Whale & Dolphin Watch Operators Workshop

Benefit from sustainable practice, learn from your customers, and make more money!

Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Galway, Ireland, 9.00 – 17.30 Saturday 24th March 2012

 
Why do we need a workshop?

Planet Whale is proud to announce the second in a series of Whale & Dolphin Watch Operators Workshops that will help you to improve the sustainability* and profitability of your business.

We are developing new strategies to publicise those whale and dolphin watch operators that offer the best learning experiences for passengers and put the welfare of whales and dolphins first.

If you would like to be recognised as one of the best, reserve your place today!

 

 

 

 

 

The commercial advantages of a sustainable approach

Planet Whale believes that the most sustainable trips can also be the most profitable, and we intend to work with you to make that happen. This workshop is designed to enable boat operators to share ideas and work together to develop strategies for improving the standards of whale and dolphin watching.

Planet Whale intends to help you by seeking new promotional and marketing opportunities for the most sustainable operators. In short, we will be working to bring the best operators more business! This workshop is all about helping you to achieve and maintain the highest standards for whale and dolphin watching, and rewarding you for doing so!

 

 

 

 

A workshop focussed on your business

During the workshop we will look closely at your specific business in order to identify areas that will help you get ahead of the competition. How can we do that? Planet Whale has just launched the world’s first review system that asks your customers to rate and review your trips based on five important questions. From now on, when your customers review your trips, they provide Planet Whale with feedback on five critical aspects of your business:

1. How well did the trip publicise and use guidelines for safe approach to whales / dolphins?
2. How valuable was the trip as a learning experience?
3. How well did the trip meet your expectations?
4. How well did the trip minimise its impact on the marine environment?
5. Emphasis on the trip operator’s own research or support for conservation?

These questions, defined as being the most important in developing a sustainable whale watching industry by a team of ethical whale watch operators and marine conservation charities, will be used by whale watchers across the world to rate their trips on PlanetWhale.com in the coming years.

 
Not only will highly rated whale and dolphin watch operators always appear first on Planet Whale’s unique search engine, they will also be in line for awards, and receive new promotional opportunities developed by Planet Whale through online media, tourist boards and the press, because they are market leaders in sustainable whale and dolphin watching.

 

How to join the workshop

The workshop fee is €95 per person, €45 for students.

To reserve your place on the workshop contact Dylan Walker on email: dylan@planetwhale.com or telephone +44 (0)1273 355011. Your email or phone booking will enable us to hold your place for ten working days while payment is made. Once we receive payment we will confirm your booking in writing.

Payments should be sent by direct bank transfer to:

Bank: HSBC
Account name: Planet Whale Ltd
Sort code: 40-14-03
Account no: 32364948
IBAN: GB81MIDL40140332364948
SWIFT CODE: MIDLGB2111V

Alternatively, if you are in the UK you can pay by cheque made payable to ‘Planet Whale Ltd’ and sent to Planet Whale, 2a Church Road, Hove, East Sussex, BN3 2FL.

Date and location

The event will be held between 9.00 – 17.30 at the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Galway, Ireland, on Saturday 24th March 2012, the day before the opening of the European Cetacean Society Conference at the same location. Capacity for the venue is 35 people so we recommend that you book early to guarantee your place.

 

Access and Accommodation

Further information on the venue and room location will be provided to attendees closer to the event.

 
Workshop itinerary

9.00  Welcome and coffee

9.30 Introduction

Dylan Walker and Ian Rowlands introduce the Planet Whale rating and review scheme and a new strategy for the sustainable and economic development of the whale and dolphin watching industry. 

10.30 – 12.00 Market leaders

We reveal how five whale and dolphin watch operators have developed methods that have led to a five star rating in each of the categories reviewed by the public on the Planet Whale website.

12.00 – 13.00 Break for lunch

13.00 – 15.30 Workshop Activity

The workshop will be devoted to interpreting feedback from the Planet Whale review system, sharing experiences, and benefitting from the knowledge of colleagues.

15.30 – 16.00 Coffee break

16.00 – 17.00 Summary

Workshop groups summarise shared knowledge on best-practice in key areas.

17.00 – 17.30  Discussion

Discussion on how whale and dolphin watch operators can best benefit from being ‘market leaders’ in sustainable whale watching, including options for developing an awards ceremony and a ‘5-star Club for sustainable whale and dolphin watch operators.’

17.30  End

*SUSTAINABLE WHALE AND DOLPHIN WATCHING: A tour to see wild whales or dolphins by a commercial operator who accepts a responsibility to preserve and protect the animals and ecosystems they interact with. Sustainable whale and dolphin watch operators invest, where possible, in local conservation efforts and offer the best learning experiences for passengers. They act according to codes of conduct which put the welfare of whales and dolphins first.