Social News
Written by: Deng Yinglin
2020-09-08 08:00
Last update date: 2020-09-08 10:55
Affected by the epidemic, customs and isolation measures have been adopted around the world, and the global tourism industry has almost come to a standstill.
However, a Hong Kong travel agency that has been in business for less than five years and focuses on in-depth travel has successfully transformed under the impact of the epidemic, and its income has returned to 80% of the pre-epidemic. Except for employees who leave due to personal planning, the company does not need to lay off staff or reduce salaries, and even in Taichung by mid-year Open a branch.
GLO Travel founders Chen Chengjun (Rubio) and Zhang Zhenhua (Jamie) said that after recognizing in April this year that the epidemic will not disappear in a short period of time like the SARS in 2003, they decided to break the boat and "second entrepreneurship."
Using entrepreneurial experience as a model, the team began to assist other cultural companies to establish brands and conduct online publicity. At the same time, they also invited architectural experts, cultural, and even ecologists to launch an online "Travel Lecture Hall". The transformation within half a year saw some results.
The epidemic did not disappear within a few months as expected. The two founders of GLO Travel decided in April to suspend all tour group preparations and focus on transformation.
(Photo by Huang Shuhui)
At the beginning of the epidemic, it was thought that SARS would get better in a few months
The epidemic swept the world in 2020, killing humanity by surprise.
Zhang Zhenhua (Jamie), founder of GLO Travel, who was founded for about five years and mainly engaged in the deep cultural guidance group, recalled that at the beginning of the outbreak, the industry referred to the SARS experience in 2003 and estimated that the epidemic lasted only 3 to 4 months, so it was still actively preparing and Promote tour groups this year. However, as of April, experts from all parties anticipated that the epidemic would continue and decided to stop preparing new routes and tour groups, and calm down to think about transformation.
From the left are GLO Travel founder Jamie Zhang, creative manager Zhao Simin (Cman), and founder Chen Chengjun (Rubio).
(Photo by Huang Shuhui)
The tourism industry will "return to zero" within a few weeks, and transformation is the only way out
The other founder of GLO Travel, Rubio Chen, bluntly said that sooner or later, starting a business will encounter a trough, but the “return to zero” of the tourism industry is a catastrophic blow. Fortunately, the situation is clear and there is no need to hesitate: “We don’t have to think too much, we don’t need to be like the catering industry Be very worried, break the boat, must transform and do other things!"
With the mentality of "travel and never come back", the two are determined to start a second business.
First, I had a meeting with more than a dozen full-time colleagues. They stated that they were at a loss for the future. About 500,000 to 600,000 yuan had been lost in about three months under the epidemic. In addition to applying for government subsidies for job security, they also needed to make a transition. The internal bankruptcy, but the money cannot continue to burn, we must always find a way to reverse the situation."
+2
+2
+2
Promote online marketing services, paid online travel seminars
To consider the way out, all the staff of the company suspend preparations and follow up the original business of the travel agency, and brainstormed more than 20 plans.
Considering that the team has successfully packaged cultural content into commercial services in the past few years, it has an alternative advantage compared to general marketing companies, so it is decided to launch online marketing services and travel-related online experience and knowledge courses.
Tourism in North Korea is our successful publicity and has become a hot topic of discussion among Hong Kong people. Taking this as an example, assisting other cultural companies in network marketing and brand building has become our current main source of income.
Chen Chengjun, founder of GLO Travel
+3
+3
+3
80% of income guarantees successful expansion of new customers before the epidemic
Together with the new online travel course "Travel Lectures" launched in May, GLO Travel's income has gradually recovered and is about 80% of its pre-epidemic level. Except for two colleagues who have personal plans to leave, the company does not need to dismiss or reduce salaries.
GLO Travel’s themed in-depth tours cost more than 10,000 yuan per capita, and each course of "Travel Lectures" ranges from tens to 1,000 yuan.
Zhang Zhenhua bluntly said that in the past 60 to 70% of the visitors were 30 to 55 years old, and the rest were mostly people in their 20s or retirees. So far, "Travel Lectures" has been attended by about 500 people: "I am very surprised. About half of them have not participated in the past. People who have visited our tours or activities."
He believes that the experience of working and studying at home under the epidemic has made Hong Kong people gradually accept the "new normal" and are more willing to accept online courses.
Although the epidemic has not yet dissipated, they believe that Taiwanese people have a stronger learning atmosphere, so they are optimistic about the future. According to the original plan, they will open a branch in Taiwan at the end of June, named "GLO Travel", which also focuses on in-depth travel. The Taiwan version of "Travel Lectures" started.
Epidemic drags down Japan's tourism industry, takes stock of 6 popular stores that closed, Tokyu Hands stores are all stuck
New crown pneumonia | Tourism industry worries about rental spending
Is it dawning for Hong Kong people to "return to the countryside"?
Qiu Tenghua: In-depth discussions with Japan on tourism bubble arrangements
The unemployment rate in Hong Kong drops to 6.1%, and the unemployment rate in consumer and tourism-related industries hits a new high after SARS
Looking to the future, Chen Chengjun believes that in the past year, Hong Kong people have been more expecting to understand society and the world. In the future, more people will be willing to spend on culture, knowledge and experience. "Travel Lectures" can make the company's "ecological chain" more perfect, even if In the future, the group will resume, and "Travel Lecture" will still be attractive to group members.
The new season of "Traveling Lectures" starting this month will focus on animals and will be lectured by Princeton University's Ecology and Evolutionary Biology graduate Liang Yanzong (Chris). The topics include mating strategies of different species, the relationship between creatures in the African savanna, Discuss the impact of human eco-tourism on ecology, etc.
COVID-19, tourism, tourism