How Accommodation and Tourism Businesses Can Use Fundraising Vouchers

Most fundraiser products are small: coffee cards, meal deals, $50 vouchers. But some businesses can offer something bigger — and bigger offers fundraise faster.

Accommodation and tourism businesses — baches, B&Bs, tour operators, experience providers — have exactly that kind of product.

Why premium vouchers work

A "weekend for two" or a "family experience day" is a high-value item that stands out in any fundraiser. People buy them for anniversaries, Christmas, and once-in-a-while treats. One premium sale can raise more than dozens of small ones — and the buyer gets a memorable experience, not just a deal.

What to offer

• A midweek stay — fill quiet nights with high-value sales.
• A local experience package — a tour, a tasting, an adventure session.
• A "staycation" bundle — accommodation plus a partner experience.
• A gift card for your services — flexible and easy to redeem.

The economics

Your real cost for a room on a quiet Tuesday night is low — the lights, the linen, the cleaning. That makes a midweek voucher genuinely profitable: a $300 stay with $45 to the cause can still leave you well ahead, while filling a night that would otherwise sit empty.

How to make it work

• Target quiet periods. Midweek and off-season redemptions turn empty capacity into revenue.
• Set clear terms. Redemption windows, inclusions and exclusions should be obvious to buyers.
• Deliver a memorable stay. The experience is your marketing — a great stay brings direct bookings later.
• Capture the details. A delighted guest is a future repeat guest; make it easy for them to book again.

Choose the right causes

Tourism and accommodation suit causes with reach: school trips, big club campaigns, community appeals. One well-placed premium voucher can anchor an entire fundraiser — and make your business the talk of the campaign.

The honest note

Premium vouchers need careful pricing. Work out your true marginal cost, decide the share (at least 10%), and only offer capacity you can honour. Done well, a single "experience" voucher can fundraise like nothing else — and introduce your business to guests who would never have found you.

Your quiet nights have value. Let a fundraiser turn them into revenue, goodwill and future bookings.