define travel supplier

The Journey Lover

Enjoy Travel

What Is A Travel Supplier: 6 Remarkable List Of Travel Supplier

What is a travel supplier! Travel suppliers are people or organizations that provide travel-related services to travelers. These can include anything from lodging and food to tours and transportation.

The most common suppliers in the industry are hotels, airlines, cruise lines, car rental companies, railroads, and bus lines. Suppliers offer a variety of products and services depending on their particular specialty within the industry.

Of course, many suppliers offer a range of travel-related services and products. For example, a cruise line may also provide land tours and excursions and buses and trains.

Some companies engage in multiple lines of business, with the most common combination being railroaded that offer cruises, such as Carnival Cruise Lines, or parties that specialize in rail journeys, such as Rocky Mountaineer. Some suppliers are also retailers, selling their products directly to consumers.

A travel supplier is a company that sells products to the traveler. They provide services to make traveling more accessible and more enjoyable for their customers.

What is a travel supplier

O-Cedar EasyWring Microfiber Spin Mop & Bucket Floor Cleaning System + 2 Extra Refills

CLICK HERE FOR THE PRICE

Services can include airfare, lodging, car rental, and bus or train travel. A travel supplier may also provide services such as planning a trip or social entertainment on an outing.

A travel agent is a person who works for a travel supplier to sell products. They compare various vendors’ prices and services before advising their clients about which vendor is best for them.

For example, a travel agent could give information about the train ride to an out-of-town event or business meeting. Or, they might help clients buy tickets for an air flight to attend a friend’s wedding.

Some travel agents work for stores that sell travel supplies and tickets. They can provide advice on where to book flights and what hotels to stay at. They can also offer ways to save money on flights and lodging, such as using a coupon or getting a military discount.

A travel supplier is an entity that provides products and services related to travel. They may be involved in multiple lines of business, including tourism, transportation, accommodation, entertainment, etc.

Some suppliers may also act as travel agents.

Why do you need a travel supplier

There are many reasons you need to use the services of travel suppliers.

They know about the latest deals and discounts available so you can get your trip for less.

they will help you plan your trip, making it easy to get around and enjoy yourself while traveling. Next, they can arrange transportation, so all of your hassles are eliminated.

They can provide you with contacts with other suppliers so you can get everything needed for an enjoyable trip at the lowest price possible.

Travel suppliers are companies that sell products and services related to travel. They sell various products such as airfare, lodging, car rental, and bus or train travel. They also help customers plan trips and arrange transport for them.

Sunny Health & Fitness Squat Assist Row-N-Ride™ Trainer for Glutes Workout with Training Video

These companies may also act as travel agents or offer other services such as entertainment on an outing with people traveling together.

Their services are often essential for a successful trip, but they can also help you save money by getting deals on airfare and hotel accommodations.

You can read it: How To Become Full Time Traveller: Awesome 18 Ways

How do I find the right provider for me

Many providers are offering different products and services you can choose from.

The first step is to assess the needs for your trip. Then, find out which travel providers offer what you need.

For example, if you want to go on an ocean cruise with excursions in South America, a customs supplier specializing in these products would be the best place.

You may have to research companies online and talk to friends, family members, or co-workers who have enjoyed similar trips to find companies that can work with your budget.

Another method is using the “where to go” search function on Google Maps, which provides you with a list of travel providers near your destination. You can also find a list of suppliers by going to a site that offers travel services.

What are the list of travel suppliers?

There are many types of travel suppliers out there offering different products and services. To give you an idea of what they offer, here is a list of the most popular travel suppliers:

Flight Reservation Services

This sector provides flight reservation services to travelers with airline tickets in hand for immediate purchase.  The service takes into account the passenger’s itinerary for the best placement of them on a plane.

The service then tries to get the lowest price possible by knowing which airlines offer discounts and at what times.

Car Rental Agencies

A car rental agency is a business that rents cars, vans, and trucks for short periods to firms or individuals.

Car rental agencies do not sell vehicles. They instead focus on renting them to customers for a fee.

Amazon Basics Foldable Laundry Rack for Air Drying Clothing

Hotel and Resort Chains

Hotel and resort chains provide customer service and concierge services such as money exchange, tours, room service, and tickets to local events.

They also offer many rooms, including singles or doubles, suites, or honeymoon suites .

Cruise Lines

Cruise lines provide luxurious floating resorts to passengers who purchase tickets for a certain number of days at sea, either visiting various islands or cruising in international waters.

Most ships are massive modern vessels that offer restaurants, casinos, spas, swimming pools, and other amenities.

Entertainment Suppliers

Entertainment suppliers provide tickets to events or concerts for travelers in areas that they travel. This sector works closely with the transportation and lodging sectors to ensure passage and room accommodations.

Resort Reservation Services

Resort reservation services can offer travelers a range of products such as golf, tennis, restaurants, and recreational activities at different resorts worldwide. These suppliers also offer honeymoon packages.

You can like it: Essentials for Living In The Mountains: 16 Thing You Must Need

The benefits of working with a travel supplier

1.  Travel authorities have the most up-to-date information on destinations and attractions.

2. Travel suppliers can provide you with a list of activities that gives a sense of comfort about a new place you plan to go to.  This is very important for first-time visitors who may want some guidance from those familiar with their destination.

3. Travel experts can provide the best deals on trips to consumers. It is always better to use experts who know travelers’ interests to get their desired type of trip at the lowest possible rate.

4. A travel supplier also handles any issues that may arise during your vacation by providing you with an emergency contact number or any weather changes.

5. A travel provider can have you have assistance if there are any delays with your flight or other transportation at the destination.

6. The ability of a travel supplier to provide trip insurance can be beneficial if something happens that could ruin your vacation. For example, there is damage due to bad weather at your destination, an emergency trip home, or a missed connection to your destination.

The disadvantage of working with a travel supplier

1.  Not all travel suppliers are reliable, primarily if they are not affiliated with a giant corporation.

2. The more popular places to visit attract many travelers, which can bring up prices for accommodations and other services. This means that you may have to pay more than anticipated for such services when booking directly with a supplier.

3. In some cases, travel suppliers may be able to offer better services as opposed to booking on your own. This is usually seen in resorts and cruise lines because those industries focus on providing a service rather than selling you a product.

You can also read it: Top 5 most visited tourist spots in the Philippines

A travel supplier is a company that sells you airline tickets, hotel accommodations, tours, and more.

To make the best decision about which one works best for you, you must research before purchasing a package. Some travel suppliers can be found online, while others may require a personal visit before purchase.

If you are looking for your next vacation or honeymoon destination, finding a reliable travel supplier can help make this process easier.

You want to find someone who will provide excellent customer service and give you competitive prices on all of their services, so you know what to expect before making any commitments.

If you have any further questions about this, feel free to comment below.

Thank you so much for reading this post for so long.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

What Is a Travel Supplier?

So what is a travel supplier? The answer is something like this: a company that provides travel services for another business. They may be a hotel chain or a travel agency, but both are interested in bringing their customers to their location. Having a preferred supplier list is beneficial for both companies. It allows the travel agency to book many trips with one company, and the supplier can offer more competitive pricing to those travelers. These types of partnerships can be formal or informal.

A destination-specific booking engine is a great way for travel suppliers to earn more money. By allowing travelers to search the entire destination at once, the company can increase its sales. Lastly, they can use Tripster’s reservation systems to book travel products. These systems are very convenient and can help any travel supplier maximize their revenue by selling more trips. In general, travel insurance policies cover a trip’s costs in the event of cancellation.

Travel Supplier Policies

These policies typically require that you notify your travel supplier within 24 hours of an incident or emergency to avoid the loss of pre-paid expenses. Depending on the policy, travel suppliers may include cruise lines, airlines, hotels, rental companies, tour operators, and other entities that help you plan and book your vacation. If you’re traveling by yourself, it’s best to purchase travel insurance for a complete package trip.

Another common type of travel supplier is the agency. All travel agencies are connected and offer different travel packages. A travel agency can also offer other services, such as concierge services or luggage delivery. Lastly, travel agents are also a way for businesses to increase their visibility among tourists. Wholesale travel agencies work directly with suppliers. They negotiate bulk prices from suppliers and then resell them to retail travel agencies. Retail travel agencies buy wholesale travel products from wholesale agencies and then resell them to other businesses.

So what is a travel supplier? Destination marketing organizations and RTOs are important to the tourism industry. Destination marketing organizations like CanTours and Jonview work with travel suppliers to promote destinations and their products. A Destination BC, for example, hosts Canada’s West Marketplace each year, a trade market where Alberta and BC suppliers can sell their products to international RTOs . RTOs, meanwhile, work with destination marketing organizations to promote tourism.

When choosing a travel supplier, always check how much it will cost you to work with them. Some travel agents will charge their services, but most will be paid from the commissions they receive from product suppliers. The commission percentage varies from 7% to 25%, depending on the supplier. A travel agent’s commission will also depend on how much sales they bring.

Chesa Dalisay

What is a travel enthusiast, what is fit travel, you may also like, is jetblue a safe airline, is avianca a safe airline, is aeromexico a safe airline, is airasia a safe airline, why is the airplane the safest mode of..., what are the best ways to immerse yourself..., what are the top travel destinations for history..., is asiana a safe airline, what is the safest airline in canada, what is the safest airline in europe, leave a comment cancel reply.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• About the ATTA
• Sustainability
• Our Initiatives
• Adventure Travel Conservation Fund
• Leadership & Team
• Internship Program
• Business Development
• Global Travel News
• Industry Spotlight
• Industry Voices
• Member News
• Regional News
• B2B Marketing
• Signature Events
• Market Activation
• Climate Action
• Storytelling
• B2C Marketing
• Event Calendar
• AdventureELEVATE Latin America 2024
• AdventureELEVATE Europe 2024
• AdventureELEVATE North America 2024
• AdventureWeek Finland 2024
• Climate Action Summit 2024
• AdventureWeek Okinawa 2024
• AdventureNEXT Fiji 2024
• AdventureConnect
• ATTA on the Road / Virtual
• Expert Nomination & Topic Suggestions
• Events Sustainability
• Sustainability Resource Center
• On-Demand / Webinars
• Inspiration
• Guide Standard
• Global Payment Resource
• Free Community Membership
• Become a Member
• ATTA Ambassadors
• Active Members
• Adventure Champions
• Community Books
• Case Studies

Shopping Cart

Shopping cart items, understanding the supply chain of travel.

Even for industry veterans, it can be a confusing process to fully understand the supply chain of travel due to the many layers and different terminologies used. This can lead to confusion and a lack of understanding around the complexities within the industry, the cost of doing business, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of the various supplier layers. In addition, innovation, technology, and modernization are changing the travel supply chain model on a regular basis. 

This article will explore the businesses involved in the supply chain, the different terminology used, and also how those terms vary based on where you do business around the globe. For simplicity's sake, here is a classic traditional model that is used often and starts with the traveling consumer.

In this example, the consumer works with a travel advisor, the travel advisor works with an outbound tour operator, the tour operator works with a Destination Management Company (DMC), and the DMC works with local suppliers (operators, accommodations, and transportation). Let’s explore those different layers and the terminologies and meanings of each.

The consumer travels to the destination and experiences the travel product. When a consumer books a trip “direct” with a local supplier or operator, they can skip through many of these intermediaries, which is also referred to as disintermediation. For example, the chain could look like one of these examples: 

While booking direct is a growing trend in the travel industry, in adventure travel the consumer is often looking to  experience more remote destinations and combine various locations and activities. As a result, there is still a greater need for an intermediary than in other tourism sectors. Post-pandemic, having a trusted partner to provide reassurance and protection is more important and valuable than ever before. Let's take a closer look at those intermediaries, and understand the value and benefit of each.

Travel Advisors

(Also known as Travel Agents or Travel Consultants)

The travel advisor is a curator of a personalized experience for a consumer. The travel advisor’s unique role is to understand the needs of their clients and to know the depths of the travel market so they can craft a travel solution that delivers on those needs. Consumers who value not having to spend hours looking for the perfect accommodation, consider how to get from point A to B to C, decide what destinations have the best option for their current activity requests, or research which options are more sustainable, gain great value and benefits from working with a travel advisor.

A travel advisor often charges a small fee to the consumer for their expertise, and they often receive commissions from businesses. For a tour operator, an advantage of working with travel advisors is that a curated traveler is brought to them; if the traveler has a good experience, the advisor or agent is likely to return with future clients. Often, travel advisors remain involved and handle client questions and support. 

One of the greatest values of a travel advisor to a consumer is that in addition to hotels and transportation options, they are knowledgeable about and sell a wide variety of packaged trips from different tour operators, and therefore can provide a diverse range of options. International travel, in particular, can involve more unknowns and uncertainty, making travel advisors' expertise and experience particularly valuable.

Outbound Tour Operator

The outbound tour operator will craft ideal itineraries and sell those itineraries to individuals or groups as a packaged product. The tour operator's value is in knowing current market demand and travel trends and matching those with destinations to keep innovating new products. These are often multi-day itineraries–from three days to three weeks, depending on the destination and experience. 

Tour operators are often specialized and cater to a niche market with specific needs, so travelers who book with them tend to be more loyal. This is especially true in adventure travel, where many operators specialize in activities such as trekking or cycling. Tour operators usually work with DMCs in a destination who help them identify the best local suppliers for their tour needs. A consumer who wants to go on a tour through an operator will sometimes also use a travel advisor because the travel advisor can identify the right tour operator for their needs and also add additional experiences before or after the tour. 

It is also important to note that tour operators usually hold a legal responsibility or bond to safeguard the consumer, depending on the country in which they operate. This adds an extra layer of protection by requiring transparency, information sharing, cancellation rights, and assistance to travelers.

Destination Management Company (DMC)

(Also known as Wholesalers, Ground Handlers, Inbound Tour Operators)

A DMC is a company that sells and packages solutions within their destination. They have deep knowledge of and connections with accommodations, local transportation, and local suppliers who offer logistics and activity options. DMCs get rates from their suppliers for products which they then package and sell to operators, advisors, or even directly to the consumer. In each case, DMCs can be thought of as wholesalers or ground handlers in their destination.

DMCs work with outbound tour operators or cruise companies (specifically expedition cruise companies within adventure travel) to provide options that meet the tour needs. Travel advisors can also work directly with DMCs to provide a menu of activity options and on-the-ground support for clients if issues arise. However, it is important to note that not all travel advisors can work with DMCs due to variations in laws and business practices across different countries.

Local Suppliers

In the growing and ever-changing world of travel there are many businesses that offer services on the ground for travel experiences. These include varying levels and styles of accommodation, transportation, and activities such as kayaking, climbing, food tours, cultural experiences, and more. Local communities are an important part of the travel experience and DMCs’ relationships with and connections to these communities is important. Understanding the sustainability efforts of local suppliers is key as market trends show that 90% of consumers are asking for sustainable travel options.

Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) / Web-Based Marketplace

OTAs are best known for selling flights, hotels, and cars. However, many also sell packages, such as outbound tour itineraries or packaged tours from DMCs.

OTAs curate products from the DMC and directly connect the DMC with the consumer. The DMC is the one crafting the product and selling it to the consumer, while the OTA takes a commission for bringing the consumer to them. In this case the DMC must be able to sell directly to the consumer to be featured in the OTA’s platform. This is particularly true of tailor-made holidays which require a strong local expertise. The resulting supply chain in this example looks like this:

To further complicate matters, OTA can also stand for Online Tours & Activities (such as Viator, Get your Guide, Klook). These are web-based marketplaces that directly curate activities or experiences from the local activity providers and sell them to individual travelers.

Adventure Travel Terminology

At the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), we often use the term “supplier” when referring to DMCs and local suppliers and the term “buyer” for outbound tour operators and travel advisors.

“Buyers” are the ones directly connected with the consumer and who influence travelers’ destination and activity decisions. They 'buy' or source products and services from local DMCs in the destination.

“Suppliers” or DMCs in general are 'supplying' services from the ground and destination to the outbound market. Online Travel Agencies (OTA) and online wholesalers are also important players in the market.

Example of Global Differences and a Changing Marketplace

The global travel supply chain is a complex puzzle which is constantly changing in a disruptive world and varies depending in which country the company is based. For instance, in the United Kingdom, there is a clearly defined line between tour operators and travel agencies. Outbound tour operators contract directly with local DMCs, while travel agencies sell products from tour operators or UK-based businesses with a UK tourism license. In contrast, in France, travel agencies work directly with local DMCs as well as with outbound tour operators.

