Latest posts for the topic "Welcome meetings/Snow Briefs..love or hate them?"

Welcome meetings/Snow Briefs..love or hate them?

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 16:27:20 GMT

Hey another question I know, but something I'm looking into for some personal experience. Basically the welcome meetings or the snow briefs that TO hold, you know they introduce the reps, their rental and tuition packages, lift passes, apres ski activities and ski guiding info, plus other info regarding your resort etc

Now I found the above looking through youtube and google, and personally I have never experienced a welcome meeting as I either DIY or I have been doing working holidays in Canada and New Zealand, so not had to or come across a welcome meeting.

So I want to know if people enjoy going to these, they find everything they need, things that could make the experience better, things that are already good, should the staff show genuine passion and enthusiasm for the product the are trying to sell, rather then pretend its the greatest thing in the resort to do, what can they do that stands out above the others etc

All your info, advice, experiences would be greatly appreciated.

Re:Welcome meetings/Snow Briefs..love or hate them?

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 17:19:21 GMT

LTD:

Forgive my cynicism but you've made 3 posts in total, each of them a new topic to do with gathering info on what we we think of the TO's practices etc

Are you perhaps an "industry insider" researching?

I don't care if you are - always interesting to see debate, just wondered idly that's all?

As for the question:

I don't mind a welcome meeting as, even if one has been to resort before, you never know what's changed and the guys who have been there all season will do.

The one exception is when Crystal had their meet and greet in Dicks Tea Bar one year - after the "free" drink had gone then one needed to have another whilst listening so had to buy a pint at Dick's prices - not funny at 5pm when it would have been a third of the price anywhere else...

Re:Welcome meetings/Snow Briefs..love or hate them?

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 17:30:12 GMT

andyoneil wrote:LTD:

Forgive my cynicism but you've made 3 posts in total, each of them a new topic to do with gathering info on what we we think of the TO's practices etc

Are you perhaps an "industry insider" researching?

I don't care if you are - always interesting to see debate, just wondered idly that's all?

Hey no worries, in truth I have applied for or looking into a number of resort rep jobs either as standby or for the smaller company's or chalets that hire later then others (mid December say). I guess it's trying to get an insight into which company has a good relationship with their customers, which ones are in it for the money and numbers, and of course for myself to get a better understanding of what I could bring to the position etc

Appreciate all the feedback, and like I said not done TO holidays before so can't relate from my own experiences.

Re:Welcome meetings/Snow Briefs..love or hate them?

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 17:40:17 GMT

LivingThe Dream wrote:

andyoneil wrote:LTD:

Forgive my cynicism but you've made 3 posts in total, each of them a new topic to do with gathering info on what we we think of the TO's practices etc

Are you perhaps an "industry insider" researching?

I don't care if you are - always interesting to see debate, just wondered idly that's all?

Hey no worries, in truth I have applied for or looking into a number of resort rep jobs either as standby or for the smaller company's or chalets that hire later then others (mid December say). I guess it's trying to get an insight into which company has a good relationship with their customers, which ones are in it for the money and numbers, and of course for myself to get a better understanding of what I could bring to the position etc

Appreciate all the feedback, and like I said not done TO holidays before so can't relate from my own experiences.

Fair enough - and well done to you for trying to be ahead of the game in your prospective employment

for meetings then: don't have them in expensive bars, don't go on and on and on (people want their dinner), don't sell the bar crawl as anything other than what it is - everyone's seen it before and will make up their mind if they want to go - false enthusiasm about how its better than any other crawl is just trite!

Re:Welcome meetings/Snow Briefs..love or hate them?

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 17:49:21 GMT

Always provide a free drink - it's the only reason I go.

Re:Welcome meetings/Snow Briefs..love or hate them?

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 17:54:45 GMT

Depends on the time of transfer and also duration sometimes been to welcome meeting and nothing new from the coach. Other times it feels like you only there to be forced into extra trips or activities.

Re:Welcome meetings/Snow Briefs..love or hate them?

