Is Sintra your place of holidays?

Next week I am off to the Matka 2013 Travel Fair in Finland.  It is the biggest fair of turism in Scandinavia.  I am not going because it is Finland - though that is an added bonus.  I am going because that is a market that interests us here in Sintra, and the local tourism entities are not going there, for whatever reasons. In November, I went to the similar one in London.

This last summer we took part in a study of a master's student from Copenhagen Business School.  It was quite interesting - we found out what is most important for clients when they choose a small accommodation unit like ours - and once they are here, how we perform.  This study came about as we in Sintra have seen a major change in the tourism structure in the last 10 years.  Before, there were very few beds in Sintra, and the visitors that came here were, for the large part, day-trippers.  What we had here was a few 5-star hotels, mainly.  When Casa do Valle started the activity 5-6 years ago, a very large part of our clients came through the tourism office in town: people came to Sintra and suddenly decided to stay for a night or two.  Now what happens, is that people actually plan to come to Sintra and they day-trip from here.

The change in structure is largely due to the fact that internet has made it easier to access information and people have decided that maybe Sintra is worth a real visit, and plan to stay here.  Thus there has been a surge of more small units, more familiar, less 'lost-in-the-crowd-units'. And at the same time, cheaper units, so it is affordable to stay IN Sintra.  As the B&B units have increased, there is also the question of who our customers are and how can we better serve them.  I believe that there is plenty of custom for all of us small B&Bs, as long as we can better help each guest find the ideal place for him.  Do you prefer a city location right in the center or a bit outside, in the walking distance of town; or maybe far out in the real countryside where you will not be bothered by any city sounds.  What do you want to do mainly - relax by the pool, visit the monuments, hike in the mountain - or perhaps shop till you drop?  We have all been thinking - who is our ideal guest - who are we ideal for? Who are the people that are happiest with us?  What can we do to further increase their satisfaction and holiday experience?  OR are our guests the business people, who in the midst of this tourist town are looking for a great place to stay while working in the region.  

So thanks to the study we participated in, we now know this from our part:   The guests that feel the best with us are active and independent.  They like to hike or see monuments or visit cultural activities.  They like to keep in touch with WiFi and find security important.  They value personalized but not too pushy service, like to talk to the staff because they plan their days in advance.  For the relaxing moments, they like to have a massage and to eat well.  They sometimes like to sleep in, sometimes get up really early, so they like the possibility of eating breakfast in their rooms, at very different times.  As they are independent, they want a fridge and a teakettle in their rooms. Cleanliness of the rooms is important, and they like the views.  They want to meet other guests WHEN convenient to them, not all the time.

This is what our guests get:  Views, pool, comfortable rooms, relaxation yet proximity to the Historic Center and good internet connections.  Optional services of laundry and massages.  Local information both in paper and personally to help plan the days and visits. We are not a traditional B&B, as each room has an entrance directly to the outside, not through common spaces.  You can be on your own or mingle with other guests, optionally.

So we are going to the Nordic Travel Fair in Finland to share that this is what we have here in Casa do Valle and Casa da Vista.  Sintra is so special and full of opportunities - history, nature, culture, beach.  Visits, monuments, concerts, relaxation, hiking, golf, bicycling, photography.  And much more!