In Asia, travel advisors and outbound tour operators are often one and the same business, calling themselves a travel agent, but taking the role of packaging the trip themselves.

Increasingly more popular in the travel industry is the role of the marketing representative or ‘Sales Rep’ who is in charge of promoting and connecting DMCs with outbound tour operators (and possibly travel advisors). They are based in the targeted market destination and very well-connected. They can work on commission or retainer fees, depending on a country’s practices and agreement between the two parties.

An additional disruption in the market are media influencers who sell their own curated tours to their followers where they often lead the group. Since they have already built trust with their audience, their loyal followers are interested in traveling with them to destinations and experiencing travel through their lens and brand.

Special interest groups are another growing niche market, for example avid cyclists might organize an annual trip overseas for their group, where they might work directly with an outbound tour operator, DMC, or even the local suppliers themselves.

Building Relationships

Developing relationships across the complicated global travel supply chain is more important than ever, especially as destinations and businesses recover from the pandemic .  New entrants to the market should ask clear questions when establishing their business relationships to ensure both parties understand their individual roles and expectations and maintain open communication throughout their partnership. 

Tours and Attractions Distribution: Approaches to Travel Supplier Listing and Customer Experience Management

• 13 min read
• 11 Dec, 2018
• No comments Share

Some people don’t like exploring new places through the tour bus window accompanied by a guide’s never-ending monologue. They prefer self-planned activities and the freedom of choice over fast-paced walks across city streets with dozens of fellow travelers. Many vacationers know how to find destination gems, what landmarks they want to see, where they want to stay, and how they want to get there. And they seamlessly book the whole itinerary themselves. Such people are called free independent travelers or FITs – though they may not know it. An upper-middle income allows them to plan their own leisure activities, travel alone or with their close circle of friends or family, diving deep into local cultures and lifestyles. Free independent travelers represent a diverse age group, from millennials to seniors. Today’s online travel market facilitates the growth of independent travel. People use apps, virtual assistants, review platforms, and tour and activity aggregators to get ideas for future trips. Tour and attraction (T&A) suppliers started going digital to meet the demand for self-planned trips. The travel activities sector that accounts for 10 percent of global travel revenue, has reached $135 billion in 2016, according to Phocuswright .

Travel activities represent 10 percent of global travel revenue.

By 2020, the revenue is expected to grow to $183 billion. Travel brands including giants like Expedia, TripAdvisor, or Airbnb that popularize online distribution of  tours and attractions influence this growth. Companies sell tours on their websites while promoting themselves on worldwide, regional, and local marketplaces (OTAs). Regardless of the types of distributed services, these travel aggregators have the same ultimate goal: to let customers choose from a myriad of options with minimum effort. Suppliers of activities use these marketplaces to increase their visibility and bookings. Alan Locher , senior director at On Location Tours , a company that holds TV & movie themed excursions around New York and Boston, notes that an OTA with a large reach helps them bring tours to different audiences from around the world. Excellent customer experience (such as simple website navigation and booking) is another main requirement of OTA selection. Drew Johnson , a founder of Florida-based Lagerhead Cycleboats says: “We base our company on how the customer interacts with our company from when they first hear about us until their tour is complete.” We contacted both suppliers and T&A platform owners to find out how they cooperate to run their businesses more efficiently. So, if you plan running a business within the growing travel activities sector, consider business models we discuss below.

Direct connection between suppliers and distributors

You can build travel activities listing yourself and cooperate with suppliers directly. For that, you need to define terms and conditions under which tour operators will showcase and distribute their products, understand how customers will interact with suppliers and platform employees. These operations will then determine your commission policy, as well as legal and financial obligations to partners and travelers. Developing and using your supplier network will initially cost a significant amount of time and money but may result in more revenue later. Marketplaces provide partner programs for suppliers under various conditions. The onboarding is relatively similar on all distribution platforms: Providers of tours and activities sign a registration form, specify basic information about themselves (first name, last name, job title, and contacts), as well as briefly tell about their company and its services. Let’s check out a section of a questionnaire for Expedia Local Expert partners.

Basic information every supplier provides to Expedia in the registration form

It’s worth mentioning that onboarding can be done both ways: a supplier may fill the form on an aggregator’s website, or the distributor may contact a provider with a cooperation offer. Supplier programs generally differ in the automation level and a provider's involvement in the  distribution and selling processes, specifically:

• supplier’s content management
• inventory availability control
• reservation and payment processing
• commission policy/payout.

Here is an overview of T&A providers. The table may help suppliers evaluate possible partners. It can also be an example for entrepreneurs planning to develop their own marketplaces.

Tours and attractions providers compared

Let’s discuss these aspects in more detail.

Content upload and management

Platforms have different approaches to content management. Some of them allow businesses to maintain their accounts with dedicated tools. Other marketplaces only ask suppliers to provide all the needed information, and later create their profiles and tour descriptions. Self-service tools for content upload and management. GetYourGuide , a booking platform with a variety of attractions worldwide, welcomes providers to register and provides a detailed Supplier Support section to help them operate smoothly within the marketplace. Suppliers whose inquiry and details are approved get access to Supplier Administration – a panel for the uploading and editing of product information (e.g. a tour description, booking options, prices, pictures) and account management.

A tutorial on a product upload in the GetYourGuide’s Supplier Support. Source: GetYourGuide

The latter includes such features as email notification settings, reporting capabilities, password change, the cut-off time editing, etc. Co-founder of Project Expedition Jeremy Clement also provides suppliers with a content management tool: “ Every tour operator has access to a dashboard that allows them to manage and edit their content on our site.” Project Expedition is a marketplace offering tours and activities in hundreds of cities across the globe. Operators working with Expedia use the Central Self-Service Tool to manage their product listings. They upload and edit text content, media, rates, and inventory . Then the OTA adjusts a supplier’s page design.

Marketplaces create and manage travel information. CEO of Algarve Fun , Portugal attraction ticket provider platform,  Gary Miller says that the majority of suppliers don’t have access to their system. The employees speak to operators and ask them to tell about their services: “We create the content about the tours ourselves – we have a writer onboard.” Lindsay Bradley, CEO and co-founder of The Vacation Project, whose trips combine leisure with volunteering, tells about onboarding on the Stride Travel  distribution platform: “For our partnership, we would just send them all of the tour details, pricing and images and they would take care of uploading it to their site.” Once a profile is set, providers can customize their trip pages and optimize an account page.

Inventory availability control

Generally, attractions providers manage availability through self-service tools (dashboards, administrative panels) we mentioned above, just the way they do with product information. The question is how inventory is controlled and updated: manually or automatically. Manual control. Small tour operators without their own sites, or with basic websites using marketplaces for distribution, or those without established connection between their booking software and a seller’s reservation system manage availability themselves. Jeremy Clement from Project Expedition comments: “ Every tour operator that we work with has a website, but some of those websites can be very basic. These operators are generally manually confirming each booking, but you would be surprised at how efficient many of them can be with this process.” Gary Miller from Algarve Fun says they contact suppliers directly, by email or a phone call, and confirm reservation details. “If clients want to book trips then we would check manually on operators’ portals or often phone them if they don’t have a website.” Automated inventory management. API connectivity allows operators to manage availability calendars on numerous platforms at once. This way, suppliers can show their latest inventory to customers and reduce the possibility of overbooking or other reservation mistakes. Setting up the API connection may depend on a supplier’s sales volume and scale, as well as on a third-party website’s distribution strategy . For example, if a local diving company with two boats usually takes 15 people on board and carries out two events a day, it can manage sales on a few distribution channels manually. But for fast-growing, medium, and large businesses, manual inventory update may become a high hurdle. “About a half of OTAs I work with have an API that connects to a booking software automatically, so we don’t have to update the calendars,” shares Lagerhead Cycleboats’ owner Drew Johnson. “However, there are a few sites it doesn’t have an integration with. Off the top of my head, one of them is Airbnb Experiences. Our software doesn’t connect to them via API, so it’s more a manual process, unfortunately.” When a cruise is reserved on Airbnb, Drew or his team update the booking software to reflect that cruise is booked and specify how many people are on that particular tour. So, the supplier manually updates all the calendars. Suppliers without access to an API can synchronize the Airbnb calendar with calendars of other websites supporting the iCalendar format (Google calendar or HomeAway and VRBO calendars are supported as well.) However, they still need to change availability manually between their Airbnb account and own website’s reservation system. Airbnb has the official API it provides on request to approved partners. The decision whether to give access to the API documentation or not depends on a company's performance and opportunities, its technological strength, and ability to provide solid customer experience. The same API is likely to be used for experience hosts. Drew says if he and his colleagues see a lot of bookings from Airbnb, they will reach out the marketplace team with a request to do the API integration. So, that’s a supplier’s initiative. Tiqets is one of the marketplaces that connect with suppliers’ ticketing software via API. That means suppliers don’t need to update the available inventory on a Tiqets calendar if someone has booked from their website and, conversely, change availability on their website once a customer purchased a ticket on an aggregator. According to founder and CEO of Stride Travel Gavin Delany , providers of tours and activities can also manage their inventory automatically: “Tour operators with their own API or XML feeds can plug into the Stride platform if they have more than 50 unique trips or products. Stride also has a proprietary supplier API to which tour operators of any size can connect to provide accurate tour information and pricing.” Project Expedition co-founder Jeremy Clement notes that their marketplace is API-friendly for providers whose sites have a built-in booking software: “For tour operators that use a reservation platform that we are connected to, we will automate live availability and pricing over an API connection. ” Alan Locher from On Location Tours uses FareHarbor online booking software designed for tours and activities providers. It allows the company to provide live availability:  “ We have been lucky to team up with FareHarbor for our ticketing platform and they have made it quite easy for OTAs to connect via API with their platform. The API connection allows customers to see our real time availability when researching our tours.” On Location Tours also works with other OTAs that don’t have the API connection and send them bookings manually. Such large brands as Expedia, Musement , TripAdvisor Experiences, and Viator acquired by TripAdvisor in 2014 provide API integration as well.

Reservation and payment processing

Users can choose attractions and pay for them on a marketplace or be redirected to a tour company website to complete the booking. Marketplace onsite checkout. An OTA can handle bookings, and request and process payments. Airbnb Experiences, for instance, is in charge of reservation and transaction processing. Suppliers get paid at the end of the month. Customer interactions are also carried out through the aggregator website. Expedia Things to Do users book and pay for services on the OTA. Expedia instantly confirms reservations and sends confirmations to suppliers along with customer contacts. Customers of other global marketplaces like GetYourGuide and Viator can complete a checkout without being redirected to operators’ websites. Algarve Fun attraction and activity platform processes payments as well. Tiqets also handles the whole process: Customers provide booking details (excursion, date, time slot), personal details (first and last name, a phone number, an email address), and purchase a tour online. The platform confirms orders, receives payment, and sends a confirmation to a client’s email and via SMS (usually within 15 minutes.)

The example of booking vouchers Tiqets customers receive after payment

Direct interaction between a supplier and a client.  Another option for travel aggregators is to send a customer booking request to a supplier. In this case, a tour company communicates with a client, processes a payment, and sends a voucher. The Vacation Project co-founder and CEO Lindsay Bradley details the way they work with Stride Travel: “If a tour request came in from someone they would forward the information over to us to connect with and interact with the potential guest directly.” The marketplace’s role here is to increase online visibility for partners by showing their offers in destinations or experiences listings.

A reservation form on Stride Travel

Ancillary revenue

Once you have a sufficient supplier base, you can increase your revenue by teaming up with channel management software providers. Why would you need that? Channel managers for tours and activities follow the same logic as  hotel channel managers : They allow suppliers to simultaneously manage availability and prices across all distribution channels. The software can be a life jacket for those businesses whose booking systems don’t connect with website reservation systems to ensure live availability and rates. If you become a partner with a channel manager vendor, you’ll appear in the listing of its sales channels and have the chance to be chosen as a distribution partner by thousands of provider’s clients. Rezdy , TrekkSoft , Redeam , VacationLabs , Regiondo , or Booking Boss are some of the niche companies to consider.

The use of other travel seller’s inventory via a white label program

It’s hard to imagine an easier way to start a business in the travel activities sector. You can use a large network of brands from a supplier instead of building your own, spending effort, time, money. Numerous OTAs give businesses the opportunity to participate in white label programs by distributing their inventory through owners’ rebranded websites. The white label company provides services or products on behalf of another company but under its own brand. These solutions allow large brands to increase the booking volume at a relatively small cost: The average commission per successful booking is 5-10 percent. So, a white label website owner plays the role of a middleman between a T&A aggregator and the end customer. The white label method is the way to develop an additional revenue stream while skipping the hassle of building a partnership with suppliers. How does it work? Applicants must send a registration form to the website and wait for results. The membership in the white label program is usually free. TripAdvisor-owned Viator is one of the distribution platforms that offers a white label solution . Applicants must have an active, high traffic website with “relative content and basic experience with website linking and widgets.” Viator provides tools for website customization in terms of design (widgets, a company logo, headers, custom feature pages, themes), including a CSS feature at the setup stage that lets partners change colors and other features. The OTA also processes reservations, receives all email communication, provides technical support, and answers clients’ questions about products sold on a white label website. Aegean Airlines is one of Viator’s partners: The Greek company sells tours, attractions, and activities through its website under a white label program:

Leisure options in London for Aegean Airline customers. Source: Aegean Airlines

The Project Expedition we mentioned previously has a  white label program as well. The company connects a partner’s website to their inventory and booking engine, handles the booking and transaction processing, provides support for the owner and their customers. The commission fee is 10 percent. Musement also allows businesses to integrate activities from its listing in their websites via a white label solution.

Final thoughts on how to build a supplier network and choose a distributor

The success of the travel activity business depends on supplier network and the overall customer experience provided through your website. The marketplace policies must be a win-win for everyone: travelers, suppliers, and distributors. A diverse list of tours and attractions can draw tourists of different ages, with various hobbies, income, and leisure preferences. You can concentrate your efforts on a specific region or aim to include destinations across land and sea the world over. Regardless of the chosen strategy, there are two approaches to make it work: to establish a partnership with end suppliers or use other aggregators’ inventory. The former requires a lot of investment, time, and effort but could offer a great return on investment over time if done right. Travel suppliers may have different IT infrastructure. That’s why it’s important that a marketplace supports all the cooperation scenarios. Make sure you’ll be able to team up with:

• Suppliers that want to go digital but don’t have a website yet.
• Tour operators with a basic site that doesn’t support booking capabilities.
• Suppliers whose websites have built-in booking software and are willing to connect with your reservation system via API.

The latter, a white-label solution, is much easier to implement in terms of resources and may work well for startups. However, such business needs to scale enough to bring revenue considering low but fair commission fees from the distributors. In addition, you’ll use only travel products from a single brand's listing. If you plan to distribute tours and attractions, our basic recommendations are:

• Evaluate providers. Read and evaluate T&A provider’s traffic, requirements for suppliers, and overall terms of partnership and operations (content management, inventory availability control, reservation and checkout, as well as commission and payout policy).
• Shortlist providers. While you may cooperate with a single distributor, it may be a smart move to contact multiple providers simultaneously. However, be ready to manually update your inventory, unless you have channel manager software.
• Sign up. Fill out a registration form and provide information about your company, the services you offer and wait for the team to respond.
• Get your profile ready for work. If you are verified by the marketplace, start uploading and managing your profile: Add text and image content, specify inventory availability and price data, provide details to enable payment and billing, ensure you’re integrated via API if you have this option.
• Start working . Accept bookings, update calendars if you are not connected via API, communicate with travelers.
• Consider other distribution channels. If a distributor declines your application, consider another aggregator.

At the end of the day, it’s you who decides which approach to online distribution of tours and activities is more feasible. Interested in travel APIs? Check our other pieces on the topic: Main travel and booking APIs Flight and air booking APIs Airport transfers APIs and solutions NDC connections and APIs Low-cost booking APIs Hotel APIs Car rental APIs Channel management in hotels APIs Custom channel management in hotels APIs Public transportation APIs Restaurant and table reservation APIs Photo by Steve Long on Unsplash

June 1, 2020

Due to travel restrictions, plans are only available with travel dates on or after

Due to travel restrictions, plans are only available with effective start dates on or after

Ukraine; Belarus; Moldova, Republic of; North Korea, Democratic People's Rep; Russia; Israel

This is a test environment. Please proceed to AllianzTravelInsurance.com and remove all bookmarks or references to this site.