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 18:00:23 GMT

Don't provide a free drink!!
or Nelly will turn up :lol:

Re:Welcome meetings/Snow Briefs..love or hate them?

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 18:42:55 GMT

At worst they are just a sales blurb for whatever crap bar crawl they are flogging. Worst thing a rep can do is assume everyone is there to drink. TOs who employ reps that are there to prop up the bar are best avoided.
At best it's a proper welcome introducing themselves as the go to person, with loads of useful information about the resort, what's going on during the week, ski guiding etc.
Sometimes much more effective if held on the second evening rather than at the end of a day the clients have spent travelling.
Proper reps come across as genuine, and take the time to get to know what their guests want from their holiday.
We run big groups, the rep tends to do the welcome meeting in the chalet, usually having gauged the needs of the group will have a rep from the ski school for anyone that wants to book a private lesson or an off piste guide etc.

Re:Welcome meetings/Snow Briefs..love or hate them?

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 18:52:46 GMT

Yes I realise as opposed to summer and your many bar crawl or drinking activities are different to winter. And having worked 4 winter seasons in resorts and mountains I realise people obviously like an Apres drink and meal after a day on the mountain. But I will also or like to talk about, lessons for everyone no matter your ability, things to do that don't involve drinking, especially if you have children, ski guiding and what it offers. And it's all about the audience,and what THEY want.
But keep the info coming, thanks all again.

Re:Welcome meetings/Snow Briefs..love or hate them?

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 18:54:17 GMT

The best welcome meetings I've been to are the ones which impart the information pertinant to everyone first, Lift passes, ski school meeting points, bus timetable,maps, reps phone number for emergencies and hand out a timetable of events like guiding etc
At that point you can either leave or stay to find out about other trips you may or may not be interested in.
My budget will not allow me to to do husky rides etc, I really don't want to sit through the hard sell for three quarters of an hour before finding out where they post avalanche warnings or whether the gondola starts late on mondays because thats when they do service inspections. -)

Re:Welcome meetings/Snow Briefs..love or hate them?

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 19:02:21 GMT

Don't like the pub crawls, if you want to do that then you don't need a rep on commission to show you the way, another downside is that the crawl will turn up in the bar your using & spoil yours & others enjoyment :evil:

Re:Welcome meetings/Snow Briefs..love or hate them?

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 19:19:24 GMT

Best one i had was in Flaine last year, we met in the pub and had a few beers with the rep. Really informal.

Re:Welcome meetings/Snow Briefs..love or hate them?

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 20:54:22 GMT

If you work for a chalet only company, then IMHO, and from experience, then there is no need for a welcome meeting outside the chalet. Most guests will have met you on the transfer so get the chalet staff to speak with their guests before dinner, and whizz around as many chalets as possible yourself on the first evening, and then invite yourself to dinner at different chalets each night.

I guess if you have hotel and self catering guests it's very different, but keep it short, and be on time, and not in an expensive bar!

Re:Welcome meetings/Snow Briefs..love or hate them?

Thu, 22 Nov 2012 09:17:26 GMT

Short and sweet - I don't want to be given the hard sell on trips and excursions, just need the important stuff if I am in a new resort I've never been to before.

Been to LDA 3 times, last time was in Hotel Aalborg which is entirely run by Neilson staff. On the coach, they invited us down for a drink in the bar with the welcome meeting to follow if people wanted to attend. They had given out the lift passes, etc, on the coach and knowing the resort, we didn't go to the meeting but it was a nice opportunity to meet some of the staff and have a drink with everyone.

Many didn't go to the meet, but stayed in the bar for another drink and a chat - good atmosphere.

Re:Welcome meetings/Snow Briefs..love or hate them?

Thu, 22 Nov 2012 13:25:27 GMT

Dont go.

Find everything out for yourself. It is more fun :)

All helps with the pre holiday prep/excitement

Re:Welcome meetings/Snow Briefs..love or hate them?

