Resort towns offer ample opportunities for small businesses to thrive, especially in sectors that cater to tourists. However, before launching a seasonal business, it is crucial to engage in meticulous planning. Ensuring you have sufficient operating revenue to sustain you during off-peak periods when tourist traffic dwindles is essential for success. Here’s a look at popular business ideas for resort towns and choose what you like best.
Transportation
Offering diverse transportation options in a resort community can be a lucrative business venture. Consider providing airport shuttles, local site tours, or transportation between popular points of interest. Beyond standard business licensing, you’ll likely need specialized vehicle licenses and permits.
Check with your secretary of state’s office, department of business, or local business license office for specific requirements related to transportation businesses in your area.
Build and Rent Hostels
Hostels offer budget-friendly, sociable accommodations where guests can rent a bed, typically a bunk bed, in a shared dormitory. These often include shared bathrooms, lounges, and sometimes kitchens. Hostels are ideal for small tracts of land and cater primarily to young travelers and those seeking economical travel options.
Competitive pricing is crucial, and offering additional amenities such as Wi-Fi, food services, and walking tours can enhance your business. Upholding high norms of hygiene is essential to attract and retain tourists.
Restaurants
Restaurants that highlight local cuisine and regional specialties can attract tourists looking for an authentic experience. Enhance the appeal of your resort destination by offering both indoor and outdoor dining, on-site entertainment, and scenic views of nearby attractions such as beachfront or mountains.
Additionally, consider providing catering services, carry-out options, and hotel delivery. Partnering with resorts to cater business events, conventions, weddings, and other celebrations can also be a lucrative opportunity.
It’s probably one of the most popular business ideas in a resort town and a lucrative one at that.
Souvenirs
Though souvenir shops are common in resort towns, offering unique or unusual items can differentiate your business. Stock goods by local artists, handmade keepsakes that capture the essence of the area, or gifts that align with the town’s main attractions. Price these items competitively and provide shipping options for tourists who prefer not to pack and transport purchases home.
Start a Parent Help Agency
Touring with kids can be challenging for parents, especially when managing multiple pieces of luggage. Launch a parent help agency to assist with transporting luggage, allowing parents to focus on their children. The concept is simple: parents entrust their luggage to your care, and you arrange for it to be delivered to their holiday destination. This service can make traveling lighter and less stressful for families.
Sundries
Hotels and resorts in vacation destinations often charge premium prices for essential items that guests frequently need. To address this, offer competitively priced sundries such as toothpaste, razors, sunscreen, snacks, toiletries, and other commonly forgotten items that may be overpriced in hotel shops. If your location is far from hotels, consider providing a delivery service to ensure convenience for visitors.
Cruise Service
If your tourist town has a beach, offering cruise services can provide tourists with a luxurious experience. Although this is a high-investment business, it can be very rewarding. Dinner cruises featuring excellent lighting and good music cater to those who enjoy dining on the water. Pricing is crucial due to competition in this field. Effective marketing and creating customized packages for target audiences can set your services apart.
What kind of business to open in a resort town
Take a moment to observe your resort town and identify any under-served needs that could appeal to tourists. Consider services such as umbrella or towel rentals on the beach, photography in a picturesque rural setting, or luxury car rentals in an upscale community.
Developing a business concept that remains profitable during the off-season or can pivot to a different model when tourist activity wanes will significantly improve your chances of success. For instance, a beachfront jewelry shop could shift to online sales or sell to wholesalers during slower periods.
