9 Proven (and AI-Powered) Strategies to Increase Direct Bookings in 2025

Want to increase sales for the rest of 2025 and roll that momentum straight into 2026? Resmark’s Brandon Lake unpacks nine battle-tested, AI-turbocharged tactics that have already added millions in revenue for tour operators. You’ll discover how to:

  • Automate your marketing so bookings roll in while you sleep
  • Build a repeatable booking engine that attracts and converts on autopilot
  • Spot—and clone—your best guests with AI-driven insights
  • Walk away with plug-and-play tactics you can deploy the same day, whether you’re a seasoned operator or just getting started.

Learn more about Resmark:

More resources from Brandon & Resmark:

Key Takeaways from the webinar:

  • Use AI to analyze customer review data for ideal customer profiling – Upload reviews from Google, Yelp, and OTAs into ChatGPT projects along with analytics data to uncover customer demographics, desires, fears, and emotional triggers objectively
  • Focus on unchanging marketing fundamentals amid constant change – Instead of chasing every new tool or trend, concentrate on delivering “the right message to the right person at the right time” as your core strategy
  • Optimize website load times for revenue impact – Every second of load time costs approximately $44,000 annually for operators doing $1 million in sales; aim for under 2.5 seconds on largest contentful paint
  • Implement lead magnets beyond basic booking attempts – Create valuable content like insider guides or email series to capture contact information from visitors who aren’t ready to book immediately
  • Design custom checkout flows for higher conversion rates – Moving beyond cookie-cutter booking processes to tailored experiences can increase conversion rates by 15% or more
  • Collect email addresses from all adult participants, not just bookers – Use post-booking waiver processes to gather contact information for comprehensive follow-up marketing and experience enhancement
  • Create automated nurture sequences based on customer language – Use actual customer review language in email subject lines and content rather than invented marketing copy for higher resonance
  • Build advocate programs with personalized shareable content – Create individual guest story pages on your website with their photos and reviews, turning customers into a distributed marketing network
  • Track and replicate exceptional guide behaviors – Analyze reviews to identify specific staff members mentioned frequently and understand what makes them successful for training replication
  • Provide conversation starters through branded items – Give guests reusable items like water bottles that naturally prompt conversations about their experience with your company in their daily lives

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