Use this tool to calculate all purchases like ski-lift passes, show tickets, or even rental equipment.

What to Do If Your Travel Supplier Goes Out of Business

Get a Quote

{{travelBanText}} {{travelBanDateFormatted}}.

{{annualTravelBanText}} {{travelBanDateFormatted}}.

If your trip involves multiple destinations, please enter the destination where you’ll be spending the most time. It is not required to list all destinations on your policy.

Age of Traveler

Ages: {{quote.travelers_ages}}

If you were referred by a travel agent, enter the ACCAM number provided by your agent.

Travel Dates

{{quote.travel_dates ? quote.travel_dates : "Departure - Return" | formatDates}}

Plan Start Date

{{quote.start_date ? quote.start_date : "Date"}}

Share this Page

• {{errorMsgSendSocialEmail}}

Your browser does not support iframes.

Popular Travel Insurance Plans

• Annual Travel Insurance
• Cruise Insurance
• Domestic Travel Insurance
• International Travel Insurance
• Rental Car Insurance

View all of our travel insurance products

Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply. Please see your plan for full details. Benefits/Coverage may vary by state, and sublimits may apply.

Insurance benefits underwritten by BCS Insurance Company (OH, Administrative Office: 2 Mid America Plaza, Suite 200, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181), rated “A” (Excellent) by A.M. Best Co., under BCS Form No. 52.201 series or 52.401 series, or Jefferson Insurance Company (NY, Administrative Office: 9950 Mayland Drive, Richmond, VA 23233), rated “A+” (Superior) by A.M. Best Co., under Jefferson Form No. 101-C series or 101-P series, depending on your state of residence and plan chosen. A+ (Superior) and A (Excellent) are the 2nd and 3rd highest, respectively, of A.M. Best's 13 Financial Strength Ratings. Plans only available to U.S. residents and may not be available in all jurisdictions. Allianz Global Assistance and Allianz Travel Insurance are marks of AGA Service Company dba Allianz Global Assistance or its affiliates. Allianz Travel Insurance products are distributed by Allianz Global Assistance, the licensed producer and administrator of these plans and an affiliate of Jefferson Insurance Company. The insured shall not receive any special benefit or advantage due to the affiliation between AGA Service Company and Jefferson Insurance Company. Plans include insurance benefits and assistance services. Any Non-Insurance Assistance services purchased are provided through AGA Service Company. Except as expressly provided under your plan, you are responsible for charges you incur from third parties. Contact AGA Service Company at  800-284-8300 or 9950 Mayland Drive, Richmond, VA 23233 or [email protected] .

Return To Log In

Your session has expired. We are redirecting you to our sign-in page.

[email protected]

• Travel Industry Definitions & Glossary
• CCRA Travel Industry References /

Travel Industry Definitions & Glossary

Privacy overview.

Home Business Travel Blog The Importance of Supplier Relationships for Travel Programs

Let's Connect!

Contact Corporate Travel Management Sales

" * " indicates required fields

If you are a business traveler requiring agent assistance for a reservation, your organization's designated phone number and email address is found on your Fox itinerary. You may also call 888-369-8785 for general agent support.

The Importance of Supplier Relationships for Travel Programs

• May 25, 2022

The travel industry has transformed tremendously in the last two years. Airlines in particular have experienced an evolution of challenges and obstacles to overcome. The scope and size of the big four continue to decrease and expect to be reduced by 30-40 percent.  Their entire organizations have become smaller as well.

Results of this include:

• Increased focus on building and defending their hubs.
• Reduced (or elimination of) service to smaller markets.
• Change in focus to cleanliness from on-time performance, completion factor, and in-flight service.
• Increased flexibility as it applies to restrictive type airline tickets.
• Reduced size of sales organizations will impact TMC and corporate relationships.

As the travel industry continues to fluctuate, the relationships between travel management companies and suppliers are even more critical.

Better business travel outcomes with strong supplier relationships

It’s all about who you know, even when it comes to corporate travel solutions . As a travel agency serving business , vacation and meeting and incentive travelers , having trusted supplier relationships with our vendors has a big impact on the customer experience. Here’s how strong travel supplier relationships can benefit travelers and corporate travel programs.

A trusted travel management system

What exactly is a supplier relationship in the travel industry? It’s an ongoing, dedicated relationship between a travel agency and a vendor. Whether it’s air, cars, hotels or tour operators, supplier relationships help travelers ensure they have the best travel contracts, vendor support and so much more.

At Fox World Travel, we have a team dedicated to nurturing existing supplier relationships and forming new ones. Thanks to their knowledge of the travel industry and advanced negotiation skills, this team excels at finding the best supplier fit for corporate travel programs.

“Our unique roles help you identify the best suite of preferred vendors at the most advantageous contractual terms,” says Mike Heck , Vice President of Supplier Solutions. “We know and understand the value of these supplier relations. It’s all about the three-way partnerships our team is able to build and nurture.”

University of Chicago Travel Manager Stephen Mitleider has first-hand experience utilizing Fox as part of his travel supplier strategy. Even with more than 40 years of travel management experience, partnering with his TMC is crucial in gaining a full picture of the market before making any decisions. “Due to typical confidentiality agreements, there aren’t many sources I’m able to benchmark against to understand the true value of the contract, so this is where I rely on my relationship with my TMC to be especially strategic and valuable,” says Mitleider. “My approach is to use the expertise and fact-based advice from Fox’s supplier solutions team to get the best contract for the University of Chicago travel program. I couldn’t do that without the help of my TMC.”

Four ways supplier relationships improve business travel development

The partnerships we have built with suppliers offers many benefits to travel managers and travelers that they may not otherwise experience. From contract negotiations to traveler support, here’s why strong supplier relationships matter to your corporate travel program.

1. Trusted Advisors

With more than 60 years in the travel industry , Fox World Travel has a long history of working with air, car, hotel and other travel suppliers. Fox understands the offerings of trusted suppliers and knows the client’s needs. The supplier solutions team works throughout Fox to ensure the entire team is familiar with preferred vendors. This combined knowledge of preferred vendors and company travel requirements results in the best possible corporate travel solutions.

2. Fair contracts

Fox assists customers during contract negotiations by supplying the right information to make the best vendor decisions.

“We analyze vendor trends to ensure our customers are getting the best contracts,” says Heck. “It’s a constantly evolving marketplace and it’s our job to identify the changes and how they impact our customers.”

3. Contract maintenance

Signing an agreement is just the beginning of the vendor-customer relationship. It’s important to nurture the relationship through regular communication and performance tracking. Fox provides opportunities for vendor – customer interaction through conference calls and meetings where performance is reviewed. “Regular communication and performance analysis is key to success of any new or existing program,” says Heck.

4. Travel support

With more than 100,000 domestic flights daily, disruptions occur that negatively impact the traveler experience. Fox understands the importance of the vendor relationship to support the individual traveler. “Our strong vendor relationships allow Fox to assist in speeding the service recovery process,” says Heck. “The key is knowing who to call and when to call them.” With strong vendor relationships, lines of communication are always open, giving the opportunity to discuss and improve when negative experiences occur.

Finding the right fit

“We know what’s important to your company travel program , and we will find the perfect supplier to fit those priorities,” Heck says. “We trust our vendors and know our ongoing relationships with them ultimately benefit the travel program.”

Our supplier solutions team is ready to work with you to provide proper corporate travel solutions and develop vendor relationships to drive success. It’s time to expect more.

Vice President, Supplier Solutions

• View Profile

Recent Posts

Exploring the World of Bleisure Travel

Fox World Travel Bolsters National Presence with Strategic Hires and Expanded Business Travel Sales Team 

Supplier Solutions Business Travel Updates in April 2024

Unlocking the Power of Business Intelligence with Fox World Travel’s Cognition Platform

Unforgettable Experience for JSA Advisory Council in New Orleans

Fox World Travel Unveils New Website Design

• Account Management
• Business Travel
• Corporate Meetings
• Corporate News
• Corporate Social Responsibility
• Cost Savings
• Custom Business Intelligence
• Custom Programming
• Dedicated Service Model
• Duty of Care & Risk Management
• Global Solutions
• In Person Connections
• Incentive Travel
• Meeting Management
• Meetings and Incentives
• Onboarding Experience
• Online Booking
• Research Insights
• Responsibility
• Sales Incentives
• Spend Management
• Supplier Relations
• Travel Agent Services
• Travel Manager Tools
• Travel Policy
• Traveler Communication
• Traveler Experience
• Vacation Travel
• Virtual Events
• Visual Data Reporting

Related Articles

“Bleisure,” the mix of business and leisure travel, is expanding as the share of U.S. employees working remotely raises, allowing them to extend trips for personal exploration. As you can imagine, this trend complicates budgeting, as remote work entails varied expenses unlike those in traditional office environments. However, these long-haul excursions don’t come without their own set of travel hiccups.

We are excited to announce the strategic expansion of our business travel team with the appointments of three industry veterans.

Your Supplier Solutions April 2024 Business Travel Updates from Vice President of Supplier Solutions, Mike Heck

In today’s data-driven world, businesses across industries leverage business intelligence to gain valuable insights and make informed decisions. Fox World Travel, a leading global travel management company, understands the importance of data-driven decision-making in the travel industry. That’s why they have developed their proprietary business intelligence platform called Cognition.

Searching for a TMC?

Partner with Fox to transform your travel program. We custom tailor it to YOUR goals and put an unmatched level of foducs on continually improving the traveler experience. Cookie cutter isn’t our style.

Subscribe to our newsletter

• 888-369-8785 Toll Free
• 920-236-8000 Local

Support Links

Quick links.

Accessibility Statement   Accessibility Terms and Conditions Privacy Policy

Want to create or adapt books like this? Learn more about how Pressbooks supports open publishing practices.

Chapter 7. Travel Services

Heather Knowles and Morgan Westcott

Learning Objectives

• Describe the key characteristics of the travel services sector
• Define key travel services terminology
• Differentiate between types of reservation systems and booking channels
• Discuss the impacts of online travel agents on consumers and the sector
• Identify key travel services and organizations in Canada and British Columbia
• Explain the importance of additional tourism services not covered under NAICS
• Describe key trends and issues in travel services worldwide

The travel services sector is made up of a complex web of relationships between a variety of suppliers, tourism products, destination marketing organizations, tour operators, and travel agents, among many others. Under the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), travel services comprises businesses and functions that assist with planning and reserving components of the visitor experience (Government of Canada, 2014).

Before we move on, let’s explore the term travel services a little more. As detailed in Chapter 1, Canada, the United States, and Mexico all use NAICS guidelines, which define the tourism industry as consisting of transportation, accommodation, food and beverage, recreation and entertainment, and travel services.

For many years, however, the tourism industry was classified into eight sectors: accommodations, adventure and recreation, attractions, events and conferences, food and beverage, tourism services, transportation, and travel trade (Yukon Department of Tourism and Culture, 2013). As you can see, most of these — from accommodations to food and beverage — remain virtually the same under NAICS and have been covered thus far in this textbook.

Tourism services support industry development and the delivery of guest experiences, and some of these are missing from the NAICS classification. To ensure you have a complete picture of the tourism industry in BC, this chapter will cover both the NAICS travel services activities and some additional tourism services.

First, we’ll review the components of travel services as identified under NAICS, exploring the function of each area and ways they interact:

• Travel agencies
• Online travel agencies (OTAs)
• Tour operators
• Destination marketing organizations (DMOs)
• Other organizations

Following these definitions and descriptions, we’ll take a look at some other support functions that fall under tourism services. These include sector organizations, tourism and hospitality human resources organizations, training providers, educational institutions, government branches and ministries, economic development and city planning offices, and consultants.

Finally, we’ll look at issues and trends in travel services, both at home, and abroad.

Components of Travel Services

While the application of travel services functions are structured somewhat differently around the world, there are a few core types of travel services in every destination. Essentially, travel services are those processes used by guests to book components of their trip. Let’s explore these services in more detail.

Travel Agencies

A travel agency is a business that operates as the intermediary between the travel industry (supplier) and the traveller (purchaser). Part of the role of the travel agency is to market prepackaged travel tours and holidays to potential travellers. The agency can further function as a broker between the traveller and hotels, car rentals, and tour companies (Goeldner & Ritchie, 2003). Travel agencies can be small and privately owned or part of a larger entity.

A travel agent is the direct point of contact for a traveller who is researching and intending to purchase packages and experiences through an agency. Travel agents can specialize in certain types of travel including specific destinations; outdoor adventures; and backpacking, rail, cruise, cycling, or culinary tours, to name a few. These specializations can help travellers when they require advice about their trips. Some travel agents operate at a fixed address and others offer services both online and at a bricks-and-mortar location. Travellers are then able to have face-to-face conversations with their agents and also reach them by phone or by email. Travel agents usually have a specialized diploma or certificate in travel agent/travel services (go2HR, 2014).

Today, travellers have the option of researching and booking everything they need online without the help of a travel agent. As technology and the internet are increasingly being used to market destinations, people can now choose to book tours with a particular agency or agent, or they can be fully independent travellers (FITs) , creating their own itineraries.

Online Travel Agents (OTAs)

Increasing numbers of FITs are turning to online travel agents (OTAs) , companies that aggregate accommodations and transportation options and allow users to choose one or many components of their trip based on price or other incentives. Examples of OTAs include Booking.com, Expedia.ca, Hotwire.com, and Kayak.com. OTAs are gaining popularity with the travelling public; in 2012, they reported online sales of almost $100 billion (Carey, Kang, & Zea, 2012) and almost triple that figure, upward of $278 billion, in 2013 ( The Economist , 2014).

In early 2015 Expedia purchased Travelocity for $280 million, merging two of the world’s largest travel websites. Expedia became the owner of Hotels.com, Hotwire, Egencia, and Travelocity brands, facing its major competition from Priceline (Alba, 2015).

Although OTAs can provide lower-cost travel options to travellers and the freedom to plan and reserve when they choose, they have posed challenges for the tourism industry and travel services infrastructure. As evidenced by the merger of Expedia and Travelocity, the majority of popular OTA sites are owned by just a few companies, causing some concern over lack of competition between brands. Additionally, many OTAs charge accommodation providers and operators a commission to be listed in their inventory system. Commission-based services, as applied by Kayak, Expedia, Hotwire, Hotels.com, and others, can have an impact on smaller operators who cannot afford to pay commissions for multiple online inventories (Carey, Kang & Zea, 2012). Being excluded from listings can decrease the marketing reach of the product to potential travellers, which is a challenge when many service providers in the tourism industry are small or medium-sized businesses with budgets to match.

Finally, governments are stepping in as they see OTAs as a barrier to collecting full tax revenues on accommodations and transportations sold in their jurisdictions. OTAs frequently charge taxes on the retail price of the component; however, they purchase these products at a discount, remitting only the portion collected on the lesser amount to the government. In other words, the OTA pockets the difference between taxes collected and taxes remitted (Associated Press, 2014).

Some believe this practice shortchanges the destination that is ultimately responsible for delivering the tourism experience. These communities rely on tax revenue to pay for infrastructure related to the visitor experience. Recent lawsuits, including one by the state of Montana against a group of OTAs, have highlighted this challenge. To date, the courts have sided with OTAs, sending the message that these companies are not responsible for collecting tax on behalf of government (Associated Press, 2014).

While the industry and communities struggle to keep up with the changing dynamics of travel sales, travellers are adapting to this new world order. One of these adaptations is the ever-increasing use of mobile devices for travel booking. The Expedia Future of Travel Report found that 49% of travellers from the millennial generation (which includes those born between 1980 and 1999) use mobile devices to book travel (Expedia Inc., 2014), and these numbers are expected to continue to increase. Travel agencies are reacting by developing personalized features for digital travellers and mobile user platforms (ETC Digital, 2014). With the number of smartphones users expected to reach 1.75 billion in 2014 (CWT Travel Management Institute, 2014) these agencies must adapt as demand dictates.

A key feature of travel agencies’ mobile services (and to a growing extent transportation carriers) includes the ability to have up-to-date itinerary changes and information sent directly to their phone (Amadeus, 2014). By using mobile platforms that can develop customized, up-to-date travel itineraries for clients, agencies and operators are able to provide a personal touch, ideally increasing customer satisfaction rates.

