Extra revenue without extra pressure: how smart extras increase your income

Sleeping bags, insurance, extra lessons, premium rooms. Many operators know they could offer these kinds of extras. But they don't.

The reason we hear most often? Not "I don't want to be pushy." But: "My current system just doesn't support it."

And that's a shame. Because selling extras isn't the same as squeezing participants for more money. It's offering them convenience they're often looking for anyway.

The sleeping bag moment

One of our customers did something simple. In their standard email a few days before departure, they added a section. But not for everyone—only for participants who hadn't yet booked a sleeping bag.

The text:

"Don't want to lug all that stuff? Book it last-minute with us and it'll be ready when you arrive."

The result? A clear increase in sleeping bag bookings in the days before departure.

Why did this work? Three reasons:

1. Timing: at the moment people are thinking about packing
2. Relevance: only people who didn't have one yet
3. Tone: helpful, not pushy

They offered a solution to a problem participants already had. That's not selling—that's service.

Which extras work best?

Not all extras are equal. Here's what we see working:

Convenience items (most effective)

Things participants would otherwise have to bring or arrange themselves:

• Sleeping bags, bedding, towels
• Toiletries
• Activity-specific equipment

The pitch is simple: "Less lugging, more enjoying."

Insurance

Cancellation insurance, travel insurance, equipment insurance. Easy "yes" because it provides peace of mind. And you're offering it at the moment they're already thinking about what could go wrong.

Experience upgrades

Single room instead of shared. Extra coaching. Private session. Premium equipment. This works especially well with adult participants who are willing to pay for comfort or extra attention.

Memories

Photo albums, videos, merchandise. Often better to offer after the experience, when people already know it was worth it.

When to offer?

Timing matters a lot.

During booking

The most natural moment. Someone is already in the process of saying "yes." The threshold for "yes, and this too" is low.

Works best for:

• Convenience items (sleeping bags, bedding)
• Insurance
• Room types or accommodation upgrades

In the lead-up to the activity

Like the sleeping bag example. Perfect for last-minute convenience choices.

The key: only show to people for whom it's relevant. Someone who already booked a sleeping bag doesn't need to see that tip.

After the activity

For memory items: photo albums, videos. At that point, people know if the experience was worth it.

The technology behind it

This is where many operators hit a wall. Offering extras sounds simple, but in practice:

• How do you add options to your booking form?
• How do you track who ordered what?
• How does that get on the invoice?
• How do you send targeted emails to people who haven't ordered something?

With spreadsheets and separate systems, this quickly becomes an administrative nightmare. That's why many operators simply don't do it.

At Buchung, we've built extras as a core part of the system—not an afterthought. You configure which extras are available, when they're shown (during booking or after), whether they're required or optional, and how many can be selected per registration.

Participants select their choices during booking. It automatically appears on their invoice. And in your reports, you see exactly how much revenue your extras generate, separate from your main activities.

What does it yield?

We don't have exact percentages to share—every situation is different. But what we consistently hear from operators: "It's more than I had."

Some are surprised by how many participants choose convenience items. Others discover that insurance is almost always selected when you offer it.

The general lesson: participants often want extras. They just don't always know it's an option. By offering it smartly—at the right moment, to the right people—you're giving them something they're looking for.

Start small

You don't have to launch with ten different extras right away. Start with one thing you know participants regularly ask about or need.

• Are sleeping bags often requested on-site? Offer them at booking.
• Do people regularly ask about insurance? Make it an option.
• Is there a premium variant that a few people want each season? Add it.

One extra, offered well, is better than ten hidden in a long list.

Further reading

Curious which extras work well for your type of activities? We're happy to think along based on what we see with similar operators. Schedule a conversation and we'll share what we've learned.