Hollywood Bus Tours keeps booking management simple as the business grows

“For most operators, I think FareHarbor kind of fits in that perfect mark where it’s easy and not too complicated.”

Chris Leschinger, Owner

Running a tour business in Hollywood means keeping up with a steady stream of customers, bookings, and distribution channels. For Hollywood Bus Tours, the right booking system needed to make that work easier without adding unnecessary complexity. That’s why the team chose FareHarbor.

From one van to a growing Hollywood operation

Hollywood Bus Tours operates from the Hollywood Visitor Center in the heart of Hollywood, California. The business started small, with one van and a sidewalk booth at another location. After moving to the Hollywood Visitor Center, the team continued building the business and expanding its presence in the area.

Chris had already worked with multiple tour companies and reservation systems, so he understood how complicated some platforms could become. For Hollywood Bus Tours, FareHarbor stood out because the integrations were already built and the setup didn’t require extensive technical knowledge.

“It was the right system that was already built,” Chris says. “They already had the integrations; they already knew how everything worked.”

Hollywood Bus Tours signed up for FareHarbor at the end of 2019 and began using the platform in early 2020. Today, the team uses FareHarbor to manage inventory, connect with online travel agencies (OTAs), check in customers, and keep track of bookings across desktop and mobile.

A booking system the whole team can use

For Hollywood Bus Tours, FareHarbor became a central part of the booking operation.

Seamlessly connected booking channels

One of the biggest advantages for the team is connectivity. Hollywood Bus Tours works with multiple OTAs and other partners. FareHarbor connects those channels, giving the team a clearer view of its bookings and inventory.

“FareHarbor is right for us because it connects to all the different OTAs, connects to all the systems we use, all the reporting’s fine,” Chris says.

Instead of managing each connection separately, the team can use FareHarbor as the hub for its booking activity, which helps reduce that operational burden.

An easier way to check in customers

The booking process doesn’t end when a customer makes a reservation. The team still needs to find that booking, confirm the customer has arrived, and get them ready for the experience.

At Hollywood Bus Tours, staff use FareHarbor’s Manifest to manage check-in.

They can find a customer by name and time and check them in manually. Customers can also present the QR code from their booking, allowing staff to scan it and check them in automatically.

The same applies to bookings made through OTAs. When customers arrive with the appropriate barcode, staff can scan it rather than searching for the reservation manually.

“It’s user friendly,” Chris says. “All my staff that sell tickets, they’re checking people in and it makes it really simple.”

Keep bookings visible from anywhere

The team also uses the FareHarbor mobile app to stay connected to its listings and booking activity.

Chris says the app makes it easy to keep track of listings from their phones, while notifications alert the team when new activity comes in. For a business with staff working across a visitor center, vehicles, and other locations, having booking information available on the go can make day-to-day management easier.

Stay on top of upcoming bookings

When the Hollywood Bus Tours team logs into FareHarbor, the booking calendar provides an immediate view of the week ahead. This gives the team a clear sense of what’s ahead and helps them plan around scheduled tours.

FareHarbor’s reporting is another resource available when the team needs more information. Chris says they don’t use reporting frequently, but when they do, it’s straightforward to access and understand.

The results

With FareHarbor, Hollywood Bus Tours can:

• Connect bookings from multiple OTAs and other systems
• Manage inventory through one booking platform
• Give staff a straightforward way to access booking information
• Check customers in manually or by scanning QR codes
• View upcoming bookings through the booking calendar
• Stay connected to booking activity through the mobile app and notifications
• Access reporting when the team needs additional insight

Ready to simplify your booking operation?

As your tour business grows, your booking system should make growth easier, not more complicated.

FareHarbor has the tools to manage bookings, inventory, distribution, and check-in while keeping your team connected to the information they need.

Ready to see how FareHarbor can work for your business? Request a free demo today.