Search Icon

SUCCESS STORY

Phare, The Cambodian Circus

phare-the-cambodian-circus

Overview

Phare Circus is the most unique, authentic and socially responsible business in Siem Reap. The circus is the social business extension of Phare Ponleu Selpaknon-profit school. The school was founded by 9 young men and an art teacher from France who came together in the refugee camp during the Khmer Rouge war. Arts, education and social support are the primary missions, but some students showed tremendous talent and determination.

 

The circus was started to provide those students well-paying job opportunities that didn’t previously exist in Cambodia, while at the same time providing financial support to the non-profit school.

Phare Circus is the textbook definition of a social enterprise. The business is 75% owned by the non-profit school. All revenue generated from the business supports the school or other social causes. Jobs created have helped break the cycle of poverty of at-risk Cambodian youth.

 

Phare Circus is not a conventional acrobatic circus. It’s uniquely Cambodian story telling using live music, dance, drama, circus and sometimes visual arts. The artists create the stories themselves based on their life experiences. This brings a character and authenticity not often found in live performances. They share a part of their lives with guests.

 

Before Rezgo, Phare Circus did not have its own online booking platform. A link to a third-party site was provided on the ticketing page, which was the only online sales presence we had at the time. It worked, but didn’t help with credibility to send sales to another site. It limited the amount of customer information we could get and how we interacted with them. It’s also an expensive way to sell compared to a proper direct-sales mechanism.

 

Then our CEO met Rezgo at an event in Singapore. It happened to be at the same time that a bank in Cambodia first introduced online merchant accounts. We introduced Rezgo to the bank and they worked out all the programming needed to connect.

This kind of service has been one of the main reasons Rezgo has retained our business. There have been several competitors approaching us since then, but we feel Rezgo has been a true partner and that means something. Rezgo has been very responsive to our requests, even if they are a bit unique.

 

Results

 

With Rezgo, our website bookings have become our #1 single source of ticket sales. In 2019, ticket sales on the Phare Circus website were four times higher than the highest-selling DMC. Having more control over sales allows us to make decisions that best benefit the organization vs being at the mercy of business partners. Customer information collected during the booking process has allowed us to build relationships with guests.

The most important element of Rezgo for us is that customers can book, pay and receive instant confirmation from our own website. Online direct bookers don’t want to wait, and the process must be fast and easy.

 

Providing POS access to higher volume local agents took a lot of pressure off our own customer service staff too, automating the transaction rather than having them call in. Rezgo’s personal service and flexibility has helped make Phare Circus a leader in Cambodia for booking and paying online.

MORE SUCCESS STORIES

Don't Just Take Our Word For It

  • River Safari Tours

    Waiatoto River Safari

    Waiatoto River Safari began in 1997. After selling the owner a plane and  flight training him, he in turn taught us to jet boat, and we purchased the business in 2013 . We’re a passionate local husband-and-wife team with a background of commercial flying in beautiful New Zealand. Our tours are unique. You come with us and learn about our lives and our amazing area, we give you access to extremely beautiful nature in a comfortable and easy fashion. You leave with it being the best experience you have had in NZ. Having come from 13 years of business in aviation, we knew we had to find a really good booking system for activities that worked well for clients as well as for us. In NZ, the choice was very limited and the main challenge was to find one that worked as an online diary and calendar and could also let the world know we were here and ready to be booked online. Rezgo was our choice as it was cutting edge at that time because of its functionality for both front end and back end use. The cost to us was realistic, too, unlike other alternatives at that time. Results Rezgo allowed us to be seen on an international scale and also provide succinct online booking from our website that could also be booked on a mobile phone. Back then, this was a relatively new thing for activity providers, especially smaller ones due to high cost of what was on the current market here in NZ. One of the most important feature of Rezgo for us would have to be the customer service, which has always been top notch. Fast response, always ready to help. Also, Rezgo’s features are always advancing and keeping up with current technology. We especially like the payment gateway options and the ongoing commitment to teaming up with big agencies overseas like Viator.

    Read More
  • Equestrian Centre

    Crindle Stables

    Crindle Stables is a renowned equestrian centre located along Northern Ireland’s stunning Causeway Coastal Route. We offer a wide range of horse riding experiences, from professional show jumping lessons to unique beach rides and sensory sessions, all with a dedication to providing top-notch services to riders of all levels. Results Since adopting Rezgo, we’ve experienced a remarkable transformation in our booking management. We have found it great as we only have a certain number of horses that we can book out and before Rezgo we would be taking bookings – as a family business would be taking over the phone but sometimes it did not make it to the bookings diary. This resulted in double booking and over booking – Rezgo has effectively resolved this issue by ensuring that our bookings are always accurate and up-to-date, preventing any discrepancies and streamlining our booking process. Rezgo’s digital waivers have also streamlined our check-in process, allowing us to spend more time doing what we truly love: connecting with our clients and providing them with unforgettable equestrian experiences. With less time spent on administrative tasks and more time focusing on our passion, Rezgo has truly enhanced the quality of service we offer at Crindle Stables.

    Read More
  • Sightseeing and Transportation

    Tofino Water Taxi

    Tofino Water Taxi has been operating a thriving water taxi service in Tofino, British Columbia for over 17 years. Nestled on the stunning Pacific coast, our company offers transportation services to remote islands, secluded natural hot springs and wildlife tours, allowing tourists and locals alike to explore the natural beauty of the region in an environmentally sustainable manner. Recognizing the growing demand for online bookings, we decided to invest in a booking system that could streamline our operations and enhance customer convenience. After careful research and consideration, we chose Rezgo as our preferred booking system provider. We were impressed by their local team, robust features, user-friendly interface, and reputation in the industry. Little did we know just how much of an impact this decision would have on our business. Results Since implementing Rezgo’s booking system into our operations, we have seen a significant increase in sales. The ease of use and accessibility of online bookings has attracted more customers than ever before. With just a few clicks, travelers can now secure their seats on our water taxis from anywhere at any time. In addition to boosting sales figures, Rezgo has also greatly improved efficiency within our company. The automated processes for managing reservations and tracking availability have eliminated double bookings or scheduling conflicts that used to take up much time when relying solely on manual systems. Overall, I couldn’t be happier with my decision to choose Rezgo as our booking system provider. Their flexible capabilities perfectly suit niche businesses like ours that require specific functionality when communicating with offline drivers. If you’re seeking an efficient and reliable solution for your booking needs, I highly recommend giving Rezgo a try. Thank you once again to the entire team at Rezgo for revolutionizing how Tofino Water Taxi operates its business – we are thrilled with results thus far!

    Read More