Boat Bike Tours Core Values

Core values are characteristics or driving forces that highlight what Boat Bike Tours stands for. Core values show how and why our company does things and can explain why decisions are made. Without strong perceived values, it will be impossible to maintain our unique purpose-driven organizational structure as we grow and become more international. Without knowing who we are, it is impossible to head in the right direction and be successful. These values are the starting point of our strategic plan and every decision we make.

Mienskip

Shoulder to shoulder for success
We aim to offer guests an unforgettable travel experience and to always surprise them with innovative offerings. The key to our success lies in our mienskip. This Frisian word means ‘community’, but it represents so much more than that. Arising from the centuries-old Dutch struggle against water, it also means interconnectedness, trust and solidarity. At Boat Bike Tours, themienskip in our company manifests itself in our passionate office team, experienced tour guides and skillful, motivated crew who stand shoulder to shoulder together.

A warm welcome

Our guests are everything
Our guests’ wishes always come first. We want them to feel like they’ve found their second home on board our boats. Our friendly crews anticipate guests’ needs before they even know them themselves, delighting and surprising throughout the journey. And as genuinely personal connections develop on each tour, every trip becomes a uniquely special experience for all involved.

Sustainability

For good energy
Making things last is part of our philosophy, whether it’s memories, relationships or the wonders of nature. We’ve nurtured ongoing connections with boat owners, tour guides and guests who keep coming back. As a company that celebrates the beauty of our environment, we’re aware of its fragility and are working hard to cut our carbon footprint by reducing our waste, emissions and resource consumption. As we work towards net zero, we partner with offsetting organizations, who are doing wonderful work regreening the Earth.

Transparency and equality

Valuing differences and diversity
Equality and transparency are essential. We want to be an open and inclusive company where everyone is welcome and respected. We don’t like hierarchy and give our employees freedom to share their perspective, to self-manage and to fulfil their potential. We trust everyone to do their best, which results in a fantastically engaged team.

TEAM GUIDE LINE

Proposal Merger Boat Bike Tours & Islandhopping
As of 1 January 2024, Boat Bike Tours and Islandhopping are together in 1 group.
The goal is to become a better and stronger company by learning from each other and combining the strengths of the teams. Another goal is to become more effective and efficient.

Proposal

• Integrate the teams of both companies supporting the two brands
• Set-up Integration Project Teams
  • Phase 1 (Q1 2024): Making plans for key processes in the following areas:
    • General Overview: Jan, Laurens (process owner), Jacob, Klaus
    • ProductDevelopment(cluster2)
    • Marketing(cluster3)
    • Sales per cabin (cluster 4)
    • Sales per ship (cluster 5)
    • Administration → Phase3
    • Controlling → Phase 3
  • Phase 2 (start of sales season 2025: Work as 1 team)
    • This phase will be worked out based on the results of phase 1
  • Phase 3 (winter 24/25 start of Integration Project Team)
    • Sustainability
    • Realization (cluster 6) (operations in NL, D, HR, GR, TU)
    • Feedback(cluster7)

• Phase 1 (and next phases) is supported by the various services (Digitalization, ICT, HRM and the other services)

General guidelines for the integration

• Sales/operations 2024; no change (separate processes continue as we work now)
• Sales/operations 2025 and further; integrated teams
• The brands Boat Bike Tours and Islandhopping/Inselhuepfen are strong brands and will remain strong brands in the future. The partnership of IH with BBT should be visible in the IH-branding
• Both websites will be supported. Islandhopping website will only present Islandhopping products (no change)
• Within BBT Islandhopping will be a Category (Cycling Cruise, Premium, Boutique, Sail & Bike, Islandhopping, Partnertours) or an improved Category set-up.
• We will have 1 booking platform/booking flow based on Salesforce, Salesforce will be updated to support also the IH-processes. In March Gen25/Joost will be available full-time to update Salesforce
• On Quip there will be a new folder ‘Integration’ with subfolders per team (digitalization to set-up). All BBT and IH colleagues will have access to this Integration folder. Every team will set-up the structure of the folder and publish minutes/notes of meeting.
• The Integration Project Teams make decisions on how to integrate. Every team will have 1 (or 2) coordinator to plan meetings and to report to the General Overview Team.