What are travel packages?
Travel packages bundle together multiple elements of a trip into one simple offer. Instead of guests booking accommodation, activities and extras separately, a travel package wraps them into a single, appealing price.
For hotels, this usually means combining your rooms with value-adding experiences, like airport transfers, dining, spa treatments, tours or tickets to local attractions. Done right, travel packages can turn your property from just a place to sleep in, into the actual centrepiece of a guest’s trip.
For example, a city hotel might offer a “weekend culture package” that includes a two-night stay, breakfast and museum passes. A coastal resort could sell “romance retreats” with a suite, sunset cruise and late checkout. These are far more than discounts. They create experiences guests want to buy into.
In this blog, we will explore why travel packages work, share inspiring examples and show you how to create offers that guests can’t resist.
Table of contents
Why travel packages work
By bundling accommodation with extras like tours, meals or wellness activities, you create offers that feel complete. Guests do not need to worry about organising the details since the travel package covers the entire itinerary, incentivising them to book these offers instead of standard room accommodation.
Packages also help fill rooms during slower periods. When demand dips, a compelling offer can be the push travellers need. For example, adding spa treatments or local experiences to a midweek stay can encourage bookings outside of peak times.
Direct bookings are another big win. Guests who book directly through your website often spend more than those who use online travel agents. In fact, in 2024, the average booking value through hotel websites was $519, compared to $320 through Online Travel Agencies (OTAs). Travel packages give guests a reason to choose your site, helping you build stronger customer relationships and avoid commission fees.
Finally, packages allow you to target specific traveller types. A family offer with discounted kids’ meals and tickets to local attractions speaks directly to parents. A business package with meeting space and breakfast appeals to corporate guests. The more tailored your packages, the more likely they are to convert.
Turn packages into bookings with SiteMinder
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Travel package examples in different countries
Looking for ideas? Travel packages are shaped by the experiences guests already want, and what better way to understand what they want than by the most significant choice they’ve already made: the country they’re visiting. Here are examples from popular destinations to help you think about how your hotel could create offers that make booking simple and appealing.
Japan travel packages
The Golden Route is one of Japan’s most popular travel paths, but organising each stop can be overwhelming for visitors. A package covering 3 days in Tokyo for food, shopping and museums, 2 days in Kyoto’s temples and gardens, a day in Nara visiting shrines and deer parks, and time in Osaka for its markets and nightlife makes the whole journey much easier. Partnering with tour operators helps hotels offer this as a ready-to-book itinerary for guests who want the highlights without the hassle.
Iceland travel packages
In Iceland, many travellers come for natural wonders. A 5-day winter package can offer hotel stays along with guided northern lights tours, spa visits and day trips to waterfalls and glaciers. These types of offers are especially helpful during quieter seasons when visitors want everything arranged ahead of time.
Italy travel packages
In Italy, food and wine often take centre stage. A Tuscan package might pair four nights at a countryside hotel with vineyard visits, cooking lessons and transfers to nearby villages. Guests looking for slower, more immersive experiences appreciate having everything organised so they can focus on enjoying their trip.
Greece travel packages
Island hopping is popular in Greece, but it often takes a lot of planning. A Cyclades package can take care of the details. Guests stay across Santorini, Paros and Mykonos with ferry tickets, hotel bookings and guided tours all arranged ahead of time. This saves them the trouble of managing separate reservations and lets them focus on enjoying each island.
Hawaii travel packages
Hawaii offers the chance to combine adventure and relaxation. A Maui getaway might feature five nights at a resort, car hire, surf lessons, a sunset luau and discounted spa treatments. These packages help guests make the most of their time by wrapping local experiences into one easy option.
Javier Aranda, E-commerce Senior Manager Palladium Hotel Group
How to set up hotel travel packages
Once you understand the value of travel packages, the next step is creating offers that fit your property and guests. It doesn’t need to be complicated. With the right approach, you can turn your rooms and services into packages that drive more bookings and revenue.
1. Identify hotel features and services
Start with what you already have. Look at your rooms, facilities and services. Do you offer breakfast, spa treatments or airport transfers? These can all be part of a package. Think about which amenities go well together and what adds value for your guests.
2. Partner with local attractions
You don’t have to do it all alone. Work with nearby businesses or tour operators to offer experiences outside your hotel. Museum tickets, guided tours, local restaurants or outdoor activities can help make your packages more appealing. These partnerships often benefit both sides, giving you new ways to reach guests and giving local businesses more visitors.
3. Pre-planned itinerary
Guests like convenience. Pre-planned itineraries remove the need for them to figure everything out themselves. Whether it’s a weekend of dining and sightseeing or a week of cultural activities, think about how to structure your package to cover key needs, like meals, transport and activities.
4. Set pricing
Your packages should offer good value, but they don’t need to be heavily discounted. Focus on convenience and experience. Use your booking and revenue management tools to price packages based on demand. This helps you stay competitive while protecting your margins.
5. Promote your travel package
Creating a package is only part of the job. Make sure it’s visible where guests are searching. Promote packages on your website, through email marketing and on your social media channels. Consider listing them on OTAs if you want to reach a wider audience.
Tools to manage travel flight and hotel packages
Once your travel packages are ready, the next step is managing them across different channels and properties. This is where the right technology makes all the difference. Without it, updating prices, availability and inclusions for each offer can quickly become complicated and time-consuming.
With SiteMinder, this process becomes much simpler.
The booking engine lets you display travel packages directly on your hotel’s website, so guests can book easily without needing to call or email. You can showcase different offers for various guest types, seasons or events, and make them available 24/7.
If you want to sell packages across multiple platforms, our channel manager has you covered. This tool connects your packages to online travel agents and other booking channels, keeping pricing and availability up to date everywhere in real time. No more manual updates or worrying about double bookings.
If you’re running more than one property, everything can be managed in one place. SiteMinder’s centralised platform gives you full control over your packages across all locations. You can roll out offers to selected properties, adjust them based on local demand and ensure consistency in how they’re presented.
By using the right tools, you’ll spend less time handling admin and more time creating offers that attract bookings. From your own website to global booking sites, SiteMinder helps make sure your packages reach customers who are ready to buy.
