How to Create a Travel Brochure (with Images)

2024 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 09:13

A creative travel brochure, expertly written and superbly structured catapult readers into a real story set in an exotic destination. This article will show you how to make an eye-catching brochure that will spark recipients' imaginations and persuade them to book the packages you offer.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Structuring the Details

Step 1. Choose the destination to propose to your potential customers

If you work for a travel agency, the destination to advertise will be assigned to you by someone else. If you are a student and need to make a brochure for a school project, you should choose an attractive, exotic and interesting destination.

• A person working for an agency should already know the destination they will represent or try to advertise. At this stage, find out about the attractions of the destination in question: mountains, lakes, beaches, museums, parks, and so on. List all these features on one sheet, which will come in handy later.
• If you are a student, look for an exotic place to advertise, such as Mexico, Hawaii, Maldives, Florida or Australia for example. Do a search for your chosen destination (using online search engines, encyclopedias, books borrowed from the library, and so on) and list the main attractions. Write them on a piece of paper - they will come in handy later.
• Whether you are a student or a professional, the list should be quite substantial at first. At this stage, it is best to list numerous options, you can then delete the unnecessary ones later.

Step 2. Find out about the infrastructure and amenities of your destination, then search for relevant addresses

These include, among others, restaurants, shops, bathrooms, cinemas and so on. It is important for the prospect to know what amenities are offered and where they are.

• Explore this place firsthand, then note what infrastructure is available and where it is located.
• If you do not have the opportunity to visit this place because it is far away, look for online maps that can help you locate the various infrastructures. Sites like Google Maps indicate exactly what they are and where they are.
• After you have drawn up a detailed list of facilities and amenities, draw a star next to the ones you think are most important (bathrooms are generally a must). Be sure to indicate if they offer special services, for example access for disabled people.

Step 3. Collect opinions given by those who live in this place

If you live in or near this place, or know people who live there, treasure all the information you can find. Opinions and first-hand experiences are very useful for understanding what a destination actually is like.

• Visit the people who live in this place and ask them to give you an opinion. Remember to bring a pencil and paper to write down exactly what they are saying. If you can't write very fast, you can also use a tape recorder.
• If the destination is purely tourist (non-residential), try calling someone who has visited it in the past. As advised before, write down the experience of these people in detail.
• Students who do not have direct contact with people who live in this place or who have visited it should do an online search. Look for websites that refer you to hotels, restaurants, and other facilities. Look for reviews that talk about the destination in general (Mexico, Hawaii, etc.) rather than a specific accommodation. Write down people's opinions.

Step 4. Select your target

For each destination, you need to figure out which demographic to target. This will not only allow you to offer particular accommodations, but also to create a brochure that is graphically interesting for the target demographic group.

• Use the list of top attractions and services to select a targeted audience. Here are some examples to get you an idea:

  • Tourist destinations with many bathrooms and restaurants are ideal for a target made up of tourists who have passed the third age.
  • Purely tourist destinations (non-residential) are usually suitable for a younger target group or couples on their honeymoon.
  • Tourist destinations with hotels equipped with Wi-Fi and television are ideal for those with children.
  • The hotel rooms that have spaces equipped with comfortable chairs and desks are ideal for those who intend to take care of their business from a distance.
• This is not an all-encompassing list, but it will help you get an idea of what to look for and how to select the right target demographic. An aspect that you consider minor (such as a wooden pier) can make the difference for a particular clientele.

Step 5. Determine the price of the vacation package

It is the most important step of all. You need to make a reasonable profit, but also avoid letting potential customers run away. If you work for an agency, the price of the trip has probably already been determined.

• Consider all the steps above, especially the target demographic group. Set a standard rate for each service and add the prices together. Determine a standard rate for all attractions and add them together. Finally, make an overall calculation that includes services and attractions.
• Adjust the cost of the holiday according to the target customers. Younger customers and families generally look for a cheaper price. Older customers and business people have more money. In principle, a holiday for a family of four should have a price between 1000 and 2000 euros. Raise it or lower it based on the different variables that come into play.

Part 2 of 3: Writing the Text of the Travel Brochure

Step 1. Write down the essential points

Before choosing and publishing your final copy, you need to write several drafts to carefully select the information to be included in the brochure. Take advantage of this step to correct spelling, grammar and punctuation errors.

