Why We Shifted Away from All-Inclusive Packages – And How It Benefits You
When I launched Trackside Focus®, my motorsport-focused business - built around delivering high-quality motorsport photography courses, motorsport photography workshops, and specialist motorsport photography training, the initial plan was to offer fully inclusive packages, which is how it started out. These included aspects such as hotels and transfers in one neatly wrapped product. At face value, it seemed the most convenient option for our workshop guests and an easy way to position ourselves among established tour operators.
However, as the business took shape, it became clear that continuing with all-inclusive packages at this early stage was neither commercially viable nor aligned with the varied needs of motorsport photographers looking to attend the workshops.
Regulation and Insurance: The Hidden Cost of Packaging
The moment a company offers a combination of travel services - for example accommodation and transport under a single price, it falls under the Package Travel Regulations. This legal framework is designed to protect consumers, but it also places substantial and unavoidable compliance obligations on travel businesses.
To operate as a tour operator under these regulations, specialist insurance is mandatory. For a young start-up business, this insurance alone exceeds £3,000 at the most basic level.
For a business built around high-quality motorsport photography workshops, carrying those additional costs pushed workshop prices far above the competitive and accessible pricing we can maintain today. Ultimately, the regulatory burden of packaging simply did not align with the business’s stage of growth.
Price Sensitivity and Real Customer Feedback
Customer feedback also played a decisive role. As we refined our motorsport photography workshops and trackside education offerings, it became evident that not everyone wanted or benefited from a fixed accommodation and travel component.
For example, photographers living close to venues such as Donington Park made it clear that they preferred to stay at home and arrive at the circuit themselves. They did not want to pay for hotels they would never use. Others requested the flexibility to arrange their own travel, book preferred hotels, or manage their schedules independently.
We also received pushback on pricing when packages forced customers into paying for elements that offered no personal value. A one-size-fits-all model simply did not match the needs of a diverse audience ranging from experienced motorsport photographers to newcomers seeking their first sports photography course experience.
Cost vs. Value: Building a Model That Works for More People
The decision to move away from all-inclusive packages was ultimately about aligning cost with value. By removing compulsory add-ons, the experience becomes more accessible. Customers now pay for what they genuinely need and choose how they want to structure the rest.
This flexibility benefits those attending our motorsport photography workshops who want a premium hotel, a budget room, or even a same-day commute. It respects different budgets, learning goals, and personal preferences.
Most importantly, it ensures that investment goes directly into improving the core product: world-class motorsport photography training, hands-on photography workshop sessions, and continued enhancement of the live trackside experience.
Looking Ahead: A Model That Can Evolve With Growth
Stepping away from all-inclusive packages does not mean they are gone forever. If the business grows substantially, it may become commercially viable to reintroduce curated all-inclusive options, especially for customers who want everything organised, from hotels to transfers to a fully structured motorsport photography course itinerary.
Right now however, the streamlined model, focused on high-quality motorsport photography workshops, flexible and adaptable scheduling aligns far better at this time. It provides freedom, respects personal choice, and makes the experience accessible to a wider range of budgets and lifestyles.
The shift has strengthened the business rather than limited it. And as we continue to grow, the offering can evolve with demand - including the possibility of returning to all-inclusive motorsport packages when the timing aligns and when it adds genuine value.
For now, flexibility, freedom, and a focus on quality remain the formula that works.
