I'd get a free resort week with diving and meals if I got 10 others, declined the commission, and bought my plane ticket so others would know that I was in. Leadership.

They didn't always follow, but I lead.

 

[rottielover]

Well the people who organized the trip are off today, I'll be going back too speak with them Monday on my lunch hour...

 

[Wreck Wench]

Thanks for the discussion WW. I was once offered a 20% commission on the Meals Included Resort price for organizing a trip, but I declined it - discounting the cost of the trip to the members. That would have been over $3,000 in that case, and as that played out, I ended up doing a lot of work for free, but I did not want to mess with tranferring $30-40,000 to an out of US resort, liabilties, etc.

Higher end resorts can afford to offer higher commissions...but they make it back in the higher price charged to the customer.

You make a good point...running a trip and running that much money thru your account can easily cause you problems...not to mention what would happen if something when 'south' on you! Dive Shops accept all this risk and more for a very small return.

10% commissions are probly more the norm, and I suspect that most LDSs will use those to offset the expenses of the leaders, but the leaders will work on the trips, listen to whining, etc.

Yes they are. The biggest problem I see is that consumers are used to 50-100% markup in retail and therefore logically assume that the same markups apply to the dive industry. However the dive industry being a cottage industry, never really got the retail thing right and often works on a total of 10-20% mark up on waaayyyy tooooo many things including gear sales, instruction and especially Travel! (This is not to say that they never make more than 10-20% mark up but unless they can buy in very large volume they work on very very small margins. Margins that the rest of us would never work on.)

Travel for many shops is a loss leaders or break even at best. They hope to sell more classes, sell more gear or eventually sell enough travel to make it up in volume. Unfortunately it all sounds good in theory...but is very challenging in practice! :shakehead

I would not want the job - nor yours either, WW.

That's ok Don...most people would not want your job and many don't want their own jobs!

People do what they are good at and enjoy! Well the lucky ones like me do!