Thu, 22 Nov 2012 13:36:32 GMT

My experience is thus:

Rep meets you at airport and travels on bus. Irrespective of the time of day, all I want to know is what are conditions like up the mountain and where is my lift pass.

I think they should then stage 2 tier welcome meetings at the accommodation, not in some dingy over priced bar without enough free drinks.
There should be a welcome for new or inexperienced skiers giving info on ski school and the basics that a lot of people seem to want to know and dont bother finding out themselves.

Us seasoned skiers really dont want to know about lessons, husky rides, bar crawls etc as has been said already. However, I also think there should be an informal meeting for those who just want some info. Such as: which bars off the slopes do a happy hour, where are the decent huts to eat up the mountain, what time is first/last lift and do you need to be across a certain link by a certain time in order to make it back alive, and basically an informal chat about decent runs, weather forecasts, and where to find untracked powder. Oh and bus timetables and details if you need to use them.

I dont do trips either on ski holidays or summer ones either and I know that the reps will use the welcome meeting as a disguise to flog you extra things at ridiculously inflated prices so I avoid them. I do find I am capable of finding out pretty much most things I want to know by reading WTSS, talking on here, and doing my own online research, but I do find it interesting to speak informally to one of the reps about the conditions and the runs up the mountain to see what they have found to be good, bearing in mind they've been there a long enough time usually.

Re:Welcome meetings/Snow Briefs..love or hate them?

Thu, 22 Nov 2012 15:00:49 GMT

Tony_H wrote:My experience is thus:

Rep meets you at airport and travels on bus. Irrespective of the time of day, all I want to know is what are conditions like up the mountain and where is my lift pass.

That would do me too.

Re:Welcome meetings/Snow Briefs..love or hate them?

Thu, 22 Nov 2012 16:53:39 GMT

What would be really good would be useful information printed out. The rep's name and contact details; what to do if you're hurt on-piste; procedure for seeing a doctor; recommended restaurants and bars (which ones good for families, bars for blokes, etc.); local tips, especially on avoiding queues (e.g. 'At start of day, take bus to 'X' lift to avoid scrum at 'Y' / 'Go home via such-and-such after 4pm'); and so on ... You'll also want to convey the departure process, so again, do this on paper rather than tell everyone face-to-face or try and grab people before the final day.
Not everyone will attend a briefing or register everything you say at one. Much easier for you to give them printed info on arrival and then say "I'll be in the <> bar 5-6pm if anyone has more questions.

Re:Welcome meetings/Snow Briefs..love or hate them?

Thu, 22 Nov 2012 19:41:22 GMT

msej449 wrote:What would be really good would be useful information printed out. The rep's name and contact details; what to do if you're hurt on-piste; procedure for seeing a doctor; recommended restaurants and bars (which ones good for families, bars for blokes, etc.); local tips, especially on avoiding queues (e.g. 'At start of day, take bus to 'X' lift to avoid scrum at 'Y' / 'Go home via such-and-such after 4pm'); and so on ... You'll also want to convey the departure process, so again, do this on paper rather than tell everyone face-to-face or try and grab people before the final day.
Not everyone will attend a briefing or register everything you say at one. Much easier for you to give them printed info on arrival and then say "I'll be in the <> bar 5-6pm if anyone has more questions.

Skiworld provide a welcome pack on the transfer coach, with all the info printed out, plus a piste map.

Re:Welcome meetings/Snow Briefs..love or hate them?

Fri, 23 Nov 2012 11:50:40 GMT

Andyhull, sure we got that with Nailson last year too from memory. Must have done, as I didn't go to the meeting and I had all the info I needed.

Re:Welcome meetings/Snow Briefs..love or hate them?

Fri, 23 Nov 2012 12:00:33 GMT

jocrad74 wrote:Andyhull, sure we got that with Nailson last year too from memory. Must have done, as I didn't go to the meeting and I had all the info I needed.

Had that from both Crystal and Inghams in the past - Neilsen too