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30th Anniversary of the World Travel Market in London

Posted by admin on Feb 19, 2011 in World Travel | Comments Off

The World Travel Market, held in the Excel Centre in London from the 9th – 12th November is celebrating its 30th event this year. The entire show is embracing a 30-year theme with events forecasting the next 30 years of travel trends, particular interest is on the technology sector and what dramatic changes 30 years of development will bring.

Usually the first day of WTM is the most important with restricted access to invitees only. The following three days is then opened to members of the travel trade, press and students. Pre registration is advisable to avoid paying an entrance fee.

For business within the Travel Industry WTM can be an effective way to:

 - Plan your way out of recession

 - Acquire market intelligence and industry forecasts

 - Develop new contacts & business relationships

 - Meet existing suppliers

 - Enter new markets

This year will see WTM’s first sports press conference on November 9, which will include a presentation from South Africa 2010. Professor Time Coles, director for sport, leisure and tourism research at the University of Exeter, will be the official speaker and he will discuss the growing sports tourism market.

New additions to this year’s WTM include the ‘Get Funded Show’ on November 11 and 12. Organised by EyeforTravel, the ‘Get Funded Show’ is a high–profile platform where the innovators of the industry will present the ideas that will shape the future of travel. The Get Funded Show is specifically designed to help innovators successfully enter the travel industry. Business people will be able to meet with investors, senior executives and serial entrepreneurs and pitch their ideas. Entrants will also receive one-to-one mentoring from them leading up to WTM.

Travel Agents are Still in Demand

Posted by admin on Feb 18, 2011 in Travel Agent | Comments Off

Although their are numerous online travel services a traditional Travel agent is as much an important part of the trip as comfort is to traveling! The role of a travel agent has been increasing with the times and today most people are dependent on them for executing most of their travel plans so that they can rest easy and just enjoy their trip.

It is the responsibility of the travel agent to help and guide the travelers about the constantly changing schedules and airfares, availability of packages for vacation, and a lot of travel information that the traveler may not know about.

Choosing a reliable travel agent can be an important decision, since how you travel and your comfort will be largely decided by the travel agents. You should verify the information given by the travel agents, to be on the safer side and minimize your travel hassles. Incase of International travel, choosing a proper agent becomes more important.

The right agent should be able to foresee your problems and guide you about them. They should provide information related to customs regulations, important documents like visas, passports, currency exchange rates and certificates of vaccination.

Many hotels, cruise liners, resorts, and special travel groups make use of travel agents to market their travel packages to the ever increasing rate of people choosing to travel both inland and overseas. Most agents advice you on destinations and make arrangements for hotel stays, transportation, tours, car rentals, etc.

Information on weather conditions, restaurants, tourist attractions, and other such necessary information are also provided. A good travel agent could also take the trouble of checking out hotel services to gauge their quality of service in order that they can base references on a first hand report.

With the changing times, the travel industry has seen a big development in terms of Internet bookings and travel related information made available on the net. The number of people using online services is growing. This has resulted in a change in the view of the convenience of traditional agencies.

A poll result of American tourists revealed that over 92 percent of them generally buy their travel related necessities online. According to these consumers, online travel agencies have cheaper rates, are the easiest to use and offer all the relevant information. A word of caution is necessary for those using the Internet for their travel bookings. Be sure to navigate the site, verify that the agent has a good back-up system.

Also ensure that there are no added costs that are credited to your credit bills.

Till a few years ago, travel agents provided free services to their customers. Travel agents worked as agents for airlines, hotels, rental car companies, etc. The agencies worked on a commission basis from these suppliers.

But free travel agent services began changing as a result of certain changes in the rate of commissions. For example, in 1995 Delta Airlines imposed a limit on domestic airline commission rates.

The role of the travel agent is thus not only diversified but one that necessitates trust and responsibility.

Important Questions to Ask Your Travel Agent

Posted by admin on Feb 17, 2011 in Travel Agent | Comments Off

Using a travel agent can make your vacation easier in many ways. However, if the right questions are asked, a travel agent can become even more valuable. In order to gain an understanding of what to expect on a trip, it is a good idea to have some questions prepared. Try not to assume that the travel agent will take care of everything and inform you of all the particulars you are interested in. Even if you have an agent who you trust completely to take care of your trip with no unexpected charges or difficulties, there are still things that you need to be involved in, and details which need to be clarified.

