This issue’s cover story, “Baby On Board” (page 14), is of
special interest to me. A few years back one of my oldest friends,
a registered nurse midwife who has delivered hundreds of babies,
mentioned an idea she had. She said that someone should create a
resort specifically designed for pregnant women and new families.
While there are plenty of products marketed to this group, there
were few travel options. The resort could have special spa
offerings and informational classes, and be designed to give the
parents-to-be a last fling before all the lifestyle changes that
come with a new baby. It could be called a “babymoon” because it’s
sort of like a honeymoon.
“Great idea,” I said to my friend. Then we both got busy again
with the stuff of life, and forgot all about the
conversation.
A few months later, I began getting press releases mentioning
babymoon packages being offered at local resorts. Then more
releases, and more. It was clear my friend missed the boat on her
great idea.
Today, as you’ll read in the story, babymoons are offered at
resorts all over the world, and it’s a great niche product for
agents to sell. One option might be to team with a local hospital
and distribute your agency’s information to prenatal classes or
expecting couples. Even if the babymoon packages don’t pay big
dividends at first, it could introduce a new family to your agency
and may eventually lead to you handling all their future
travel.
Another lesson to be learned from my experience, however, is
that you should never let a good idea pass you by. You have to act
on those lightning strokes of genius we all get from time to time,
and act quickly, before it’s too late and you end up reading about
it in some magazine.
Finally, in case you doubted TAW’s commitment to bringing you
great first-hand stories, I’d like to mention that the writer of
this issue’s cover story is our Managing Editor, Janeen Christoff,
who as we go to press is expecting her own baby any day now. I’m
sure it was tough for Janeen to be pampered at various resorts as
she researched this story, but we all appreciate her hard work!
K.S.
