Experiences are an increasingly important part of what visitors look for. More than just something to do, they are a hands-on, exclusive activity that makes memories either as a family, a couple or a group of friends.
Experiences are also in high demand for the international travel trade, bringing overseas visitors to the UK seeking local activities that are unique to the place they are visiting. For these, often quite heavily scheduled, tours of the area, bookability, and reliable duration of experiences are key.
That’s why we have introduced a dedicated section to our website where businesses can highlight their experience offer, in addition to their core business profile page, where these special features can become lost and overlooked.
What makes an experience?
The experience is defined mostly from the visitor perspective, the visitor didn’t go somewhere, or look at something. They DID something.
Experiences are typically:
- Hands-on or engaging: Participating or learning rather than just observing
- Exclusive or limited in availability for each session:
- Not available as part of standard entry
- A limited capacity and/or a guided/instructed element that ensures a level of quality and individual attention
- Booked prior to arrival , you could not guarantee walk-in availability
- Available on an ongoing basis
Anything that only takes place once or twice is best listed as an event, as the date limitation becomes the more important factor - experiences may be seasonal but still be regular (e.g. daily during that season)
Credit Farm Experience: Couple's farming experience
Credit Jam Jar Wine & Pinball Lounge: Wine Tasting Masterclass
Why Visitors love experiences
Experiences give visitors a way to turn passive sightseeing into something active, emotional and memorable that explores a particular aspect of the place they are visiting,
Experiences give visitors a shared experience, something they can do as a family, couple or a group. Something to remember, talk about or share as a group in the years to come and for solo visitors the chance to socialise with others who share their interests.
For many visitors, experiences provide the chance to boost confidence, challenge themselves, or dabble in a new skill, they also allow visitors to get more from a visit, to get under the skin, behind the scenes of and into the history and dive into the character of a place.
Did you know? When we hear or read about something we remember with the left side of our brain. When we do, experience or participate in something we remember with the whole brain. Experiences change how we remember things at a neurological level.
If your business profile is Silver level or above, and you offer an experience to visitors that matches the above requirements, you can create an experience listing.