The first thing to do is shop around. Go to different travel agencies in your area and ask lots of questions. One of the first things that you find out should be how and when you can get a hold of your agent. If something goes wrong on your trip you will need to know that there is some kind of system in place to get in contact with your travel agent. Many agencies use an 800 number and/or an automated system to determine your need, and then take care of you from there. Some smaller agencies may not have that system in place. Very small agencies may have nothing at all. Be sure to find out if your agent is willing to be available after business hours to take care of you. You will not want to be stuck in a foreign airport at four in the morning with nobody to call. A second question to ask your agent is in the area of his/her company and personal travel history. Be sure that your agent either has some experience travelling to your eventual destination, or has a willingness to put extra effort into your account to ensure that you get the best services available where you are going. Many agents have planned vacations for countless regions. They also will be experienced in visiting many places. But if you want to go to a specific region of Italy and one agent has been there once before him or herself and worked with the area a few times, but a comparable agent has been there a few times him/herself and worked extensively for clients going to that area; your choice should be easy. It is not rude to ask your agents these questions; it is being a smart shopper.

Another question to ask your travel agent before making your decision involves money. Of course you want to check on prices, fees, taxes and other usual travel costs to find out what is included and what is not. However, you should also find out how your agent defines the phrase “transaction fee.” Some companies will determine that buying your entire package puts everything into one transaction, and therefore will only charge you one transaction fee. Other companies will make every ticket purchase, every hotel booking, every restaurant reservation and every price of admission a separate fee. This can still work well because the fees may be small enough to even out with paying one bulk fee. Some agencies will actually count every change in plans as a transaction fee. For example, if you need to switch or cancel a flight, that would be a transaction fee. If you decide on a different hotel, even well in advance of your trip, that would be a transaction fee. This system can work, if prices are right. But if prices do not add up in your favor the transactions can add up. Ask questions about transaction fees and be sure to know the policies that your agent puts into place when it comes to transaction fees in order to avoid being caught off-guard.

Once you have chosen an agent, there are other questions which should be asked. Many travellers feel that it is the agent’s responsibility to do everything in his or her power to plan a perfect vacation for you. However, this becomes more difficult if you do not communicate your desires and needs. If the vacationer does not ask questions, the travel agent will not be able to know all of the vacationer’s preferences. Ask your travel agent what destinations work well for people with your particular interests. Tell the agent specific activities you want to do, or ask for some suggestions. Find out about the weather, hotels, restaurants, local culture and transportation. When all is said and done, with the right questions asked, you can know as much about your vacation as your agent does.

Often when travellers arrive at their destination, they have many questions about their accommodations and places of interest in the area in which they are staying. These questions can be asked ahead of time to the travel agent, and this will allow the vacationers to take advantage of all the time spent at the chosen destination. Don’t waste time looking at a map or waiting to speak with the hotel attendants to find out a nice place for lunch. Ask these questions ahead of time, map out your trip, and you will get to see and experience everything the particular destination has to offer.

Plan your Vacation with a Travel Agent

Posted by admin on Feb 16, 2011 in Travel Agent | Comments Off

Now that you have decided to plan your next vacation using a travel agent, the first step is to actually sit down with an agent and begin the exciting planning process. While you can show up at the agency and jump right into the process, it is usually a good idea to consider a few basic factors in advance. The following are some tips on getting ready to talk with your travel agent, as well as how to work with the agent to plan the ideal vacation for you and your family.

There are a few issues you need to address before you see the agent and begin the actual planning process. First, you should have some idea of what type of trip you want to take. Knowing that you want to vacation at the beach as opposed to taking a cruise to Alaska or a skiing vacation, will save a lot of time on the front end and allow the agent to zero in on the destinations that are most likely to be appealing to you. Just in case, make sure your passport is up to date. This will also speed things up if you find that the beach vacation you settle on is located outside your home country. Also, take along your personal identification, a means of paying for the trip, and your general contact information, including an email address.

Make sure the travel agent understands who will be going along on the trip and what type of activities and atmosphere would be most appropriate. If this is a family vacation, the agent will think in terms of destinations that offer fun activities for the children as well as the parents. Should you and a friend be going away to meet new people, the agent will focus on accommodations and travel plans that will allow you to mingle with other singles. Many agencies can also prepare vacation itineraries and select destinations that cater to niche customers, such as adult theme travel packages. Keep in mind your agent will be discreet and your travel plans will be held in the strictest confidence.

