Last Minute Treasure Hunts and How To Get Away With Booking One.
Posted on: 13/03/2023By Tim Carter (Owner of Black Cat Treasure Hunts)
The phrase `last-minute enquiry` can send shivers of panic momentarily through my body. To some people what happens next can be a bit of a lottery, but I want to help and take the booking especially if it is in Sussex. I know there is the possibility of re-scheduling other work or, more thrillingly, committing to working out a route and writing a treasure hunt in just a few days and then getting the first draft out, read and approved. After this frisson of excitement has passed, I remember that I have been in this situation before and coped perfectly well. Take the booking, get your head down and write it...job done...everyone a winner!
I had a hen party treasure hunt enquiry recently through a third-party site. This was all fine apart from the customer had to specify a particular number before confirming the booking. This was proving difficult, but eventually the booking was made, although with less than two weeks left. To be honest a true last-minute booking for me is with one week or less left, but this was still going to be a test. The personalised treasure hunts require info and photos relating to the person it is about to be sent before I can properly write it. In this instance I had warned the person making the booking about these conditions before we had completed the requirements of the third-party website.The phrase `last-minute enquiry` can send shivers of panic momentarily through my body. To some people what happens next can be a bit of a lottery, but I want to help and take the booking especially if it is in Sussex. I know there is the possibility of re-scheduling other work or, more thrillingly, committing to working out a route and writing a treasure hunt in just a few days and then getting the first draft out, read and approved. After this frisson of excitement has passed, I remember that I have been in this situation before and coped perfectly well. Take the booking, get your head down and write it...job done...everyone a winner!
When she sent back the info and photos, she signed off as LMH (last minute hen). This made me laugh and is a key component in ensuring you get a high-quality product in return. She realised that the pressure was on me to write this in time, but by the same token she had gathered an excellent array of photos and info for me to use. I replied with the first draft as LMTHW (last minute treasure hunt writer). This was the perfect way to complete the booking and she was very appreciative of my efforts to have things ready in time.
I mentioned above the real definition of last minute as one week to go. In this case I advise you pick a potentially quieter time of the year or maybe leave total `editorial control` up to me. In other words, let me choose the start and finish points (normally you get to choose those). The review below was the result of the last time I had this exciting time limit and wrote literally against the clock to complete!
"I used Black Cat Treasure hunts for a hen do I was organising in Brighton. The treasure hunt was a last-minute addition to the programme, and to my surprise, Tim was able to turn it around for me in just a few days. He prepared a bespoke treasure hunt that contained challenges and anecdotes based around the bride to be and it made the whole challenge so much more fun than it would have been with a generic treasure hunt. Everyone had a fantastic time exploring Brighton in a fun way and I would highly recommend the experience. Tim was very friendly, efficient, and communicative. He was also very trusting as he didn't request any money upfront."
Airlines and accommodation providers can be prone to giving significant discounts for bookings with two weeks before departure. This can of course really help you if you are not committed to a specific weekend as in the case of a hen party or team building event. In this case it is more about being prepared in the best possible way to secure the best activity for your group with only a short time to go.
There are many reasons why things can become last minute of course. Maybe a change of plans, the whole event has only just been decided upon, you`ve been let down by someone else or just plain...haven`t got round to it! Whatever the reason, it is always worth contacting me (Tim) and I will do my best to help you out. Remember the three golden rules:
*Acknowledge it is last minute.
*Lighten the request with a joke.
*Once the booking is agreed, adhere to any requirements quickly from that point on.
Put my details somewhere safe for the next time (or even the first time) you have been landed with arranging an activity for a group close to the day in question.
info@blackcattreasurehunts.co.uk or phone (01323) 655346.
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