• You must first create a story. Just as a good novel draws the reader, the customer should feel that this journey will be an unforgettable experience. Write a compelling argument in order to explain why this goal is a must. Divide it into paragraphs consisting of a few complete sentences.
• After writing the argument, read it again and try to figure out if anything needs to be changed. Above all, eliminate irrelevant information, keep important information, and enrich descriptions of those places that require a more engaging or convincing presentation.
• This argument can then be broken down into several sections within the brochure. It may be necessary to rework the sentences so that they make sense on their own and can be placed individually in different parts of the booklet, but initially it is enough to have a general argument. The author must know exactly the function of each single sentence and know how it relates to the others in order to persuade the clientele.

Step 2. Choose fonts well and use them consistently

The brochure should be legible and easy to follow. It should be smooth overall and not look confusing.

• The title should appear bold, underlined, and large enough to be read from a distance. A person sitting in a public place, such as a cafe, should be able to see this clearly at the top of the brochure.
• Subtitles or section titles should also be bold and underlined, but with a slightly smaller font than the title. Also, you should always use the same font. If a subtitle is in Times New Roman, all the others must be too. The brochure will thus be graphically smooth and will not hinder a potential customer's understanding.

Step 3. Write a catchy title

Trivial headlines like "Vacation in Mexico" or "Vacation in Hawaii" would bore potential customers, who won't feel motivated to read the rest of the brochure. You have to use meaningful adjectives and maybe even verbs to entice the target reader.

• The word "vacation", or a synonym, must be inserted at the beginning of the title.
• Immediately after the word "vacation", write one or more adjectives that are generally used in the tourism sector (but you can also use less common ones), such as "adventurous", "vibrant", "stunning", "unpredictable", "breathtaking" and so on. Associate them with the term "vacation" so that potential customers see your keyword right away when reading from left to right.
• Then make sure you include the name of the place in the title. If you are advertising a vacation in Hawaii, do not exclude this information. Indicate it at the end of the title and end with an exclamation point, so as to give the impression that the seller is at least as thrilled as the potential clientele.

• Write in bold and underline the title if you like. Example: Rocambolesque holiday on Mount Everest!

  

  Step 4. Hit target customers with the opening phrase

  It should appear on the first sheet of the brochure, the one the customer will see as soon as they open the brochure. It is like the thesis statement of an essay.

  • You must immediately indicate the reasons for making this trip. If you don't convince a prospect right from the start, they won't look at the rest of the brochure.
  • Take advantage of this section to make a short list of the main attractions and services. Example: "Hawaii All-Inclusive Package: Breathtaking Views, Five Star Hotels, and Unlimited Food!"

  

  Step 5. Write the individual sections

  The brochure must consist half of images and half of text. Each section of the brochure should contain a few sentences (three or four) to explain every single aspect of the holiday.

  • You must include at least the following sections: restaurants, hotels, views (destination aesthetics) and shops. These are just some of the information a tourist should be aware of before going on vacation. In total, you should have about six to eight sections.
  • Provide necessary, succinct, and compelling information. Consider which images you will use and make sure they are relevant to the text. You can underline, italicize or bold certain words or phrases.
  • You should also use this section to indicate services, such as accessibility for people with disabilities, free continental breakfast, routes for biking or hiking, and so on.

  

  Step 6. Copy and edit the testimonials

  Before writing the brochure, you have certainly collected and noted personal experiences of people who have visited this place in the past. In this section you can not only summarize what they said, but also include quotes.

  • To write a quote in a booklet, insert an indentation and put it in quotes.
  • You must include only the most interesting and important information. Don't put in bad experiences, as they can discourage customers.
  • If you want to delete a sentence in the middle of the quote, just select it on the word processor and delete it. Then, between the remaining sentences, add three ellipsis. This will allow you to shorten the quote, keep what you need and underline the most important information.

  

  Step 7. Include a section with rates, but it doesn't have to be comprehensive

  There is no need to create a table and enter all prices. However, you should indicate an approximate figure so that potential customers can get an idea of the cost of the package.