With all relevant documents in hand and a general idea of what type of vacation is desired, you and your agent can get down to the basics of setting up the arrangements. In most cases, the agent is likely to have several travel packages that will appeal to you. While some packages are rigid in structure, others are somewhat more flexible and can be customized to suit your personal needs and taste. Your agent may also show you travel packages that are being offered at a discount if you can be flexible with the dates for your getaway. However, if your time is limited to a specific set of dates, the agent will work to find discounts that would meet your needs.

You may be surprised at how much the agent can arrange in advance. For example, if the vacation is actually a second honeymoon, there is a good chance that your travel agent can work with the hotel staff to make sure there is chilled champagne, soft music, and candles set up in your suite or room when you arrive. Should someone in the travel party have a birthday during the vacation, the agent may be able to arrange something special, such as a clown showing up with balloons and a cake to celebrate the event. Many agents will take the information you provide and offer some creative and interesting extra services above and beyond simply booking the flights and reserving a room.

Never be timid about asking specific questions regarding some aspect of the vacation plans. In general, agents are more than happy to supply any type of information the client requests in regard to hotels, amenities, travel options, local sights to visit and anything else that comes to mind. While a good travel agent will anticipate many of your questions, it never hurts to ask about anything that is not addressed initially. This can include matters like local customs you should know about, general etiquette in social situations at the hotel and surrounding community and other details that will make the trip fun and safe.

Keep in mind that as the client, the final decision about the arrangements is up to you. This means that before the travel agent actually puts anything in motion, you will need to approve the arrangements. In many instances, the agent may verify the availability of accommodations, flight reservations, and other details as you go through the planning stages. This helps to minimize the amount of changes that may be required once the actual booking process begins. By going over each detail and being comfortable with the overall plan, you make the job of creating the plan easier for the agent while also increasing your chances of having a fun and restful vacation.

Super Exciting World Travel Experiences

Posted by admin on Feb 15, 2011 in World Travel | Comments Off

If you are thinking about taking a trip in the near future, there are many areas that you should consider. There are places in North America with lots of history and sights, but there are so many other places abroad that can be much more interesting and historically significant. There are many places in the world that you may never think of to travel on your vacation, but they may be just the relaxing getaway you have been in search of. We have put together some ideas for world travel to help you decide where you want to travel on your next vacation.

If you like the beach scene, there are many beaches to sample here in the states. Cities such as Miami, Dayton, Jacksonville, Malibu, and many cities in Hawaii offer great beaches for sunning and swimming. If you prefer leaving the country, you could always try South America. Rio de Janeiro has very nice beaches, however, the bathing suits are somewhat skimpy if existent at all. The Bahamas and other Caribbean Islands have wonderful beaches that beckon American tourists on a daily basis. Their beaches promise us palm trees and sandy shores as well as warm breezes and days of laziness and relaxation.

If you are a history buff, you may find that Pompeii is the place that tops your desired list of foreign locales. This location in Italy is the site of the great eruption of Mt Vesuvius some 2000 years ago. The city was completely destroyed, yet perfectly preserved by the lava that filled the city streets in an instant after the eruption. Seeing the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum (also destroyed in the same manner) is like stepping back in time to a place that time forgot. The history that lies there is more than we as Americans can ever experience in our home country. Also, while in Italy, you would have to stop by Rome and see the rich history of the Roman civilization and the emperors that once ruled the known world.

If you live for adventure, then and African Safari is probably tops on your list of things to do before you die. An African safari offers excitement and adventure, especially for those of us used to only seeing those types of animals on television. There are tour groups to take you on the safari and explain the animals and surroundings to the group. On a safari, you can see such animals as lions, elephants, monkeys and zebra in their natural habitat. Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania are just a few of the places that offer an authentic African Safari.

If you are more into winter sports such as snow skiing, then a trip to the mountains of Europe may be right up your alley. The advancement in safety over the last several years have made snow skiing safer and more enjoyable for professionals and novices alike. Downhill skiing may seem too advanced for some, and if so, cross country skiing may be more the thing for you. There are resorts and parks all over the world that offer trails for cross country skiers of all ages.

With all of these ideas for world travel, you are sure to find something to tempt your thoughts for your next vacation.