Jon Bon Jovi February 2017-Ft Lauderdale
Runaway Tours Trip
This was my 21st Runaway Tours trip. They have improved so much since my first one back in 2011. Back then you had to be in a big group photo with 8-10 other people you didn’t know. Now you get a photo with JBJ based on how many are in your room, single, double and sometimes triple depending on the options they give you. This trip included 2 nights hotel stay (there was also a no hotel option), a welcome party, bus to/from the venue, the show, a photo with JBJ & the band for this trip grouped by room, a great signed photo that I will treasure and a small zip up bag with the Runaway Tours logo on it.
We checked into the hotel and got ready for the Q&A as that was the first event up for this trip. We knew the Q&A would be with the band this time but, we were all surprised and excited when Phil X walked in, he took Tico’s place so we had David Bryan, Phil X and JBJ for this event. It was a fun dynamic and a lot of great questions.
After the Q&A we all lined up for our photos. It was another nice but, quick photo opportunity and then we were told there was about an hour before the party room would open. Not sure in this case if that was planned or maybe the Q&A went shorter than they had originally planned or what. A few of us left the hotel and went to find some dinner. I was pretty tired after returning from dinner but I did swing by the party for a bit to see friends. This trip had a really good group of people on it which I thought made it a lot of fun.
T
his trip was different because it was occurring during the tour so instead of the acoustic show you were able to attend a full Bon Jovi Concert which is always amazing. In the interest of full disclosure I always upgrade my seats because the seats Runaway is given just are not where I prefer to sit at a concert. This tour in both Ft Lauderdale and LA they were in the first few rows of the section full floor section. However this is why I prefer to do Runaway Tours when they are on tour so I can guarantee I will be thrilled with where I am sitting.
I upgraded the front row experience for this show. Due to the fact we had a package and had to arrive earlier than the buses were leaving a bunch of us that upgraded car pooled to the venue with a local friend. More on the experience in a future blog. After the show the buses were easy to find and we jumped on and got back to the hotel pretty quickly.
If you are interested in trying a Runaway Experience: http://www.runawaytours.com/
One suggestion I would love to see implemented for tour travel companies is a loyalty program. Wouldn’t it be so cool to say after you have done 25 trips you get something like a meet and greet or x period of time with JBJ, at 50 trips you get xyz. That would make people really want to go on a lot of trips to achieve that status/rewards. Very similar to how cruise lines, airlines have reward programs and how Aerosmith does their concert tickets. Similar to the Keith Urban 100 club concept which I will also cover in a future blog.
I would also love to see a return of a group tour of the city or an activity in the city we are in. It’s very hard for those that are new and those events used to be such a great bonding time.
Fun concert wear!
Bebe: http://www.bebe.com/
Nordstrom: http://shop.nordstrom.com/
White House Black Market: https://www.whitehouseblackmarket.com/store/
Coach: http://www.coach.com/shop/women-wristlets
Until next time,
Xoxo
Heather
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