  • The tariff section should contain three or four sentences with simple proposals. Examples: "Holiday packages for 4 people starting from 1000 euros" or "Holiday packages starting from 1500 euros. Discounts are available for telephone bookings".
  • Remind potential customers what offers and discounts they can get from your company. There are usually promotions for families, retirees, children and so on.
  • This section should appear on the inside of the booklet, on the far right (at the end). You don't have to put rates at the beginning of a brochure or on the back, as customers will go and look at them right away and won't read the rest of the brochure.

  

  Step 8. Refer potential customers to other sources

  This is crucial because the brochure will not be enough. Under the section indicating the rates or on the back of the brochure, enter details such as e-mails, websites, telephone numbers and postal address.

  • You should indicate this information in the form of a bulleted list or with dashes. Do not write them in the form of a paragraph, otherwise it will be more inconvenient to find the individual data.
  • Check the information two or three times to make sure it is up to date and correct. Look at the bottom of the web pages to find out when they were last updated. Call the numbers listed on the brochure and see who answers you. The information you offer must be accurate.

  Part 3 of 3: Designing the Graphics

  

  Step 1. Choose eye-catching photos

  They will help you better tell the story you have in mind. Customers should feel thrilled and intrigued by the images they see on the brochure.

  • Examples: A smiling tourist hugging a dolphin in a water park or a woman while receiving a relaxing massage in an open-air spa with a tropical landscape in the background.
  • Make sure the images are in color and have a high quality resolution. Do not use stock photos, which usually look fake and are unattractive. Use photos that other people have lent you or that you have taken yourself.
  • People like to see others having fun, so try to include photos of people happy to be on vacation instead of pictures of an empty hotel room or a deserted beach. This will invite readers to project themselves into the photo.

  

  Step 2. Carefully consider the color palette

  Each destination will convey a different feeling or emotion. For example, a prospect needs to figure out if it's relaxing, exciting, or somewhere in between.

  • To advertise a spa and convey a feeling of relaxation, use soft pastel tones. Destinations for children, on the other hand, should be presented in bright and intense colors. Brochures that advertise historic destinations can communicate an "old time" feeling with sepia tones and earthy colors.
  • Use the same color for each page of the brochure. If you use several of them on each sheet, the final product can be distracting and overly garish.

  

  Step 3. Add borders, asterisks and symbols

  You should definitely not distract the reader, but these elements can help you better convey the story you are trying to tell.

  • Use a thin border to frame each sheet of the brochure. If it's double, it can be distracting. It should be a slightly lighter or darker color than the one used for the rest of the booklet.
  • If you want to emphasize the main points of the story, use a bulleted list or asterisks. It is generally not convenient for you to enter more than three or four. Try to stand out information that you haven't included in the paragraphs.
  • Symbols, such as stars, rainbows, arrows, and so on, can also help. Insert them in the places you think are most suitable. Again, try not to overdo it or confuse the reader with the graphics. If customers want to know more, they'll go find what they need, so don't overwhelm them with pictures and information.

  

  Step 4. Organize the brochure so that the text and graphics coexist harmoniously

  Paragraphs consisting of three or four sentences should be represented by appropriate images. For example, if you talk about restaurants in a certain paragraph, insert an image of a restaurant.

  

  Step 5. Contact a printer to print the brochure

  If you are a student, a folded standard size sheet will do. Instead, professionals should make use of the service of a print shop.

  • Ask the printer to have brochures printed on high quality paper. Poor, thin paper can easily tear, crease, or be damaged with water. The thick, coated paper resists accidents and can be carried around without any major problems.
  • If you decide to use a printer you have at home or at your agency, just make sure you choose thick, heavy paper. Set it up so that the pixel quality is as high as possible so that your photos come out clean and sharp.

  

  Step 6. Correct the final copy

  Make sure the print shop hasn't drastically changed or altered the layout or layout of the brochure. Whether you are a professional or a student, take the opportunity to review your spelling and grammar once again.

  Advice

  • If you are a student, make sure you meet the deadline.
  • Instead of using computers, students could test their dexterity and create a brochure on their own. Colored pencils, permanent markers, and rulers are all tools that will help you do a good job.
  • A professional should always follow the guidelines of the company. Before printing and distributing the brochure, make sure your superiors and other managers have given you permission.
  • Do not use images that do not portray the actual destination. Nobody wants to be told lies about the destination they are going to visit. This can cause problems and disputes with the company.