a blue hat and yellow suitcase on a blue background

From Desk to Destination: Tips from a Project Manager and Certified Boat Captain

When you’re planning a trip, it’s not just about the itinerary, but also the experience you hope to receive from your investment. Similarly, our Liquid Project Managers are not just focused on successful projects, but also on building long-term client relationships.

We are your front of the house staff, we check you in, and we make sure your trip is a memorable experience. It’s our goal for our clients to enjoy their time with us so much that they want to come back aboard on the all-inclusive Liquid cruise year after year.

Here’s our guide to creating a client experience that gets them re-booking before they even check out:

Every good trip, and project, starts with a plan

When you’re planning a trip with your friends and family, it’s important that everyone is clear about their destination, excursion plans, as well as any travel fears and budget limitations. Those same conversations should be happening between you and your client before kicking off any new project.

Establishing project requirements, budgets, and timelines early on helps to manage client expectations, avoiding scope creep and difficult conversations down the road. It’s also important to outline project goals so that you and your client are aligned on how to measure the success of the project. 

Bon voyage! It’s time to set sail

At Liquid, every new project starts with a kickoff meeting. Think of this as your welcome cocktail party! 

The last thing we want is for our clients to arrive and say, “What now?” The kickoff meeting is the perfect time to introduce your client to the full project team so that they can put faces to names of the people bringing their vision to reality. 

This is also the time to re-review the trip itinerary or, in our case, the project plan. It’s important to ensure everyone is clear on the deliverables and milestones, and that we are all working towards the same goals.

Sit back and relax

Vacation mode is in full swing, and we want to keep our clients in the loop on all the daily activities. This is where we put on our Cruise Director hats and make sure our clients are up to speed on everything going on. 

At Liquid, our Project Managers have regular check-ins with our clients to keep them informed of the project status, progress made, challenges faced, and milestones achieved. Proactive communication allows for adjustments to be made promptly, preventing misunderstandings and surprises down the road.

Be prepared for stormy weather

Have you ever lugged all your gear to the beach just to be hit with raindrops as you’re cracking open your drink?

At Liquid, our Project Managers always have their eyes on the sky, looking out for any signs of storms ahead. We are proactively working to anticipate the needs of our clients and their projects, staying vigilant to identify potential issues or blockers early on to prevent them from escalating.

Travel insurance for when the storm hits

Sometimes, ship happens. Even the best laid plans are bound to hit a snag. Like when you’ve spent months planning this trip, and now that you’ve arrived, the forecast says it will rain all week.

Just like travel insurance is designed to protect against risks and financial losses that could happen while traveling, a Project Manager does the same for their clients during the course of a project. When a project hits a blocker, all hands are on deck and our Project Managers are here to have open discussions and offer creative solutions, all while keeping a close eye on your project budget and timeline.

Tans will fade, but memories last a lifetime

Navigating the high seas of client experience is a continuous process that requires proactive communication, transparency, and a commitment to delivering value. Our Liquid Project Managers work to go above and beyond so we can not only meet but exceed client expectations.

Remember, successful client management is not just about delivering a project; it's about creating an experience that they’ll be raving about to all their friends back home.

Ready to shove off on your first trip with Liquid? Book with us today!