Take a Closer Look: Expedia – The Future of Travel Report

Expedia is the largest online travel agency in the world. Formed in 1996, Expedia Inc. now oversees a variety of online travel booking companies. Together they provide travellers with the option to book flights, hotels, tours, and transportation through mobile or desktop online functions. For more on Expedia’s thoughts on the future of travel, read its report at Expedia’s report on the Future of Travel : http://expediablog.co.uk/The-Future-of-Travel/

Despite the growth and demand for OTAs, travel agencies are still in demand by leisure travellers (Hotel Marketing, 2013). The same is true for business travellers, especially in markets such as China and Latin America. Business clients in these emerging markets place a premium on “high-touch” services, such as paper tickets delivered by hand, and in-person reservations services (BTN Group, 2014).

Tour Operators

A tour operator packages all or most of the components of an offered trip and then sells them to the traveller. These packages can also be sold through retail outlets or travel agencies (CATO, 2014; Goeldner & Ritchie, 2003). Tour operators work closely with hotels, transportation providers, and attractions in order to purchase large volumes of each component and package these at a better rate than the traveller could if purchasing individually. Tour operators generally sell to the leisure market.

Inbound, Outbound, and Receptive Tour Operators

Tour operators may be inbound, outbound, or receptive:

• Inbound tour operators  bring travellers into a country as a group or through individual tour packages (e.g., a package from China to visit Canada).
• Outbound tour operators work within a country to take travellers to other countries (e.g., a package from Canada to the United Kingdom).
• Receptive tour operators (RTOs) are not travel agents, and they do not operate the tours. They represent the various products of tourism suppliers to tour operators in other markets in a business-to-business (B2B) relationship. Receptive tour operators are key to selling packages to overseas markets (Destination BC, 2014) and creating awareness around possible product.

Destination Marketing Organizations

Destination marketing organizations (DMOs) include national tourism boards, state/provincial tourism offices, and community convention and visitor bureaus around the world. DMOs promote “the long-term development and marketing of a destination, focusing on convention sales, tourism marketing and service” (DMAI, 2014).

Spotlight On: Destination Marketing Association International

Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI) is the global trade association for official DMOs. It is made up of over 600 official DMOs in 15 countries around the world. DMAI provides its members with information, resources, research, networking opportunities, professional development, and certification programs. For more information, visit the Destination Marketing Association International website : www.destinationmarketing.org

With the proliferation of other planning and booking channels, including OTAs, today’s DMOs are shifting away from travel services functions and placing a higher priority on destination management components.

Working Together

One way tour operators, DMOs, and travel agents work together is by participating in familiarization tours (FAMs for short). These are usually hosted by the local DMO and include visits to different tour operators within a region. FAM attendees can be media, travel agents, RTO representatives, and tour operator representatives. FAMs are frequently low to no cost for the guests as the purpose is to orient them to the tour product or experience so they can promote or sell it to potential guests.

Other Organizations

The majority of examples in this chapter so far have pertained to leisure travellers. There are, however, specialty organizations that deal specifically with business trips.

Spotlight On: Global Business Travel Association  Canada

Internationally, the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) represents over 7,000 business travel agents and corporate travel and meeting managers who collectively manage over $340 billion in business travel and meetings each year (GBTA, 2014). The Canadian chapter, headquartered in Ontario, holds annual events and shares resources on its website. For more information, visit the Global Business Travel Association : www.gbta.org/Canada/

Business Travel Planning and Reservations

Unlike leisure trips, which are generally planned and booked by end consumers using their choice of tools, business travel often involves a travel management company, or its online tools. Travel managers negotiate with suppliers and ensure that all the trip components are cost effective and comply with the policies of the organization.

Many business travel planners rely on global distribution systems (GDS) to price and plan components. GDS combine information from a group of suppliers, such as airlines. In the past, this has created a chain of information from the supplier to GDS to the travel management company. Today, however, there is a push from airlines (through the International Air Transport Association’s Resolution 787) to dissolve the GDS model and forge direct relationships with buyers (BTN Group, 2014).

Destination Management Companies

According to the Association of Destination Management Executives (ADME), a destination management company (DMC)  specializes in designing and implementing corporate programs, including “events, activities, tours, transportation and program logistics” (ADME, 2014). The packages produced by DMCs are extraordinary experiences rather than general business trips. These are typically used as employee incentives, corporate retreats, product launches, and loyalty programs. DMCs are the one point of contact for the client corporation, arranging for airfare, airport transfers, ground transportation, meals, special activities, and special touches such as branded signage, gifts, and decor (ADME, 2014). The end user is simply given (or awarded) the package and then liaises with the DMC to ensure particular arrangements meet his or her needs and schedule.

As you can see, travel services range from online to personal, and from leisure to business applications. Now that you have a general sense of the components of travel services, let’s look at some examples in Canada and BC.

Travel Services in Canada and BC

In British Columbia and elsewhere in Canada, many agencies are members of the Association of Canadian Travel Agencies (ACTA) . ACTA is an industry-led, membership-based organization that aims to ensure customers have professional and meaningful counselling. Membership is optional, but it does offer the benefit of ensuring customers receive the required services and that the travel agencies have a membership board for reference and industry resources (ACTA, 2014).

Spotlight On: Travel CUTS Travel Agency

Travel CUTS is 100% Canadian owned and operated. As a student, you may have seen its locations on or around campus. With a primary audience of postsecondary students, professors, and alumni, Travel CUTS specializes in backpack-style travel to a variety of destinations. It is a full-service travel agency that can help find flights for travel, book tours with a variety of companies including GAdventures or Intrepid Travel, assist in booking hostels or hotels, and even help with the SWAP overseas VISA program. For more information, visit Travel CUTS : www.travelcuts.com

Although travel agencies may be located in a specific community, the agencies and their representatives may operate internationally, within Canada, within BC, or across regions. In Vancouver alone there are over 500 travel agencies available to the searching traveller (Travel Agents in BC, 2014). Examples of some of the more recognized larger travel agencies and agents operating in BC include the British Columbia Automobile Association (BCAA), Marlin Travel, and Flight Centre.

Many different types of tour operators work across BC and Canada. Tour operators can specialize in any sector or a combination of sectors. A company may focus on ski experiences, as is the case with Destination Snow, or perhaps wine tours in the Okanagan, which is the specialty of Distinctly Kelowna Tours. These operators specialize in one area but there are others that work with many different service providers.

Spotlight On: Canadian Association of Tour Operators

The Canadian Association of Tour Operators (CATO) is a membership-based organization that serves as the voice of the tour operator segment and engages in professional development and networking in the sector. For more information, visit the Canadian Association of Tour Operators : www.cato.ca

Tour operators can vary in size, niche market, and operation capacity (time of year). An example of a niche BC tour operator is Prince of Whales Whale Watching in Victoria. Prince of Whales offers specialty whale-watching tours year-round in a variety of boat sizes, working with the local DMO and other local booking agents to sell tours as part of packages or as a stand-alone service to travellers. It also works to sell its product directly to the potential traveller through its website, reservation number, and in-person sales agents (Prince of Whales, 2014).

Examples of large RTOs representing Canada internationally include Jonview or CanTours. Operators of all kinds frequently work closely with a number of destination marketing organizations, as evidenced during Canada’s West Marketplace, which is a trade marketplace hosted by Destination BC and Travel Alberta. Each year the location of the marketplace alternates between Alberta and BC (past locations have included Kelowna and Canmore). This event provides an opportunity for Alberta and BC sellers (tour operators, local accommodation, activities, and DMOs) to sell their products to international RTOs who in turn work with international tour operators and travel agents to repackage the travel products. In a span of 10-minute sessions, sellers market and promote their products in hopes of having an RTO pick up the package for future years.

On a national scale, Rendez-vous Canada is a tourism marketplace presented by the Canadian Tourism Commission that brings together more than 1,500 tourism professionals from around the world for a series of 12- minute sessions where they can learn more about Canadian tours and related services (Canadian Tourism Commission, 2015).

Let’s now look a little closer at the role of BC destination marketing organizations (DMOs) in providing travel services.

At the national level, the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC) is responsible for strategic marketing of the country. It works with industry and government while providing resources for small and medium-sized businesses in the form of toolkits. In BC, there a variety of travel service providers available to help with the planning process including Destination BC/HelloBC, regional destination marketing organizations (RDMOs), and local DMOs.

Destination BC/HelloBC

HelloBC is the official travel service platform of Destination BC, British Columbia’s provincial DMO. HelloBC.com offers access to festival activities, accommodation, transportation options, and trip ideas. This website is complemented by a social media presence through Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (HelloBC, 2014a). Although the online resources are highly detailed, visitors also have the option of ordering a paper copy of the BC Travel Guide .

To assist with trip planning, HelloBC features a booking agent system, offering discounts and special deals created in partnership with operators. Although the site can process these value-added components, it does not handle accommodation bookings, instead directing the interested party to the reservation system of a chosen provider.

In addition to operating HelloBC, Destination BC also oversees a network of 136 Visitor Centres that can be identified by the blue and yellow logo. These are a source of itinerary information for the FIT and a purchase point for travellers wishing to book trip components (HelloBC, 2014b).

Regional Destination Marketing Organizations

BC is divided into five regional destination marketing organizations, or RDMOs : Vancouver Island, Thompson Okanagan, Northern British Columbia, Cariboo Chilcotin Coast and the Kootenay Rockies (HelloBC, 2014c). Along with Destination BC, these RDMOs work to market their particular region.

Housed within the HelloBC online platform, each RDMO has an online presence and travel guide specific to the region as well as a regional social media presence. These guides are important as they allow regional operators to participate in the guide and consumer website in order to encourage visitation to the area and build their tourism operations.

Take a Closer Look: BC’s Regional DMOs

For more information on each RMDO, visit the following consumer and industry sites:

Vancouver Island Consumer: Vancouver Island : www.hellobc.com/vancouver-island.aspx Industry: Vancouver Island : www.tourismvi.ca

Thompson Okanagan Consumer: Okanagan : www.hellobc.com/thompson-okanagan.aspx Industry: Okanagan : www.totabc.org/corporateSite/

Northern British Columbia Consumer: Northern BC : www.hellobc.com/northern-british-columbia.aspx Industry: Northern BC : www.travelnbc.com/

Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Consumer: Cariboo Chilcotin Coast : www.hellobc.com/cariboo-chilcotin-coast.aspx Industry: Cariboo Chilcotin Coast : www.landwithoutlimits.com/

Kootenay Rockies Consumer: Kootenay Rockies : www.hellobc.com/kootenay-rockies.aspx Industry: Kootenay Rockies : www.krtourism.ca/

Community Destination Marketing Organizations

Community destination marketing organizations (CDMOs) are responsible for marketing a specific destination or area, such as Whistler or Kimberley. Travel services typically offered include hotel search engines, specific destination packages and offers, discounts, events and festival listings, and other information of interest to potential visitors. In the absence of a CDMO, sometimes these services are provided by the local chamber of commerce or economic development office.

Spotlight On: Tourism Tofino 

Tourism Tofino is the local DMO for the Tofino area, located on the west side of Vancouver Island. Tofino is a destination region that attracts travellers to Pacific Rim National Park, surfing opportunities, storm watching, and the Pacific Ocean. As part of its marketing tactics, Tourism Tofino offers visitors key planning tools on the landing site. To encourage shoulder season visitation, storm-watching deals are highlighted, which also allows visitors to inquire directly with the accommodation provider and/or tour operator. For more information, visit Tourism Tofino : www.tourismtofino.com

Complementing BC’s Visitor Centre network mentioned earlier, local visitor centres are managed by individual communities. Visitor centres may be housed in gateway buildings at strategic locations, in historic or cultural buildings, or at an office located in town. They are designed to provide general information to travellers and may include other services such as booking hotels, free Wi-Fi, and help from a visitor information counsellor (SGSEP, 2012).

Other Systems and Organizations

A number of customized and targeted reservation systems are used by BC DMOs and other organizations. One example is the BC campground reservation online booking systems. BC Parks, Parks Canada, and private campground operators all use different proprietary reservation systems. Both BC Parks and Parks Canada reservation systems open on a specific date in the spring for bookings later in the year. These systems let visitors review what a site looks like through photos or video and pick which site they would like to book in the campground. Many campgrounds also offer a first-come-first-served system, as well as overflow sites, to accommodate visitors who may not have reserved a site.

In the business market, there are several companies in BC and Canada that facilitate planning and booking. Concur is an example of a travel management company widely used in British Columbia and Canada by organizations including CIBC, Kellogg’s, and Pentax. It provides services including trip planning software for use by employees, expense and invoicing software for use by managers, and a mobile application that ensures clients can take the technology on the go. Its services have contributed to client savings, such as reducing the travel expenses for one client by almost one-fifth in their first year of use in Ontario (Concur, 2014).

BC is home to several DMCs including Cantrav, Pacific Destination Services, and Rare Indigo (Tourism Vancouver, 2014). All offer event services as well as turnkey operations (where all logistics are handled by the DMC and invoiced to the corporation).

So far we’ve looked at travel services as defined by NAICS. Next let’s have a closer look at additional services generally considered to be part of the tourism economy.

Tourism Services

Many organizations can have a hand in tourism development. These include:

• Sector-specific associations
• Tourism and hospitality human resources organizations
• Training providers
• Educational institutions
• Government branches and ministries in land use, planning, development, environmental, transportation, and other related fields
• Economic development and city planning offices

Consultants

The rest of this section describes Canadian and BC-based examples of these.

Sector-Specific Associations

Numerous not-for-profit and arm’s-length organizations drive the growth of specific segments of our industry. Examples of these associations can be found throughout this textbook in the Spotlight On features, and include groups like:

• BC Hotel Association
• Sea Kayak Guides Alliance of BC
• Restaurants Canada

These can serve as regulatory bodies, advocacy agencies, certification providers, and information sources.

Tourism and Hospitality Human Resource Support

The Canadian Tourism Human Resource Council (CTHRC) is a national sector council responsible for best practice research, training, and other professional development support on behalf of the 174,000 tourism businesses and the 1.75 million people employed in tourism-related occupations across the country. In BC, an organization called go2HR serves to educate employers on attracting, training, and retaining employees, as well as hosts a tourism job board to match prospective employees with job options in tourism around the province.

Training Providers

Throughout this textbook, you’ll see examples of not-for-profit industry associations that provide training and certification for industry professionals. For example, the Association of Canadian Travel Agents offers a full-time and distance program to train for the occupation of certified travel counsellor. Closer to home, an organization called WorldHost, a division of Destination BC, offers world-class customer service training.

You’ll learn more about training providers and tourism human resources development in Chapter 9: Customer Service.

Educational Institutions

British Columbia is also home to a number of high-quality public and private colleges and universities that offer tourism-related educational options. Training options at these colleges and universities include certificates, diplomas, degrees and masters-level programs in adventure tourism, outdoor recreation, hospitality management, and tourism management. Whether students are learning how to manage a restaurant at Camosun College, gaining mountain adventure skills at College of the Rockies, or exploring the world of outdoor recreation and tourism management at the University of Northern BC, tomorrow’s workforce is being prepared by skilled instructors with solid industry experience.

Spotlight On: LinkBC

LinkBC is a membership-based organization that receives funding from Destination BC to support students and instructors at postsecondary institutions in connecting with the tourism industry. It hosts an annual Student Case Competition, a networking event called Student-Industry Rendezvous, and provides students with information about education options at its study tourism in BC website. For more information, visit the LinkBC website : http://linkbc.ca or Study Tourism in BC : www.studytourisminbc.ca

Government Departments

At the time this chapter was written, there were at least eight distinct provincial government ministries that had influence on tourism and hospitality development in British Columbia. These are:

• Community, Sport and Cultural Development
• Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training
• Advanced Education
• Transportation and Infrastructure
• Environment
• Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
• International Trade
• Small Business and Economic Development

Ministry names and responsibilities may change over time, but the functions performed by provincial ministries are critical to tourism operators and communities, as are the functions of similar departments at the federal level.

At the community level, tourism functions are often performed by planning officers, economic development officers, and chambers of commerce.

A final, hidden layer to the travel services sector is that of independent consultants and consulting firms. These people and companies offer services to the industry in a business-to-business format, and they vary from individuals to small-scale firms to international companies. In BC, tourism-based consulting firms include:

• IntraVISTAS: specializing in aviation and transportation logistics advising
• Chemistry Consulting: specializing in human relations and labour market development
• Tartan: a public-relations and reputation management firm

For many people trained in specific industry fields, consulting offers the opportunity to give back to the industry while maintaining workload flexibility.

