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

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.

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...

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.

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!

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

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.

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

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.