Question

The Importance of a Features and Benefits Statement Practice: Activities A Closer Look: Voluntrip—Not Your Typical Travel Company Identify the service features and benefits at Voluntrip. Write a features and benefits statement for Voluntrip. INTRODUCTION: The Importance of a Features and Benefits Statement The product description should be clear and simple, using language that a non-industry person can understand, appreciate, and embrace. It should cover the product features and benefits and, as such, is sometimes referred to as the product features and benefits statement. The features and benefits statement for a product/service is a marketing statement that combines the unique characteristics of the product/service and describes how the product/service is different from other similar products/services. It also explains how the product/service adds value to the consumer’s life. For instance, the following is a sample features and benefits statement for Voluntrip: Voluntrip serves clients seeking to travel to areas of the world where their tourism dollars can help sustain and maintain communities and cultures at risk—in both global and domestic regions—with superior, unique, and affordable services. The features noted in this statement are "superior, unique, and affordable services." The benefit that these product features offer to the consumer is "travel to areas of the world where clients’ tourism dollars can help sustain and maintain communities and cultures at risk, both domestically and globally." WHY THIS MATTERS: A company needs a compelling features and benefits statement to serve as "proof" for why customers should purchase its product or service over those offered by competing brands. The features and benefits statement is also referred to as the product description. YOUR TASK: Read "A Closer Look" on Voluntrip’s service features and benefits. After identifying and differentiating between the two, create a features and benefits statement for the firm. To help you complete the practice exercises that follow, refer to the sample NetFast statement for a model and consider the guiding questions provided. A Closer Look: Voluntrip Voluntrip—Not Your Typical Travel Company Currently the Tourism & Travel industry comprises more than 200,000 agents, brokers, and agencies. Voluntrip, however, wants to be a little different. It is a start-up sustainable travel company that serves clients seeking to travel to areas of the world where their tourism dollars can help sustain and maintain communities and cultures at risk—in both global and domestic regions. Voluntrip is not alone in this endeavor; travel companies of this ilk already exist, for example, G Adventures, whose mission is "to help people and communities thrive through solutions, not handouts."1 Ari, Luiz, and Sarita, the owners of Voluntrip, want to ensure that their company provides services that are superior, yet affordable, for their unique clientele. They know that in order to drive travelers to the regions they want to help strengthen they need to focus on offering them attractive travel packages. The owners describe their company’s products and services on three levels: Travel Planning Consultant Personalized Tour Guide Services Humanitarian Project Travel Voluntrip’s travel packages include: Unique travel itineraries Family-owned hotel/hostel/homestay accommodations Travel concierge services (point-to-point) Local tour guides Online customer account management Passport and Customs services Currency conversion and currency exchange services Meal packages Air travel packages Convenient online booking options Virtual travel meeting services Ground transportation options Convenient payment options AAA, military, AARP discounts Extended Customer Service hours (6:00 a.m. to midnight EST, Monday – Friday; 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday) 1. PRACTICE: Identify the service features and benefits at Voluntrip. INSTRUCTIONS: Review again the elements of Voluntrip’s travel packages in "A Closer Look." Identify which are service features and which service benefits. Then list at least 4 features and benefits in the spaces provided. As you work on identifying your features and benefits, consider these guiding questions: PRODUCT AND SERVICE BENEFITS AND FEATURES What is/are the product/s? What is/are the service/s? What does your product/service do? What consumer gaps are you filling? What is the end result that your consumer is looking for in your product/service?

what are the

a) PRODUCT FEATURES

B) PRODUCT BENEFITS

Answer 1

Product features of Voluntrip include unique travel itineraries, local accommodations, concierge services, and humanitarian-focused travel opportunities. Benefits for clients are meaningful contributions to at-risk communities, personalized experiences, convenience in travel support services, and opportunities for positive local engagement.

Step-by-step explanation:

The service features and benefits of Voluntrip can be encapsulated into two main categories: what Voluntrip offers as a part of its service package (features), and what the client gains from these services (benefits).

Product Features

Unique travel itineraries tailored to the traveler’s preferences.

Accommodations with family-owned hotel/hostel/homestay, ensure a more personal and authentic experience.

Travel concierge services that provide point-to-point assistance throughout the trip.

Humanitarian Project Travel, which combines tourism with contributing to local communities.

Product Benefits

Clients contribute to sustaining and maintaining communities and cultures at risk by using their tourism dollars meaningfully.

Travelers receive a unique and personalized travel experience, not just a generic tourism package.

Convenience and peace of mind through comprehensive support services like passport and customs assistance, currency conversion, and extended customer service hours.

Opportunity to engage with local communities and make a positive impact during their travels.

Answer 2

The features and benefits statement for Voluntrip is as follows: Voluntrip distinguishes itself by offering unique travel itineraries, family-owned accommodations, travel concierge services, and humanitarian projects. These features enable clients to not only explore distinctive destinations but also contribute to sustaining at-risk communities globally and domestically.

Step-by-step explanation:

Voluntrip's product features encompass unique travel itineraries, family-owned accommodations, travel concierge services, and humanitarian projects. These features are tangible aspects of the services provided, offering distinct experiences and support for travelers seeking meaningful engagements.

The benefits derived from these features extend beyond mere services. Clients engaging with Voluntrip achieve the end result of contributing to the sustainability of vulnerable communities globally and domestically. The unique travel itineraries and family-owned accommodations not only offer distinctive experiences but also fulfill consumer gaps by providing travelers with the opportunity to support at-risk communities through their tourism dollars.

By emphasizing these features and benefits in their statement, Voluntrip positions itself as a travel company that not only offers superior and affordable services but also enables travelers to make a positive impact on communities in need. This combination of unique services and societal contribution serves as a compelling reason for customers to choose Voluntrip over other travel companies, aligning with the evolving trend of conscious and purposeful travel experiences.