Trends and Issues

Now that we have an understanding of the travel and tourism services providers in BC, let’s review some of the current trends and issues in the sector.

In the travel services sector, providers such as OTAs and business travel managers must constantly be aware of price sensitivity. Many tourism services organizations are not-for-profit entities that rely on membership dues, donations, grants, and government funding to survive. As the economic climate becomes strained and budgets are tightened, all groups are increasingly forced to demonstrate return on investment to stakeholders. As some of the benefits of travel services are difficult to define, groups must innovate or face extinction.

The challenge of budget constraints came to life in late 2014 when Destination BC announced it was shutting down its Visitor Centres at Vancouver International Airport and reviewing five other gateway locations including Peace Arch and Golden. While the airport locations welcomed over 180,000 visitors per year, analysis performed by Destination BC showed guests were asking non-tourism questions, and the centres’ value was questioned. Closing the centres at the airport, it was determined, would save $500,000 per year — but some in the industry were left wondering why they weren’t consulted prior to the announcement (Smyth, 2014).

As discussed earlier, online travel agencies have revolutionized the sector in a short span of time. Online travel bookings and marketing accounts for roughly one-third of all global e-commerce, and according to many these continue to rattle the sector.

Take a Closer Look: The Trouble with Travel Distribution

This report, by McKinsey & Company, addresses the widespread impact of technological innovations on the travel services sector. To view the report online, visit The Trouble with Travel Distribution : www.mckinsey.com/insights/travel_transportation/the_trouble_with_travel_distribution

That said, OTAs and other technology providers can benefit operators and the travel services sector as a whole. Keeping in mind that travel services pertain to the planning and reserving of trip components, recent beneficial technologic improvements include the following (Orfutt, 2013):

• Real-time and automated inventory management, ensuring operators and travellers alike are working with accurate information when planning and booking
• A pollution and weather detection chip that would help tour operators, transportation providers, and visitors anticipate, and plan for changes in conditions
• Personalized information presented to visitors to help them narrow their choices in the trip planning process, ensuring users are not overwhelmed with information, and making the most of limited screen size on mobile devices and tablets
• Social technologies and on-the-go information sharing, allowing users to plan at the last minute as they travel
• Virtual assistant holograms and tablets carrying information that can replace humans during the travel experience (for instance, at airport arrivals and visitor centres)

These innovations will likely increase as more advances are made. They also have significant implications for the marketing of travel products and experiences, which is explored more in Chapter 8.

In a time when financial resources are limited and competition for tourist dollars is strong, the travel services sector is being forced to innovate at a startling rate. With the emergence of OTAs and the rapid pace of change, it’s likely the travel services landscape will be radically different by the time you read this.

Just 20 years ago, the travel agent was paramount for booking both leisure and business travel, while today’s traveller can book a trip using a phone in a matter of minutes. This is one sector with challenging and exciting times ahead.

To this point we have learned about the five sectors of tourism: transportation, accommodation, food and beverage, recreation and entertainment, and travel services. With this foundation in place, let’s delve deeper into the industry by learning more about how these sectors are promoted to customers in Chapter 8 on services marketing.

• Association of Canadian Travel Agencies (ACTA): a trade organization established in 1977 to ensure high standards of customer service, engage in advocacy for the trade, conduct research, and facilitate travel agent training
• Canada’s West Marketplace: a partnership between Destination BC and Travel Alberta, showcasing BC travel products in a business-to-business sales environment
• Canadian Association of Tour Operators (CATO):  a membership-based organization that serves as the voice of the tour operator segment and engages in professional development and networking in the sector
• Community destination marketing organization (CDMO): a DMO that represents a city or town
• Destination management company (DMC): a company that creates and executes corporate travel and event packages designed for employee rewards or special retreats
• Destination marketing organizations (DMOs):  also known as destination management organizations; includes national tourism boards, state/provincial tourism offices, and community convention and visitor bureaus
• Familiarization tours (FAMs):  tours provided to overseas travel agents, travel agencies, RTOs, and others to provide information about a certain product at no or minimal cost to participants — the short form is pronounced like the start of the word family (not as each individual letter)
• Fully independent traveller (FIT): a traveller who makes his or her own arrangements for accommodations, transportation, and tour components; is independent of a group
• HelloBC:  online travel services platform of Destination BC providing information to the visitor and potential visitor for trip planning purposes
• Inbound tour operator:  an operator who packages products together to bring visitors from external markets to a destination
• Online travel agent (OTA):  a service that allows the traveller to research, plan, and purchase travel without the assistance of a person, using the internet on sites such as Expedia.ca or Hotels.com
• Outbound tour operator:  an operator who packages and sells travel products to people within a destination who want to travel abroad
• Receptive tour operator (RTO):  someone who represents the products of tourism suppliers to tour operators in other markets in a business-to-business (B2B) relationship
• Regional destination marketing organization (RDMO): in BC, one of the five DMOs that represent a specific tourism region
• Tour operator:  an operator who packages suppliers together (hotel + activity) or specializes in one type of activity or product
• Tourism services: other services that work to support the development of tourism and the delivery of guest experiences
• Travel agency:  a business that provides a physical location for travel planning requirements
• Travel agent:  an individual who helps the potential traveller with trip planning and booking services, often specializing in specific types of travel
• Travel services: under NAICS, businesses and functions that assist with the planning and reserving components of the visitor experience
• Visitor centre:  a building within a community usually placed at the gateway to an area, providing information regarding the region, travel planning tools, and other services including washrooms and Wi-Fi
• Explain, either in words or with a diagram, the relationship between an RTO, tour operator, and travel agent.
• What type of services does HelloBC provide to the traveller? List regional services from your area that are currently offered.
• Who operates the provincial network of Visitor Centres? Where are these centres located?
• List the RDMOs operating within BC. How do each of these work to provide information to the traveller?
• List two positives and two negatives of OTAs within the travel services industry.
• With an increase growth in mobile technology, how are travel services adapting to suit the needs and/or demands of the traveller?
• Choose an association that is representative of the sector you might like to work in (e.g., accommodations, food and beverage, travel services). Explore the association’s website and note three key issues it has identified and how it is responding to them.
• Choose a local tourism or hospitality business and find out which associations it belongs to. List the associations and their membership benefits to answer the question, Why belong to this group?

Case Study: Online Travel Agents Sue Skiplagger.com

Hidden city tickets work when the cost to travel from point A to point B to point C is less expensive than a trip from point A to point B. Passengers book the entire flight but get off at the stopover. This practice is generally forbidden by airlines because of safety concerns and challenges to logistics as it renders passenger counts inaccurate, causing potential delays and fuel miscalculations. If discovered, it can result in a passenger having his or her ticket voided.

The lawsuit against Skiplagged founder Aktarer Zaman stated that the site “intentionally and maliciously … [promoted] prohibited forms of travel” (Harris and Sasso, 2014, ¶ 4). Orbitz (an OTA) and United Airlines claimed that Zaman’s website unfairly competed with their business, while making it appear these companies were partners and endorsing the activity by linking to their websites.

Based on this case summary, answer the following questions:

• What are the dangers and inconveniences of having passengers deplane partway through a voyage? In addition to those listed here, come up with two more.
• Could this lawsuit and the ensuing publicity result in unintended negative consequences for United and Orbitz? What might these be?
• On the other hand, could the suit have unintended positive results for Skiplagged.com? Try to name at least three.
• Should Zaman be held responsible for facilitating this type of travel already in practice? Or should passengers bear the responsibility? Why or why not?
• Imagine your flight is delayed because a passenger count is inaccurate and fuel must be recalculated. What action would you take, if any?
• Look up the case to see what updates are available ( United Airlines Inc. v. Zaman , 14-cv-9214, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois (Chicago). Was the outcome what you predicted? Why or why not?

ACTA. (2014). About us . Retrieved from www.acta.ca/about-us

ADME. (2014). What is a DMC? Retrieved from www.adme.org/dmc/what-is-a-dmc.asp

Alba, Davey. (2015, January 23). Expedia buys Travelocity, merging two of the web’s biggest travel sites. WIRED . Retrieved from www.wired.com/2015/01/expedia-buys-travelocity-merging-two-webs-biggest-travel-sites/

Amadeus. (2014). Trending with NextGen travelers [PDF] . Retrieved from https://extranets.us.amadeus.com/whitepaper/nextgen/next_gen_travel_trends.pdf

Associated Press. (2014, March 17). Helena judge rejects state’s lawsuit against online travel companies. The Missoulian. Retrieved from http://missoulian.com/business/local/helena-judge-rejects-state-s-lawsuit-against-online-travel-companies/article_61b115d2-adfe-11e3-9b8d-0019bb2963f4.html

BTN Group. (2014). Global travel trends 2014. Business Travel News. [PDF] Retrieved from www.businesstravelnews.com/uploadedFiles/White_Papers/BTN_110113_Radius_1206_FINAL.pdf

Canadian Tourism Commission. (2015). Rendez-vous Canada 2015 – Welcome . Retrieved from http://rendezvouscanada.travel/

Carey, R., Kang, K., & Zea, M. (2012). The trouble with travel distribution . Retrieved from  www.mckinsey.com/insights/travel_transportation/the_trouble_with_travel_distribution

CATO. (2014). About the travel industry . Retrieved from www.cato.ca/industry.php

Concur. (2014). Concur case studies – Concur Canada . Retrieved from www.concur.ca/casestudy

CWT Travel Management Institute. (2014). Who’s equipped for mobile services .  www.cwtinsights.com/demand/whos-equipped-for-mobile-services.shtml

DMAI. (2014). The value of DMOs . Retrieved from www.destinationmarketing.org/value-dmos

Economist, The . (2014, June 21). Sun, sea and surfing. Retrieved from www.economist.com/news/business/21604598-market-booking-travel-online-rapidly-consolidating-sun-sea-and-surfing

ETC Digital. (2014). Mobile smartphones – North America . Retrieved from http://etc-digital.org/digital-trends/mobile-devices/mobile-smartphones/regional-overview/north-america/

Expedia, Inc. (2014). The future of travel report . [PDF] Retrieved from http://expediablog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Future-of-Travel-Report1.pdf

GBTA. (2014). About GBTA Canada . Retrieved from www.gbta.org/Canada/about/Pages/Default.aspx

Goeldner, C. & Ritchie, B. (2003). Tourism: principles, practices, philosophies, 9th edition. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Government of Canada. (2014). NAICS 2007 – 5615 travel arrangement and reservation services . Retrieved from http://stds.statcan.gc.ca/naics-scian/2007/cs-rc-eng.asp?criteria=5615

go2HR. (2014). Training and education . Retrieved from www.go2hr.ca/training/training-directory?keys=travel+agent&location=&sector=All&region=All

Harris, A. & Sasso, M. (2014). United, Orbitz sue travel site over ‘hidden city’ tickets. Bloomberg Business. Retrieved from www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-11-18/united-orbitz-sue-travel-site-over-hidden-city-ticketing-1-

HelloBC. (2014a). About us. Retrieved from www.hellobc.com/british-columbia.aspx

HelloBC. (2014b). Visitor information network . Retrieved from www.hellobc.com/british-columbia/about-bc/visitor-centres.aspx

HelloBC. (2014c). Regions. Retrieved from www.hellobc.com/british-columbia.aspx

Hotel Marketing. (2013). Travel agency demand . Retrieved from http://www.hotelmarketing.com/index.php/content/article/travel_agencies_versus_the_internet_global_booking_trends/

Offutt, B. (2013). PhoCusWright’s travel innovations & technology trends: 2013 and beyond. [PDF] Retrieved from www.wtmlondon.com/files/pcwi_traveltechtrends2013_worldtravel.pdf

Prince of Whales. (2014).  About us . Retrieved from http://princeofwhales.com

SGSEP. (2012). Trends in visitor information centres. [PDF] Urbecon, 1.   Retrieved from www.sgsep.com.au/assets/Urbecon-Vol-1-2012-web.pdf

Smyth, M. (2014, November 20). Why is the BC government shutting down popular tourist info without consulting industry? The Vancouver Sun. Retrieved from www.theprovince.com/life/Smyth+government+shutting+down+popular+tourist+info+centres+without+consulting+industry/10396500/story.html#__federated=1

Tourism Vancouver. (2014). Destination management companies . Retrieved from  www.tourismvancouver.com/meetings/service-your-meeting/suppliers/destination-management-companies/

Travel Agents in BC. (2014). Travel agents . Retrieved from www.yellowpages.ca/search/si/1/Travel+Agencies/Vancouver+BC

Yukon Department of Tourism and Culture. (2013). Tourism sectors.  Retrieved from www.tc.gov.yk.ca/isu_sectors.html

Attributions

Figure 7.1 HelloBC Homepage  by LinkBC is used under a CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 license.

Figure 7.2   Travels Agent, Huddersfield by Dave Collier  is used under a CC-BY-ND 2.0  license.

Figure 7.3   my AT&T PC 6300 circa 1996  by Blake Patterson  is used under a  CC-BY 2.0 license.

Figure 7.4   Up on the glacier by  Paul Gorbould is used under a CC BY NC ND 2.0 license.

Figure 7.5   Whales off Victoria, BC  by Brian Estabrooks is used under a CC-BY-SA 2.0 license.

Figure 7.6  Visitor Information  by Heather Harvey is used under a CC-BY-SA 2.0  license.

Figure 7.7   Floe Lake, Kootenay National Park 037  by Adam Kahtava  is used under a CC-BY 2.0 license.

Figure 7.8   Tourism Vancouver’s Rick Antonson addresses the audience at Rendezvous  by  LinkBC  is used under a CC-BY-NC-SA 2.0 license.

Figure 7.9   5 Top Rated Tablet PCs  by Siddartha Thota  is used under a  CC-BY 2.0 license.

Introduction to Tourism and Hospitality in BC Copyright © 2015 by Heather Knowles and Morgan Westcott is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

Share This Book

• Host Agencies
• Accelerator Course
• Travel Jobs
• Travel Agent Chatter
• Etiquette & Rules
• Privacy Policy

What Is a Preferred Supplier in Travel?

I was tossing around the term preferred supplier in an email the other day when I realized, gosh darn it, I don’t think I’ve ever explained to those new to our industry what a preferred supplier even is! Doh, sorry about that. Let’s go through it so that you can toss around the term preferred supplier at your next travel industry event with abandon! So. Much. Fun. 

Okay, the easiest way to think of a preferred supplier—or preferred partner, preferred vendor, bestest friend, or whatever label the agency/host/consortium/franchise has given it—is it’s when two companies decide to work together. Through negotiations, they figure out how to make the relationship mutually beneficial so they can both increase their sales.

Your Unrelated Dog-World Example 

It’s like Rigel with his dog bone supplier. We can get the product from lots of different vendors/dog stores but he insists that we go to the store down the road since they are his “preferred bone supplier.” It’s because he’s worked out a deal with them where he gets a free biscuit with every purchase. (He’s quite charming, you know.)

Informal and Formal Preferred Supplier Lists

Truth be told, an agency of any size can create a list of preferred suppliers—power to the people!—but there are what I’d call formal and informal preferred supplier lists. (Never heard of those terms before? Good! I just came up with the whole "formal" and "informal" thing and I’d like to be credited with their entering the travel industry lexicon. © 2022 Stephanie Lee)

Informal Preferred Supplier Lists

Let’s start with informal preferred supplier lists. For every single one of us, just like we have favorite restaurants and grocery stores, we have a list of vendors we like to book our clients with.

Maybe you like to book with that supplier/vendor because you really love their agent booking portal, or maybe it’s because you have a great relationship with their sales rep and the competitor’s sales rep gives you the heebie-jeebies. Who knows?

Whatever the reason, when it’s on a micro-level (down to the individual travel agent level) that’s what I’d call an informal preferred supplier list. It’s you playing favorites. But—here's the surprise—you're playing favorites from the vendors within a formal preferred supplier list. And that brings us to . . . 

Formal Preferred Supplier Lists

An informal preferred supplier list isn’t very powerful if everyone is booking every which way, is it? *Sigh* No, it’s not. Call in the Fun Police, bureaucracy (as always) is gonna jump in to ruin all the fun!

As a travel agency’s or group of agencies’ sales grows, they have more and more buying power. Vendors like that. A lot. So if you are in that position and have tens or hundreds of millions in sales, it’d be smart business to leverage your sales with vendors so you can get better service and they (ahem, the preferred suppliers) can get more sales. That’s why high-volume travel agencies or travel agency groups will make a formal preferred supplier list.

