Southern Spoor

Our Services

Our core focus is to provide effective sales and marketing representation that delivers tangible results for our long-standing clients. In addition to representation, our extended offering includes a range of marketing and consultation services to support our clients with their marketing strategies, as well as short-term ad hoc marketing assistance as part of our Southern Spoor Select services.

Sales & Representation

Our core service is representation of privately owned hospitality establishments situated throughout South Africa and East Africa.

1

Sales calls
A key element of a representation contract is sales calls. We spend a large portion of our time on this critical aspect, visiting and communicating with the trade, as per the identified target markets.

2

Trade educationals and open days
As part of our sales offering, we arrange trade educationals and open days for our properties.

3

Reporting and feedback
We provide all our clients with a full and detailed monthly sales and marketing report as required.

4

Trade fairs
Local and international travel trade fairs depending on clients’ budget and objectives.

5

Sales trips
Regional and international sales trips depending on clients’ budget and objectives.

Marketing & Promotions

Marketing and promotions play a vital role in supporting any sales efforts. We offer the following services, depending on available budget:

1

Email marketing
Copywriting, design and distribution of electronic newsletters to our extensive local and international databases.

2

Social media marketing
Strategy, copywriting, design and management of profiles across all major platforms.

3

Blogs
Copywriting of blogs for clients’ websites or social media platforms.

4

Digital footprint
Assessing our clients’ digital footprint and implementing brand consistency across all platforms (including logo usage, imagery and content).

5

Website design
Copywriting, updating of content, design, technical support and SEO.

6

Marketing material
Copywriting, design and printing of all marketing material and promotional items.

7

Advertising
Copywriting, design and placement of adverts in print and online media. Google and social media ad campaigns.

8

PR
Copywriting and distributing of media releases to travel media.

Online Travel Agent and Third Party Website Management

1

Updating, maintaining and optimisation of property listings on OTAs (Booking.com, Expedia and Agoda).

2

Local site listings  (TravelGround, Rooms For Africa, Afristay, SafariNow, etc.) and meta search sites such as Tripadvisor.

3

Liaising about agreements with OTAs and creating new listings for clients with no existing online listings.

4

Managing and updating channel managers (NightsBridge and SiteMinder) and connections with OTAs.

5

Maintaining a rate parity on all OTAs to assist in boosting ranking.

6

Creating and uploading online specials or packages across all online platforms.

7

Online rate management.

8

Monthly OTA production and ranking reports (manually done).

Southern Spoor Select

Southern Spoor Select is a range of ad hoc marketing services that is available to privately owned, boutique properties looking for short-term assistance and guidance for their products as an alternative to entering into long-term retainer-based contracts. Whilst we recommend ongoing sales and marketing, we do appreciate that many properties have limited budgets and resources, but would still like to make use of our expertise, industry knowledge and contacts.

The Southern Spoor Select offering includes the following services:

1

Hourly based consultation.

2

Short-term contracts – three, four or six months.

3

Once-off industry-specific newsletters to a qualified database.

4

Once-off local sales trips – Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban.

5

Once-off international sales trips – all key markets and countries.

6

Once-off brand development and/or marketing material.

7

Trade show/fair assistance – hourly based or per event.

8

Strategic marketing and sales plans.