While we hate to sound all doom and gloom these days, there have been a lot of stressors on the economy and those don’t seem to be going away any time soon. That’s one of the reasons you might want to reconsider that chamber trip you’ve been planning.
Or should you?
While chamber trips have often been a reliable form of non-dues revenue, offering exciting travel experiences for members while supporting the chamber’s budget, in the current economic climate, with businesses tightening their travel budgets and the overall landscape being less certain, it’s fair to ask: are chamber trips still a viable option for generating revenue?
This is something that every chamber will have to decide for itself, but ultimately, the answer depends on the approach taken to promote these trips and the value they provide to participants.
There are several reasons why chamber trips are still a valuable part of chamber offerings. They can:
One of the core pillars of a chamber is to cultivate community. Travel is a powerful way to foster these connections. When people from the same area travel together, they experience a new culture. Additionally, they deepen their relationships with each other. Neighbors and strangers alike return with stronger ties, often leading to increased participation and sponsorship in chamber activities post-trip. The shared experience outside the familiar environment strengthens bonds that can last long after returning home.
International travel broadens perspectives, increases empathy, and allows for a better appreciation of one's home community. The exposure to different ways of doing business can be invaluable, especially for business owners looking to bring innovative ideas back to their own operations. For chamber members, these trips aren't just leisure vacations; they're opportunities for professional development, making the experience worthwhile for employers looking to offer unique employee benefits.
For many, the logistics of planning international travel can be overwhelming, from communications to itineraries. Chambers can offer a fully planned, safe, and structured travel experience that makes international trips accessible to more people.
The chamber acts as a trusted guide, making it easier for members to say yes to travel, especially for those who might be apprehensive about navigating a foreign country on their own.
Despite the many benefits, chamber trips can be a hard sell in the current economy. By understanding some of the pushback you may receive, you can prepare to market the trips more confidently.
Consider how you will overcome points about:
Economic Uncertainty. With some businesses cutting costs and scaling back travel, members may view non-essential travel as a luxury they can’t afford. Many organizations have reprioritized their budgets, limiting expenditures that aren't directly related to generating immediate revenue.
Perception of Trips as “Junkets.” Some people still view chamber trips as vacations or "junkets" that don't serve a real business purpose. If potential participants don't see the direct value to their business, it can be challenging to justify the expense.
Competing Priorities. With companies and individuals facing multiple demands on their time and resources, it may be difficult for members to commit to international travel, especially if there isn’t a clear return on investment.
Just because these misgivings exist does not mean you should table your trip. There are ways to help people understand why this is an extraordinary time to take that business trip with the chamber.
While chamber trips may be facing more resistance, there are ways to position them as valuable, business-oriented experiences:
One of the most compelling reasons for joining a chamber trip is the unique opportunity to network internationally. Position the trip as a chance to meet key figures in the industry abroad, explore global partnerships, or even learn best practices from international counterparts. For instance, chefs can tour kitchens overseas to learn culinary techniques, manufacturers can see how other plants operate, or retailers can explore new product sourcing. When participants return, they may have new suppliers, partners, or ideas to increase their business revenue.
Pro Tip: Make it clear this is not a vacation. After all, they could book that on their own. You need to offer things (like meetings or programs with officials and business leaders) that would be difficult for them to arrange on their own. They need to see this trip as an incredible opportunity that they could not duplicate on their own.
Share success stories of businesses that have benefited directly from participating in a chamber trip. Perhaps a local business owner who joined a past trip met a new supplier or formed a joint venture that resulted in increased sales. Real-life examples can illustrate the trip’s business value, turning the narrative from a luxury to an investment.
Pro Tip: If this is your first trip and you lack examples, check with the tour operator or another chamber that has done something similar so you can tell the story.
Adding structured learning experiences to the trip itinerary can make it more appealing. For example, organizing workshops, factory tours, or seminars with international experts can provide direct professional value. Attendees can gain insights and knowledge that they can bring back to their businesses, making the trip a practical professional development opportunity.
Present the trip as a retention tool for businesses. Employee loyalty can be bolstered by offering travel as a benefit, which adds a professional development component to the perk. Highlight stories of employees returning more engaged and loyal, as travel is often an experience that strengthens personal investment in a company.
For a chamber trip to offer a compelling business reason for participation, certain elements must be included:
The itinerary should include meetings with industry leaders, business owners, or officials in the destination country. Exclusive access to influential figures can create high-value business opportunities that justify the trip’s cost.
Customizing the trip to cater to the needs of specific industries represented by the participants adds value. If a significant number of attendees are from the tech sector, for instance, consider including visits to technology hubs, startups, or research institutions.
Including cultural and community-building activities can help strengthen the local network. When participants experience another culture together, they build camaraderie, creating stronger professional and personal bonds that carry over into chamber activities back home.
After the trip, keep the momentum going by organizing follow-up events to discuss the trip’s experiences and business insights. This ensures the trip’s benefits extend beyond the travel dates and encourages participants to continue engaging with the chamber.
Pro Tip: When you share outcomes with the larger community, you also build interest in your next trip.
While it’s easy to dismiss chamber trips as unnecessary indulgences, this view is outdated and overlooks the significant benefits that travel can offer to a business community. Chambers are in the business of building community, and taking people out of their usual environment creates the perfect setting for doing just that.
Travel can make participants more connected, both to each other and to the chamber, resulting in increased member retention, engagement, and participation in future chamber activities.
Chamber trips are more than just travel experiences; they are strategic tools for cultivating relationships, sparking new business ideas, and strengthening ties within the community. While they may face resistance in tough economic times, the key is to position them not as vacations but as well-rounded experiences that offer valuable business connections, professional growth, and personal enrichment.
With carefully crafted itineraries and communicating the many benefits, your chamber can continue to use trips (or start doing so) as an effective source of non-dues revenue while enriching the business landscape of your community.
Additional Reading:
Check out this article about chamber trips: Hosting a Chamber Trip? What You Should Know First
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