It’s essentially these power agencies saying, “Viiiiiito, my friend, we can do business with a lot of suppliers, no? But I like you. I really do. If you do some things for us, eh, we can make this a mutually beneficial relationship, no?”

(Note: I do not know if these agreements occur in a deep, dark alley or not. When it plays out in my head, a dark alley with a lone light bulb is the backdrop. The characters also have thick Sicilian accents like in The Godfather.)

Anyhow, in the travel industry, when someone is talking about a Preferred Supplier List, think two things:

• A formal list of vendors/suppliers that power agencies (or agency groups) have agreed to book
• The GodFather. And make sure to think in a thick and raspy Sicilian accent. (This is very important.)

Does My Travel Agency Need a Preferred Supplier List?

For new agents, it may be a little confusing. If you’re not a power travel agency, how do you get a preferred supplier list? Do you even need one?

The good news here! Chances are, you probably already have a group of preferred suppliers even if you’ve never heard of the word. Agencies with smaller sales (maybe this is you?) typically use their consortium , franchise, and/or host agency ’s formal preferred supplier list.

What’s the Benefit of a Preferred Supplier List?

Which brings us to why would your agency use someone else’s preferred supplier list? Why, incentives, of course!

• Peace of mind. This is the biggest reason why agents will book with preferreds over non-preferred vendors. Your clients trust you. You want to know the company you’re booking them with has been vetted and offers a fantastic product. When the vendor signs the paper to be a preferred, they’re saying they’re going to provide a great experience for your clients and that they will help the agencies in that network (that’s you!) out if problems do arise.
• Higher commissions. When your agency or agency group negotiates with the vendor to be preferred, they may be negotiating commission tiers with lower thresholds than what you could get if you went direct to the vendor. Hypothetical scenario: If you had $50,000 in sales with a vendor and didn’t belong to a larger agency organization, the vendor might offer you 10% commission and the next threshold is $100,000 in sales, where you would make 11% commission. However, if you were with a larger agency organization that had negotiated a preferred agreement with that same vendor, maybe they negotiated that all of the agencies in their network start at 10% regardless of sales and jump to 11% commission at just $50,000 in sales. Ooh la la!

There’s other perks too.

Like some agency groups have worked with cruise lines for special excursions or amenities on select sailings (like the Travel Leaders Network Distinctive Voyages ). Or maybe the agency group has negotiated with a hotel chain that their clients will get a complimentary late check or free wi-fi at select locations.

But those are the icing on the cake. The most important thing is your clients are going to be well taken care of. Here's how to pick some of your favorites:

And it’s not just my gut feeling here! A 2013 ASTA (American Society of Travel Agents) Suppler-Travel Agent Relationship Marketing Report—which unfortunately they took off the web, so you'll have to trust me—found that 94 percent of respondents who engage in a preferred supplier relationship do so based on the supplier's reputation and quality of their product.

Are Preferred Supplier Lists Confidential?

Shhhhhh, I’ll tell you a secret.

The list of preferred vendors itself typically isn’t confidential but when you get into the details like commission tiers, value-adds, host agencies/franchises/consortia don’t typically go around publishing those on billboards. It’s one of those “Call for more Details” types of things.

So, a quick tip. If you’re looking to join a host, franchise, or consortium it’s okay to ask for a list of their preferred suppliers when you’re in your “dating” phase ( more tips on finding the best host agency or choosing a travel agency franchise ). They may give you their entire list of preferred vendors, or they may ask you which ones you like to book with and let you know if they’re on the list.

As you’re shopping around, it’s fair to want to know the commission tiers ( more on how travel agent commissions work ), value-adds, and client perks you can get expect if you join a particular host/franchise/consortium. Again though, hosts/franchises/consortia may hold some of those cards a little close, especially airline commissions and commission tiers.

If you find them a bit tight-lipped, try this. Instead of asking for the whole kit and caboodle, be specific. Come prepared with the vendors you expect to sell the most of and ask for specifics on those.

But a lot of hosts ARE NOT hush hush about their preferred suppliers. In fact, many hosts list preferred suppliers directly on their profile . Want to learn about more features we've added to profiles? Look no further .

Sample Preferred Supplier Lists

Honestly, there is a lot of overlap with most travel agency organizations’ preferred supplier lists. As you start exploring, you’ll find many of the preferred vendors/suppliers on lists are the larger, mainstream tour operators and cruise lines. So, what I’m saying here is that if you have a favorite bicycle rental vendor just outside of Cancun . . . don’t count on them being preferred.

Preferred supplier lists in travel are typically broken down into these categories:

• Tour Operators
• Cruise Lines
• Travel Insurance
• Hotel/Resorts

And I know you’re probably curious as to what these mysterious preferred supplier lists look like! As I mentioned earlier, you won’t find the commission thresholds or other juicy details published for all the world to see, but here’s some examples of preferred supplier lists:

• Travel Consortium Preferred Supplier List Example : Virtuoso  , Signature Travel Network
• Host Agency Preferred Supplier List Example: Incentive Connection Travel

Recap and Closing

Oh my gosh. Did you ever know someone could talk about preferred suppliers for so long? I certainly didn’t. That’s what happens when I’m stuck in bed for too long.

But seriously, the important takeaways from this article:

• Rigel is seeking applications for his doggie preferred supplier list.
• I think I may be famous for coming up with the terms “informal preferred supplier” and “formal preferred supplier.” I can’t wait to be in travel industry textbooks one day! Eeeek!
• Booking Preferred Suppliers = Peace of Mind

That’s all I got, folks. Oh, except make sure to add Host Agency Reviews to your preferred website list! 

Drop a line with questions, your experiences with preferred suppliers or random Godfather quotes in the comments below. I love hearing about all three.

About the Author

Steph grew up in the travel industry, helping on and off with her mom's homebased travel agency. She has worked with thousands of agents in her role as a former host agency director before leaving in 2012 to start HAR. She's insatiably curious, loves her pups Fennec and Orion, and -- in case you haven't noticed -- is pretty quirky and free-spirited.

If you’re looking for Steph, she leaves a trace where ever she goes! You can find her on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn (her fav) and Pinterest as 'iamstephly'. 🙂 You can also catch her on her Substack, Bumblin' Around, where she writes on things outside the world of HAR.

• Travel Agent Basics
• Travel Industry Basics

• Sustainability Pledge

Four steps to prepare for travel procurement in 2021

• By Harry John
• 17 November 2020

1) Travel restrictions

2) evaluating suppliers’ covid-19 safety measures, 3) planning for reduced spending in 2021, 4) demand management, the cpo crunch.

Inspiring CPO community insights – straight from the source into your inbox. Subscribe to your CPO newsletter:

Thanks for subscribing to the CPO Crunch newsletter.

Keep an eye on your inbox for your first one.

More insights

Thought leader: How to get early supplier involvement right

Procurement – much more than a job

CPO Crunch: The procurement culture club

New research: supply chain transparency – enabling insights into the invisible

CPO Crunch: A rewarding time

CPO Crunch: Hydrogen making its mark

CPO Crunch: Looking back on the ‘year of AI’

2024 planning: Supporting growth by expanding strategic procurement and optimising operating models

Research: Purpose-driven procurement: Entering an age of holistic value

Research: High-velocity procurement

Can brands save profits without squeezing suppliers?

Next generation category management

CPO Crunch: Contending with the complex new world

CPO Crunch: Win friends and influence people

CPO Crunch: The forces of supply

CPO Crunch: When it comes to AI, the key to starting is starting

Privacy overview, submit the form to find out more about membership, thank you for your interest in our membership.

Call +44 (0) 1202 934033

Choosing the Best Suppliers for Your Travel Agency: A Guide for Travel Agents

 the suppliers you partner with play a crucial role in the success of your agency and the satisfaction of your clients..

As a travel agent, one of the key decisions you will make is selecting the best suppliers to work with.  The suppliers you partner with play a crucial role in the success of your agency and the satisfaction of your clients. In this blog, we will provide a comprehensive guide to help travel agents choose the best suppli ers for their agency, ensuring the delivery of exceptional travel experiences and fostering long-term success.

Assess Your Agency's Needs:

Before embarking on the supplier selection process, take the time to assess your agency's specific needs. Determine the types of travel services you offer, your target market, and the destinations you speciali s e in. Understanding your agency's unique requirements will help you identify suppliers who align with your business goals and cater to your clients' preferences.

Research Supplier Reputation and Reliability:

Conduct thorough research on potential suppliers to gauge their reputation and reliability. Look for suppliers with a proven track record of delivering quality services, maintaining excellent customer satisfaction, and adhering to ethical business practices. Seek out reviews, testimonials, and references from other travel agents who have worked with the suppliers to gain insights into their performance and reliability.

Evaluate Supplier Expertise and Experience:

Consider the expertise and experience of potential suppliers. Determine whether they have extensive knowledge of the travel industry, including the destinations you specialize in. Assess their understanding of industry trends, their network of contacts, and their ability to provide insider insights and recommendations. Suppliers with deep expertise can add value to your agency by offering unique experiences and personalized service for your clients.

Financial Stability and Competitive Pricing:

Ensure that the suppliers you choose are financially stable and have a sustainable business model. Financial stability is vital to ensure smooth operations and avoid any disruptions in service. Additionally, compare the pricing offered by different suppliers and assess whether it aligns with your agency's pricing strategy and your clients' expectations. While cost is important, remember that the cheapest option may not always provide the best value in terms of quality and reliability.

Range of Products and Services:

Evaluate the range of products and services offered by potential suppliers. Consider whether they offer a comprehensive selection of travel options that cater to your clients' preferences. Assess the variety of accommodations, transportation, tours, and other services available, ensuring they align with the specific needs and preferences of your target market. Suppliers with a diverse portfolio can help you curate unique and personalized travel experiences for your clients.

Technology and Integration Capabilities:

In today's digital age, the ability to seamlessly integrate supplier systems and technologies with your agency's operations is essential. Evaluate the technological capabilities of potential suppliers, including their booking platforms, API integrations, and support for online transactions. Look for suppliers that offer user-friendly interfaces, real-time availability, and efficient communication channels. The integration of supplier systems can streamline your workflow, enhance efficiency, and provide a seamless experience for both you and your clients.

Customer Service and Support:

Examine the customer service and support provided by potential suppliers. Prompt and reliable communication is crucial when working with suppliers, especially in cases of urgent requests or unforeseen changes. Assess their responsiveness, availability, and willingness to go the extra mile to ensure client satisfaction. Strong customer service and support will help you address any issues or concerns that may arise during the booking or travel process, ensuring a positive experience for your clients.

Sustainable and Responsible Practices:

In today's environmentally conscious world, sustainability and responsible travel practices are increasingly important considerations for travel agencies. Evaluate whether potential suppliers align with your agency's commitment to sustainability, environmental conservation, and responsible tourism. Suppliers who actively promote eco-friendly initiatives, support local communities, and prioritize ethical practices can help differentiate your agency and attract clients who value responsible travel.

Choosing the best suppliers for your travel agency is a critical decision that can significantly impact your agency's success and the experiences of your clients. By assessing your agency's needs, researching supplier reputation and reliability, evaluating expertise and experience, considering financial stability and pricing, assessing product and service range, examining technological capabilities, prioritizing customer service and support, and valuing sustainable practices, you can make informed choices that align with your agency's goals and provide exceptional travel experiences for your clients. Remember, selecting the right suppliers is an ongoing process, and maintaining strong relationships with reliable partners is key to long-term success in the travel industry.

Crafting the Voyage: The Critical Role of Marketing Campaigns for Travel Startups

Embracing Niche Markets: A Strategy for Success in the Evolving Travel Industry

Navigating the Lucrative Waters of Luxury Travel: Why It's a Golden Niche for Travel Agencies

Elevating Your Travel Business: Strategies for Growth and Success

The Key to Unlocking Unforgettable Travel Experiences: Premium Supplier Partnerships

Leveraging Reviews and Testimonials in the Travel Industry

The Ultimate Guide to Enhancing Customer Experience in Travel

Boost Your Bookings: Top Digital Marketing Strategies for Travel Agencies

Elevating Your Travel Agency with Social Media: A Comprehensive Guide by Travelgenix

The Future of Travel Planning: Introducing The Travelgenix Guide Buddy

Tom Warsup. All Inclusive Holiday Company.

Doug turner. jet2holidays. third party supply and distribution, stephen hearn. your holidays., kevin coles. 360 loyalty..

Andy Keeley. Intuitive.

Hamza waris. pak travels., lisa charles. go global, felix shpilman. emerging travel group. ratehawk.

We've been helping travel companies enhance their online presence for over 20 years.

GB419155006

Company number - Agendas Group Ltd

Follow Travelgenix.

Bourne Space, Bourne House, 

Exeter Park Road, Bournemouth, BH2 5BD

Call : +44 (0) 1202 934033

All Rights Reserved | Travelgenix is an Agendas Group Company

The Travel Glossary - find the best Terms, Definitions and Acronyms

Travel terms, glossary, definitions and acronyms of the travel industry from A – Z. Click on a letter to see the terms and descriptions in our glossary.

A     B     C     D     E     F     G     H     I     J     K     L     M     N     O     P     Q     R     S     T     U     V     W     X     Y     Z

Add-collect, adjoining room.

Average Daily Rate. A hotel industry term used to calculate average hotel room rate. Equal to room revenue divided by rooms sold.

advance purchase

The advance time before travel that a fare requires a ticket to be issued, normally 3,7,14 or 21 days.

Agent Error. An incorrect entry made by a consultant during the reservation process.

AEA (see “Association of European Airlines”)

A US based travel agency that has entered into an agreement with BCD Travel to use the BCD Travel trademarks and provide travel services to customers in the affiliate’s territory.

Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC)

An independent corporation jointly owned by most of the major United States airlines; ARC collects payments for tickets sold by travel agencies and distributes the monies to the airlines; ARC also governs appointment of travel agencies to sell domestic air transportation.

airport code

The three-letter code used by airlines and the air travel industry to identify airports around the world, e.g. LHR=London Heathrow, JFK=New York John F. Kennedy. http://www.world-airport-codes.com/

airport security check

Airport security checks are procedures and measures for screening passengers and baggage to ensure security against terrorist threats and other dangers.  Find out how to get through quickly

airport tax

Tax levied by certain airports throughout the world. In many cases this can be built into the total ticket price, although some airlines will not co-operate, thus making payable locally by the passenger.

On outbound journey’s, airside includes all those areas of the airport terminal after you have passed through passport control. On inbound journey’s, airside includes all those areas of the terminal before you pass through passport control.

A short-hop aircraft for up to 20 passengers, usually flying unscheduled services with a 200 / 500-mile range.

all-inclusive

A hotel program which usually includes all meals, snacks, beverages and activities.

A joint partnership between specified carriers which may include, but not limited to, interlining, code-sharing, joint frequent flyer program participation, and even equity participation of stock ownership.

The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, a government-subsidized corporation that operates all passenger train service in the United States.

Automatic Number Identification. A contact center term for a telephone network feature that passes that number of the phone the caller is using to the contact center, real-time.

American Plan. A hotel rate that includes breakfast and dinner, sometimes lunch.

Asia Pacific. A geographical term used interchangeably with ASPAC and often used in reference to the entire Asian market.

Advance Purchase Excursion Fare

applicable fare

The fare to be applied.

Accounts Receivable. Money which is owed by a customer to a company for products or services provided on credit.

ARC (see “Airlines Reporting Corporation”)

An eight-digit identification number issued by ARC to travel agencies who have met accreditation standards.

Arrival Unknown. An ARNK is added to a reservation when there is a break in the itinerary and continuity is not recognized; it does count as a segment when ticketing.

Around-the-world

A continuous journey circumnavigating the globe in one general west-to-east or east-to-west direction in which both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans are crossed not more than once each.

ARR (see “Average room rate”)

Asia South Pacific. A geographic term used interchangeably with APAC.

Automated Ticket & Boarding Pass. IATA standard transportation ticket and combined boarding pass which features a magnetic strip containing passenger and journey details.

