If you’ve ever said this out loud—or just thought it while skimming another marketing to-do list—you’re not alone.

Between managing staff, answering guest questions, and keeping tours running smoothly, most operators barely have time to breathe, let alone write the “perfect” email campaign.

But here’s the thing: email marketing doesn’t have to be a second job.

In fact, if it takes more than a week or two to get your foundational automations in place for a year or more, you’re procrastinating – or you simply don’t have the tools in place to do it smart!

Email Isn’t Just Marketing—It’s Your Safety Net

Unlike social media, email doesn’t rely on algorithms to do its job. It goes directly to your guest, on your terms.

  • You control when it gets sent
  • You control who sees it
  • You control what it says

No middlemen. No boosted posts. No wondering if the right people saw it at the right time.

And guests actually want it 3 —nearly half of global internet users say they prefer getting business communication via email. It’s personal, it’s direct, and it’s easy to come back to later.

But Here’s the Problem

Most operators never get their email system off the ground because they’re stuck in one of three places:

  • Trying to DIY with a tool that wasn’t built for tour operators
  • Halfway into a setup they get pulled into an emergency and never come back
  • Staring at a blank screen, they are unsure what to send

The irony? It doesn’t take that long to get it right.

We’ve seen operators go from “nothing set up” to “fully automated and running smoothly” in just a few days—with the right help.

The Numbers Don’t Lie

Email continues to outperform every other marketing channel:

  • Email drives $45 in revenue for every $1 spent in the ecommerce and travel space 1
  • Consumers spend 128% more when shopping through email vs. other digital channels 2
  • Email has lower acquisition costs, higher ROI, and stays in inboxes long after your Instagram post disappears 4

And once it’s set up, it runs on autopilot.

You Don’t Need a Full Marketing Department—Just a Smart Setup

For most tour businesses, setting up a lean, effective email system takes about 6-10 hours of focused work. And you don’t need a marketing department to do it.

With TourAdvantage there are three options:

  • DIY All The Way — Do-it-yourself doesn’t mean “on your own.” You’ve got access to dozens of guided lessons (great for watching, pausing, doing, watching, pausing, doing…) and templates especially for tour operators.
  • DIY + Backup Assist — You want to manage it all on your own with our online classes, but you need just a little bit of help on one or two things? We offer smaller one-off assistance by the hour, at cost. (For real. We want you to succeed, too!)
  • Our VIP Guided Build — We can help you get it done over the course of three meetings—no fluff, no headaches, and no waiting on ROI. Just a clear roadmap, hands-on help, and a system that keeps working long after setup is done for a flat fee of $600.

Email Isn’t a Luxury—It’s the Infrastructure

It’s how your guests remember where to park.
It’s how they find out about that sunset upgrade they didn’t realize existed.
It’s how you get reviews from everyone on the tour, and not just the booker.

And the best part? Once it’s set up, the hard part is over. Sit back, and watch it work.

1 The ROI of Email Marketing (Litmus.com)

2 Shoppers Who Buy Via Email Spend 138% More Than Those Who Don’t.  (Entrepreneur.com)

3 Preferred messaging channels to receive business communications according to smartphone users worldwide (Statista.com)

4 Top Email Marketing Ecommerce Case Studies: Lessons From Success Stories For 2025 (TheRetailExec.com)