A digital roof for Saas-Fee

DIGITAL MARKETING With a broad-based digitalization project, the "Free Republic of Holidays Saas-Fee" created a platform for the digital marketing of the destination in 2015. This pools the strengths of all service providers through joint direct sales via Website.

The new Saas-Fee marketing platform. Guest and booking behavior in tourism has changed dramatically in recent years. Online booking portals are flourishing, but they also siphon off booking commissions from tourism destinations. As a result, marketing resources are limited. "Most businesses simply don't have the resources to handle guest communication on their own," says Pascal Schär, CEO of Saastal Marketing AG.Combined forcesThe "Freie Ferienrepublik Saas-Fee" developed a Smart Marketing Engine with the support of the Swiss Confederation as a CTI (Commission for Technology and Innovation) funding project. Behind this is a marketing platform that facilitates joint direct sales via www.saas-fee.ch of the 700 service providers such as hotels and parahotels. All providers have access to various tools (CRM, app, social media management, newsletter) as well as to the content and offers. This bundling increases the presence and findability of the businesses on the internet. The new Saas-Fee/Saas Valley application developed as part of the project can also be individually tailored to the businesses. Despite this extensive networking, each service provider remains visible as an individual company under the common umbrella.Focus for guests thanks to centralized marketingThe digitalization strategy leads to economies of scale by reducing the high marketing costs of mostly family-run businesses to a minimum. The cooperation increases the marketing opportunities of all service providers, as the offers are now networked or offered directly at the establishment. They can save money and concentrate more on their core business, which ultimately benefits the guest. After all, local quality is and remains central to sustainable tourism.