Average Ticket Price. The average price of all tickets purchased; domestic and international are sometimes calculated separately.

availability

The total number of seats allowed to be sold at a particular rate.

average room rate (ARR)

Ratio of hotel’s sales revenue to the number of occupied rooms.

back-to-back ticketing

An against-the-rules practice whereby a traveler books a return ticket nested inside another return ticket to avoid minimum stay requirements for the purpose of saving money. For example, the traveler uses the first ticket to fly from origin to destination on Monday in week 1, then he uses the second ticket to fly from destination to origin on Friday in week 1 and back to destination on Monday in week 2, and then he uses the first ticket again to fly back to origin on Friday in week 2. The normal Saturday night stay requirement is then avoided. While this will sometimes save money, most airlines do not allow this practice and doing so might result in penalties.

backtracking

Having to return to your original airport of entry in a country to make the return trip home. A time-consuming and costly procedure to overcome by arranging an op-jaw itinerary, which allows you to fly out to one point and return from another.

Carry-on-baggage and checked baggage have many restrictions. Most notable are the number and size of the baggage. Many airlines allow only 1 carry-on bag, plus one personal item (purse, back-pack, computer bag). For checked baggage restrictions and fees, refer to the carrier’s website for details.

banker’s buying rate (BBR)

Exchange rate used to convert from one currency to another; called the ‘buying rate’ because it is the rate used when banks purchase currency from an individual

banker’s selling rate (BSR)

Exchange rate used to convert from one currency to another; called the ‘buying rate’ because it is the rate used when banks sell currency to an individual

Best Available Rate. A hotel industry pricing method for yielding room rates (floating) based on demand while ensuring the best rate is presented for sale to agents, consumers.

A fare without tax.

Measurement of hotel occupency.

blackout dates

Certain dates or periods when travel on specific fares is not permitted (usually holidays).

blocked space

Multiple reservations, often subject to deposit forfeiture, which wholesalers or travel agents make with a supplier in anticipation of resale.

boarding pass

A permit to board a ship, plane, or other form of transportation. In the case of air travel, the card indicates boarding gate and aircraft seat number.

booking code

A letter code used to make an airline reservation at a particular fare level in a computerized reservation system. (CRS/GDS)

Bank Settlement Plan. Outside the USA, a system by which the travel agent community pays carriers for tickets it issues.

Business Travel Account. If a company has a corporate credit card program where certain purchases such as air, rail, and associated transaction fees are centrally billed to one “master” credit card number, this is referred to as the Business Travel Account (BTA). This account allows for the purchase of certain air travel expenses for corporate employees without the need to issue individual credit cards to each traveler for the designated expenses. Because the account has no physical card, it’s often called a “ghost card.”

BTC (see “Business Travel Center”)

Business Travel News. A travel industry publication that delivers news and research to the corporate travel population.

bucket shop

An unlicensed, unbonded travel agency used by some airlines to dispose of excess capacity seats that are available on certain flights.

buffer zone

For taxation purposes, an extension of the US border 225 miles north into Canada and 225 miles south into Mexico border; all cities within this area are assessed the 7.5% US domestic tax when tickets are purchased and sold in the US.

A net fare contract for certain number of seats. Similar to blocked space except that the tour operator, wholesaler, or travel agent usually contracts for airline seats at a low, non-commissioned price without the option of releasing space back to the airline.

A partition (usually a wall) on an airplane separating compartments.

Travel slang for the removal of a passenger from a flight through overbooking; usually applied to those holding concessionary tickets.

bundled pricing

A pricing proposal, always a transaction fee, where elements other than air (e.g. car hire, hotel, rail) are included in the fee with the air transaction.

business class

Level of airline service between First class and Economy class. On European routes business class has now replaced first class as premier service level. Most airlines have their own brand names. (e.g. British Airways – Club World and Club Europe: Air France – Le Club etc.)

Business Travel Center (BTC)

Standard full service and online service in a local call center, undedicated, team environment.

Business Travel Management

Business travel management is the process of planning, organizing, and overseeing business travel for an organization. This includes booking travel arrangements, managing expenses, and developing policies and procedures for business travel.

cancellation policy

The advance time a hotel requires a booking to be canceled by to avoid being billed for the room

carrier (CXR)

Another term for airline.

Credit Card. A system of payment whereby the issuer of the card grants a line of credit to the cardholder, to be used to make payment to a merchant or to withdraw cash.

Collision Damage Waiver. An industry term for optional insurance provided by car rental companies that eliminates all responsibility of the driver in an accident.

centralized billing

System under which a travel supplier, credit card company, agency or other supplier consolidates all costs/charges incurred by different employees or departments into one total invoice.

change of equipment

Also known as “change of gauge”. A single flight number used to represent flights on two different aircraft; usually on international destinations.

Notification to an airline or hotel that a traveler has arrived to take a flight or stay at a hotel; some airlines provide curbside check-in while others only allow check-in at the ticket counter.

Advice to a hotel that a guest is leaving the property and usually includes payment for the stay.

A traveler who has had his/her second birthday, but not yet his/her twelfth birthday (this definition may vary by carrier).

Churning refers to any repeated booking or canceling of the same itinerary in the same class or different classes of service in one or more PNRs or GDS.

circle pacific

Travel from IATA Area 1 (North and/or South America) to IATA Area 3 (Asia, Australia, South Pacific) by way of the North Pacific Ocean in one direction, via the South Pacific Ocean in the opposite direction, and at least one flight within IATA Area 3 that crosses the Equator.

circle trip (CT)

A journey from origin to destination with a return to origin in a continuous, circuitous route using two or more fare components

The orgin (from) and arrival (to) points of a trip, usually by air or train.

city terminal

Airline office, usually city center, where passengers may check-in, receive seating details and board special bus/ taxi/ helicopter/ rail/ shuttle services to the airport.

class of service

The interior of an aircraft is divided into sections, each with a different level of service and amenities; common classes of service are first, business, and economy.

Cruise Lines International Association. An association dedicated to the promotion and growth of the cruise industry.

Section of a hotel offering higher security and special facilities either for a premium payment or as an incentive/ privilege for frequent users.

club ticket

Fully flexible, redeemable business class ticket valid one year from date of issue. Phrase used primarily in the U.K.

Another term for bus.

Close of Business. A term meaning the end of the business day.

A marketing agreement between two airlines (very common amongst airlines that have an alliance) where a seat is purchased on one airline (the selling carrier), but the flight is actually operated by a different airline (the operating carrier).

combination

Two or more fares shown separately in a fare calculation.

Computerized Reservation System

System used to book and process travel reservations, also known as a Global Distribution System (GDS).

A hotel employee who attends to guests’ needs for special information, theater and restaurant reservations, and any other special requests.

connecting flight

A flight which the passenger must change aircraft.

A stop in a given city for less than 4 hours (domestic US); less than 12 hours (domestic US as part of an international journey); less than 24 hours (international); continuing on the next applicable flight to an onward destination; designated by X/ in a linear fare construction line.

conjunction ticket

Two or more tickets concurrently issued to a passenger and which together constitute a single contract of carriage.

connecting rooms

Two rooms that are side-by-side that have a common connecting interior door.

consolidation fare

A group inclusive tour fare available to travel agents and other operators to construct packages to destinations which are inclusive of accomodation. Consolidation fares, although group fares, are for sale to individual passengers.

consolidator

A person or company which forms groups to travel on charter or at group fares on scheduled flights to increase sales, earn override commissions or reduce the chance of tour cancellations.

A group of independent companies that join together to gain greater profits.

construction point

A city through which fares have been combined for the purpose of pricing an itinerary; a destination city or a turnaround point; a fare break shown on the ticket.

A contact center term for an individual who is calling or visiting your company by phone or through the website, and who is requesting an interaction with an agent.

contact center

An umbrella term that generally refers to reservations centers, help desks, information lines or customer service centers, regardless of how they are organized or what types of transactions they handle.

continental breakfast

A light breakfast of such things as coffee, pastry and sometimes juice.

contract fare / contract discount

A discounted fare agreed upon by the client and a carrier; contract fares require a client give the carrier a certain percentage of its business in all markets.

corporate fare

A discounted airfare for business travelers.

corporate rate

A special rate negotiated between a supplier (hotel or car for example) and a company.

corporate hotel rate

Learn how to get corporate hotel rates .

Corporate Travel Department (CTD)

A CTD (Corporate Travel Department) establishes a direct purchasing relationship between the company and its travel suppliers. The accrediting body, ARC (Airline Reporting Corporation) authorizes the company to function as its own “travel agency” and control it’s financial settlement.

co-terminals

A group of cities/airports considered to be the same point; example: JFK/LGA/EWR.

country of commencement (COC)

The country in which a journey begins; the base fare is converted from NUCs into the currency of the Country of Commencement by using the IATA ROE.

country of payment (COP)

The country in which a ticket is being purchased; the base fare is converted from the currency of the Country of Commencement into the currency of the country of payment using the Bank Rate if the countries are not the same.

Cost Per Mile. A calculation of the average price paid per mile.

Cost Per Transaction. A calculation of the total cost a company incurs for generating a customer transaction.

Customer Relationship Management. A term used for a database that is used to house and maintain customer information.

CRS (see “Computerized Reservation System”)

Corporate Social Responsibility . A concept whereby companies consider the impact to society and the environment of their actions.

Central Security Record. A hotel industry term for the name of the Viewership Management Table used to maintain a list of offices authorized to access a client’s negotiated hotel rates.

Central Standard Time. A time zone in the US, also known as Central Time or CT.

Corporate Travel Department. A company’s in-house travel agency that purchases air transportation and related travel services on behalf of its own employees.

Computer Telephony Integration. A contact center term for the software, hardware, and programming necessary to integrate computers and telephones so they can work together seamlessly and intelligently.

A checkpoint at which imported goods are verified for legality and value.

Data Release Authorization (DRA)

Under a DRA, Client instructs, as of the date specified, BCD Travel to receive, process, and/or transfer certain personal travel data from Client’s travelers, including, but not limited to, transactional ticket-level, segment-level, and traveler-level information, which may include, without limitation, traveler name and address, origination and destination, corporate and/or personal credit card number, passport number, drivers license, travel preferences, and other special needs or any other sensitive data as may be provided by or behalf of the travelers (“Travel Data”).

Decision Source (DS)

A BCD Travel product that allows our customers to interact with their reservation data.

delegate rate

An inclusive rate for meetings on a daily basis. Twenty-four hour delegate rate also includes accommodation. Phrase primarily used in the U.K.

denied boarding compensation (DBC)

Commonly called “bumping,” – When more passengers arrive to take a flight than can actually fit on the plane; although legal, the carrier is only responsible for providing compensation to a traveler if he/she has a confirmed reservation and is checked in and has arrived at the departure gate within a pre-determined time period; compensation may be in cash or in a voucher for future travel; passengers who voluntarily relinquish their seats are compensated with a cash payment or voucher towards a future trip and are then accommodated on the next available flight; if an airline delivers a bumped passenger to his/her destination within an hour of the originally-scheduled time, no compensation is required.

deregulation

Originally applied to American air travel: in 1978, federal law phased out the civil Aeronautics Board and stopped government intervention or regulation of airline routes and fares.

destination

The final stopping place as shown on the ticket; the furthest point on a fare component used to price an itinerary.

Destination Management Company

Company, possibly an incoming tour operator, who organizes local ground services at destination.

differential

The difference between the fares for two different classes of service between two cities; this fare construction principle is only used internationally.

direct fare

The fare for one-way or half round-trip travel visa the shortest route operated between two cities.

direct flight

A flight from origin to destination that makes one or more intermediate stops, but passengers do not change planes.

directional fare

Fare valid only in a specified direction of travel.

discount fare

Transportation fare lower than the full published tariff for an airline’s route. A discount fare usually entails certain stipulations regarding purchase or travel (space availbility).

DMC (see “Destination Management Company”)

Domestic travel.

Travel wholly within any one country; typically used to designate intra-US travel.

A hotel room with two double beds and/or accommodating 2-4 people.

double booking

The practice of making reservations for two or more flights, cars or hotels as a type of backup; considered to be unethical.

double occupancy

The way in which almost all cruise fares and tour packages are quoted, that is, based on two people traveling together. Most hotel rooms are quoted based on two adults to a room, as well.

double open jaw (DOJ)

Travel in which the outbound departure point and arrival and the inbound point of departure and arrival are not the same.

To move a passenger to a lower class of service or accommodation.

drop-off charge

A fee charged for dropping a rental car at a different location from where it was picked up.

Being exempt from any import tax.

economy class

The rear area of the aircraft in which passengers having paid one of the lower fare types are seated.

electronic miscellaneous document – Associated (EMD-A)

Document that allows for the fulfillment of all flight related services and fees (such as bags, seats, meals, etc.). An EMD or EMD-A is linked to a specific eticket coupon in the airline’s database.

electronic miscellaneous document – Standalone (EMD-S)

Non-flight related services (such as lounge access or change fee collection) a stand alone EMD, a EMD-S is issued. To issue an EMD-S a manually created service segment must be in the PNR. Specific services that can be charged on an EMD-S is dependent on the airline’s own requirements.

electronic ticket (eticket)

An airline transportation ticket that is entirely in a GDS; no physical ticket is required for travel.

EMD (see “electronic miscellaneous document”)

Endorsement.

Permission from the plating carrier, the ticketed carrier or the carrier losing air space for the traveler to use the flight coupon(s) for travel on another airline at no additional cost; usually only required for international tickets.

end-on-end combination

A special type of combination in which two round trip fares are combined to produce a complete itinerary.

In this example, the passenger buys a round trip ticket from AAA to BBB (Rule 1), and a separate round trip fare from BBB to CCC (Rule 2). The net effect is to travel from AAA to CCC, but breaking the fare at BBB, which may in some cases be less expensive than the round trip (through) fare from AAA to CCC.

equivalent fare paid

An amount converted into the currency of the country of payment when the published fare is in a currency other than that of the country of payment.

ERA (see “European Regions Airline Association”)

Eastern Standard Time. A time zone in the US, also known as Eastern Time or ET.

Electronic System for Travel Authorization. ESTA is a free, automated system that determines the eligibility of visitors to travel to the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program. The ESTA application collects the same information collected on Form I-94W. ESTA applications may be submitted at anytime prior to travel, though it is recommended travelers apply when they begin preparing travel plans.

Estimated Time of Arrival. A measure of when an object is expected to arrive at a certain place.

Estimated Time of Departure or Delivery. The expected start time of a particular journey or the expected delivery of a good or service.

e-ticket (see “electronic ticket”)

Electronic Ticket Record.

European Regions Airline Association

Association which aims to identify, protect and promote the interests of regional air transport in Europe. Over 170 memebers including airlines, aircraft manufacturers and airports. www.eraa.org

excess baggage

Baggage in excess of the allowable number, size or weight.

The process of reissuing a ticket due to a change of flight, fare basis, dates or routing.

excursion fare

Round-trip fare with restrictions, such as minimun and maximum stays and the need to purchase well in advance.

executive card

Types of privilege cards available to frequent users of airlines, hotel chains, car rental companies, etc. Most carry benefits and have their own brand names, e.g. British Airways Executive Blue, Executive Silver, Executive Gold and Premier.

executive room

Higher grade than standard room and usually slightly larger, the executive room often has additional facilities for the business traveler such as trouser press, desk etc. and may be located on a separate Executive Club Floor.

Expatriot (or expat)

An expatriate (in abbreviated form, expat) is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of the person’s upbringing or legal residence.

explant/ outplant/ offsite

Branch office dedicated to serving a single client that is not located on the client’s premises, but rather operates as a separate part of a BTC.

familiarization tour

A complimentary or reduced-rate travel program for travel agents, airline or rail employees, which is designed to acquaint participants with specific destinations. Often known as “Fam-Trips”.

family plan

A hotel rate that allows children to stay free with adults in the same room.

A combination of letters and numbers used to identify a fare type which may also indicate the rules of the fare

fare component

A fare between two points.

fare ladder

A vertically-written fare construction that includes fare components, surcharges and additional amounts collected.

• fee – bundled air transaction fee An air transaction fee that includes the costs associated with servicing air, hotel and car transactions. Therefore, hotel and car only bookings (not to exceed XX% of air bookings) are not charged a transaction fee.
• fee – management fee Fee assessed in addition to direct costs. Covers primarily overhead and profit. Can be assessed as % of sales, per transaction or fixed amount.
• fee – management fee structure (formerly cost plus offering) Client fee arrangement whereby direct expenses are passed through to the client in addition to management fee. Management fee could be % of sales, fixed fee, or per transaction.
• fee – online booking tool fee (PNR fee) Charged per unique reserved PNR. Additional fees may be assessed for transactions booked on a website accessed via the online booking tool.
• fee – online transaction fee (e-fulfillment fee) Charged per online transaction – that excludes any ‘flow through costs’ charged by the online booking tool provider.
• fee – transaction fee structure Client fee arrangement whereby client is billed per transaction for all major program costs including direct expenses and contribution to overhead and profit, usually at POS.
• fee – unbundled (menu) transaction fee Separately charged per each type of transaction, e.g. hotel, car, rail and air. AM and MIS costs might also be charged separately.

final destination

The last point on an itinerary/fare component.

first class

The cabin on an aircraft where there are fewer seats, more elaborate service and amenities.

FIT (see “Fully Independent Traveler”)

Flag carrier.

The airline that internationally represents a given country; sometimes financed or owned by the government.

flight coupon

A section of an airline ticket; one flight coupon is required to take each flight.

flight/time specific

A fare rule that requires a to fly on a specific flight or at a specific time of day.

FOI (see “Form of Indemnity”)

Form of Payment. The method of payment for a transaction.

form of indemnity

A form that needs to be completed by the passenger in order to claim refund in respect of an air ticket that has been misplaced or stolen.

frequent flyer number

Find out what a frequent flyer number is and how to get one

frequent flyer program

An airline loyalty program that provides awards to travelers who use an airline or its partners.

frequent guest program

A hotel loyalty program that provides awards to guests who use a hotel chain.

frequent renter program

A car rental loyalty program that provides services (such as fast pickup) to those who use a car rental vendor.

front office (FO)

An industry term used for products associated with customer-facing activities. The GDS is a front office system.

fuel surcharge

A surcharge assessed for fuel use applicable for travel between specified points and/or for departure from a specified city.

Hotel rate with accommodation, breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

full economy

This is a fully flexible, fully refundable ticket which is valid for one year from date of issue in economy class.

full exchange

Change an already ticketed reservation, with no flown flight segments.

full to full exchange

Change to a ticketed reservation when no segments are flown and the change is to any segment other than the outbound flights. Or when a segment has been flown and there is a change to a remaining flight segment. In either of these instances, the FULL value of the original ticket must be exchanged for the ‘combined’ FULL value of the new ticket.

fully independent traveler

A traveler / tourist not part of a tour group.

One of the world’s CRSs (GDSs).

Area in an airport where passengers for a flight gather before boarding their flight or deplane on arrival.

gateway city

The last domestic city from which a passenger departs prior to arriving at an international destination; the first point of arrival in a given country (e.g., on the journey SFO-CHI-FRA-MUC, CHI and FRA are gateway cities).

GDS (see “ Global Distribution System “)

Gds operations (gdso).

An industry term for computer reservation systems that book and sell tickets for multiple airlines.

GEBTA (see “Guild of European Business Travel Agents)

In the credit card industry a system used by corporations whereby travel related charges made through designated travel agencies are centrally billed but no plastic card actually exists. Often referred to as “Lodge card” in Europe.

global distribution system

An industry term for computer reservation systems that book and sell tickets for multiple airlines.  Learn more

global indicator

Two-letter code used to identify the direction of travel applicable to a given fare.

governing carrier

The airline whose fares and rules are used on a given itinerary.

Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)

Solar based time in Greenwich, England, from which time in all other time zones in the world is based.

ground time

The time not flying.

A booking solution that allows the booking and managing of all ground transportation services, such as limousines, executive sedans, taxis, vans and parking services.

A fare that offers discounts to groups of varying minimum sizes in selected markets, with various conditions, and usually require round trip travel within a specified time limit.

guaranteed hotel reservations

This means that the hotel will hold the room all night. However if the room is not required, failure to cancel will result in a charge. Where reservations are made on an ad hoc basis, rather than through a regular account arrangement, a credit card number will be required to effect this guaranteed reservation.

Hotel rate for accommodation, breakfast and one other meal.

half round trip fare

Half of a fare designated for use on round-trip journeys.

Fee or tax some countries or cities levy on arriving or departing travelers.

Half of the globe; the North and South hemispheres are divided by the Equator; the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans divide the East and West hemispheres.

higher intermediate point (HIP)

A pair of cities within a one-way or half round-trip fare component that has a direct fare higher than the direct fare between the origin and destination of the fare component; this fare construction principle is only used internationally.

hotel sourcing

Hotel sourcing or procurement is the process of identifying, negotiating and contracting with hotels to secure accommodations for a specific group, event or organization.

An airport at which an airline centers many of its schedules, particularly connecting flights to smaller destinations.

(see “International Air Transport Association”)*

IATA Number (see “ARC Number”)

Iata rate of exchange (roe).

Rates of exchange designated by IATA to convert local currency to NUCs and to convert NUCs into the currency of commencement of travel.

ICAO (see “International Civil Aviation Organization”)

Interline e-ticket. An interline agreement between airlines that allow e-ticketing on each other’s flights. Interline agreement between airlines permitting travel service cooperation in areas such as: baggage transfer services, guaranteed connection times.

IGK (see “International Gatekeeper”)

Immigration.

Area at which a traveler’s documentation (e.g., Passport and Visa) are verified to ensure the traveler may enter the country.

implant (on-site)

Dedication operational team, based within an office of the client.

implementation

Phase of launching a new relationship, including e.g. opening a new location, training staff, installing technical equipment, and informing clients, travelers and travel arrangers.

inbound travelers

Travelers coming into a specified location are considered inbound. Travelers departing from the location are considered outbound.

A traveler who has not yet reached his/her second birthday.

Term used in the U.S. to describe an implant.

international departure taxes

Taxes levied on all travelers departing a country on an international journey that are, typically collected at the airport at the time of departure.

Between two airlines; TUS-HP-DEN-UA-LON is an interline journey.

interline baggage agreement

An agreement between two air carriers that a carrier will transfer baggage to the other carrier.

interline connection

When a passenger changes airlines as well as aircraft during a journey (same as off-line connection).

interline ticketing agreement

An agreement between two air carriers that permits air travel of one carrier to be on a ticket issued and/or ‘plated’ on another carrier.

intermediate point

A ticketed point of an international journey at which there is no fare break; an intermediate point may be a stopover or connection.

intermediate stop

An enroute stop at a city between the origin and destination (see also Direct Flight).

International Air Transport Association

The world trade association of international air carriers; appoints travel agencies to sell tickets; determines rules and regulations for international carriers. www.iata.org

International Civil Aviation Organization

Specialed agency of the United Nations with responsibility for civil aviation action in standardization, technical co-operation and the formulation of international aviation law. www.iaco.int

A chronological plan showing a traveler’s booked arrangement.

A special through fare (usually only internationally) that permits travel on two or more different airlines.

The origin to final destination of a fare construction.

BCD Travel provides support for KDS. KDS provides an online booking platform for the confirmation of air, car, hotel and rail itineraries.

On outbound journeys, landside includes all those areas of the terminal before you arrive at passport control. On inbound journeys, landside includes all those areas of the terminal after you’re through passport control.

last date of purchase

The date by which a ticket must be issued – fares are not guaranteed until tickets are issued.

last room availability (LRA)

A hotel industry term for ensuring a negotiated rate is always available when standard inventory is available or when the room type negotiated is available.

LDW (see “Loss Damage Waiver”)

One flight; one part of an entire journey.

Lowest Fare Routing. The least expensive airfare available to a destination.

local currency fare (LCF)

See Country Of Payment (COP).

locator reference

Unique identifying booking number used within a computer reservations system as part of a booking file.

In the credit card industry a system used by corporations whereby travel related charges made through designated travel agencies are centrally billed but no plastic card actually exists. Often referred to as “Ghost Card” in the U.S.

Loss Damage Waiver

Additional insurance pertaining to car rentals, covering theft and vandalism in addition to accident damage.

low cost carrier (LCC)

An airline that offers generally low fares in exchange for eliminating many traditional passenger services.

lowest combination principle

Construction of a fare using a particular combination of sector fares to provide the lowest fare when there is no published fare between two points.

Marine Travel

Specialized travel services, available 24/7, provides travel arrangements (including helicopters and charter aircraft) for marine personnel.

Market Number (MK)

A code all online booking tools (OBTs) add at the time each reservation is made, as a way to track PNRs for online adoption and fulfillment purposes. It should never be removed once added to the PNR.

Married Segments

Two or more connecting flight segments joined, or “married,” meaning that these segments are inseparable and the subsequent rebooking or cancellation of any one flight segment must, at the same time, be applied to the connecting flight segment.

maximum permitted mileage (MPM)

The number of miles that may be flown on a published direct fare between origin and destination; this fare construction principle is only used internationally.

maximum stay

The maximum amount of time a traveler may stay at a destination before return is required.

MCO (see “Miscellaneous Change Order”)

Meetings, Incentives and Corporate Events. An industry term for a department within a company that offers meeting planning services to customers. BCD Travel’s department is called BCD M&E

midoffice (MO)

An industry term for the management information (MIS) portion of a travel agency’s system.

mileage fare

A fare based on the total miles flown from the origin to destination; this fare construction principle is only used internationally.

mileage surcharge

A percentage of fare increase applied to a fare because the routing exceeds the maximum permitted mileage; the percentage is in 5% increments to a maximum of 25%; this fare construction principle is only used internationally.

minimum connection time

The amount of time required to change planes; varies by airport and often varies by carrier.

minimum stay

The minimum time a travel traveler must stay at a destination (or be gone ‘away from home’ internationally) before return travel can commence.

miscellaneous charge order (MCO)

An accountable document issued by a travel agency or airline as proof of payment for a specific fee (such as pet service fee) or as residual amount of an exchange (higher priced ticket exchanged for a lower priced ticket) to be used on a future purchase.

Mountain Standard Time. A time zone in the US, also known as Mountain Time or MT.

National Business Travel Association

U.S. business travel association which is a member of IBTA. www.nbta.org

NBTA (see “National Business Travel Association”)

New distribution capability. Read more

negotiated fare/rate

This is a term used by travel agents to descibe reduced airfares that have been negotiated by their air fare specialists on behalf of clients.

neutral units of construction (NUC)

An imaginary currency established by IATA that allows fares of different currencies to be added together; this fare construction principle is only used internationally.

Non Last Room Availability. A hotel industry term for restricting availability of a negotiated rate when occupancy levels are high. Negotiated room rate is not guaranteed to be available.

Net Operating Income. A financial term for the amount by which operating revenue exceeds operating expenses in a specific accounting period.

non-endorsable

This expression often appears in the endorsements box of an airline ticket and it means that the flight coupon on which the worlds appear may be used only on the services of the airline indicated.

non-refundable(NR)

A ticket issued on a fare that does not allow for a refund; most non-refundable tickets can be changed for a fee and any difference in fare.

normal fares

The full fare established for first, business, economy or an intermediate class and any other fares published designated as normal fares.

normal open jaw (NOJ)

Travel from a country and return to the same country with a surface sector at either the origin or turnaround point (single open jaw – SOJ) or at both the origin and the turnaround point (double open jaw – DOJ).

An airline passenger or hotel guest who fails to use and/or cancel a reservation.

National Transportation Safety Board. An independent US government agency that investigates accidents including aviation, highway, marine, pipelines and railroads.

OBT and OBLT (see Online Booking Tool”)

Off-airport location.

Usually a car rental office serving an airport but physically located off the airport site (and often picking up renters at the airport in buses or taxis). When the office is located on-site, the term used is on airport location.

A destination that a carrier does not serve; see also Interline.

off-line connections

When a traveler changes airlines as well as aircraft during a journey (may also be referred to as interline connection). Changes of aircraft with the same airline are known as on-line connections.

offline transaction (traditional transaction)

A transaction that initated by an agent following a call/email request by a client.

Time of year or day of the week when travel is less common.

off-line point

Airline term to describe points (areas or cities) they do not serve.

off-loading

This occurs when an airline has over-booked: that is, it has sold more seats on a particular flight than the aircraft has to offer. The passengers to be off-loaded are usually those who have paid the lowest fares. Off-loaded passengers will normally qualify for denied boarding compensation. Passengers may also be off-loaded at the captain’s discretion if they are unfit to travel due to drink, drugs, illness or for bad behavior.

BCD Travel is a re-seller of onesto. On-esto provides an online booking platform for the confirmation of air, car, hotel and rail itineraries.

Online Booking Tool

A web-based platform allowing travelers to make self-service reservations (e.g. Cliqbook, GetThere).

operating carrier

In a codeshare, the airline providing the plane, crew and ground handling services.

online or online point

On the same carrier; TUS-UA-DEN-UA-LON is an online journey.

online adoption

An account’s use of their predetermined online booking tool.

online high touch transaction

A transaction that originates via an online booking tool, but then requires more than one agent intervention (one touch).

online low touch transaction

A transacion that originates via an online booking tool, and then requires agent intervention or manual review/processing that is initated by the customer.

online transaction fee

(E-fulfillment fee) A fulfillment fee canged per online trasaction – that excludes any ‘flow through costs’ charged by the online booking tool provider.

A BCD Travel office located at/on/in a client’s location.

Term used to describe the principle of showing a client the complete cash-flow cycle, including commissions and overrides.

open date sector

Part of a journey for which no firm reservation has been made (usually owing to changeable plans on the part of the traveler) but for which the fare has been paid.

open jaw ticket

Where passengers fly out to one destination and return from another. Open jaw arrangements save backtracking and make a trip more cost effective.

Much-used term for unrestricted air services between several countries.

open ticket

A ticket valid for transportation between two points but has no specific flight reservation.

originating carrier

The first airline of a passenger’s journey and/or portion of a trip.

Other Service Information. A GDS entry that provides information to a carrier that does not require action for traveler action such as contract discount code, record locators of additional family members traveling together (TCP), age information for children/infants, etc.

Travel from the point of origin to the farthest destination.

outplant (off-site)

Dedication operational team, based within a BTC office.

overbooking

Also known as bumping. Airlines and hotels can predict, with some accuracy, how many travelers/guests will show up for previously made reservations; when more people show up than what is expected, travelers/guests are re-accommodated; see also Denied Boarding Compensation.

Abbreviations for ‘passport and visa’ used in the U.K. Some affliates have a specialist team which advises on and acquires passports/visa on behalf of their clients.

Pacific Asia Travel Association

Association which aims to promote travel to Asia Pacific. www.pata.org

PAR (see “Passenger Account Record”)

Passenger account record.

In Galileo, the profile showing passenger information.

passenger facility charges

An airport-designated surcharge to raise funds for airport expansion, renovation, operating costs, etc.

passenger name record

Record held within a CRS/GDS which gives the personal details associated with a particular booking.

An official document issued by a government to its citizens that establishes an individual’s identity and nationality and enables travel abroad.

PATA (see “Pacific Asia Travel Association”)

Abbreviation for passengers.

Payment Card Industry. Security standards set to help protect account data information.

Time of year or day of the week when travel is most common.

A fee charged by a carrier or vendor for changing and/or canceling a reservation or ticket.

Per diem is a daily allowance given to an employee to cover business travel expenses such as lodging, meals and incidentals while traveling for the company. Learn more about per diem .

Penalty excursion fare. Public excursion fare are within minimum stay requirements, but which has no advanced purchase requirements.

PIR (see “Property Irregularity Report”)

Plate / plated.

See Validating Carrier.

PMS (see “Property Management System”)

Pnr (see “passenger name record”).

Purchase Order. A commercial document issued by a buyer to a seller that indicates the quantities and agreed upon prices for products / services.

point-to-point fares

De-regulation has led to a growing number of these on routes throughout the world. They are low fares in first, business, or economy class between two points by direct flights. Stopovers are usually, but not always, prohibited.

Point of Service or Point of Sale. The time and place in which a transaction is made.

prepaid ticket advice (PTA)

A form used when a person is buying a ticket that will be issued at the airport of the same or a different city. Example: A ticket purchased in Chicago to be picked up by the traveler in and for a departure from Buenos Aires.

pre-trip auditing

A product offered by travel management companies that allows for the review of travel itineries before departure to identify savings or prevent unnecessary expenditure.

pricing unit (PU)

A journey, or part of a journey which can be priced and ticketed as a separate entity; a round-trip, circle trip, one-way, normal open jaw or special open jaw; this fare construction principle is only used internationally.

pricing unit concept (PUC)

An alternative method of fare construction for multiple-stopover journeys that uses pricing units; this fare construction principle is only used internationally.

primary carrier

Airline flying the governing sector (prime segment).

prime segment

The first “true” international journey; often called the “over-the-water” segment; see also Gateway.

A computerized file containing company and traveler information.

promotional fare

A fare designed to attract passengers who would not otherwise travel.

proof of citizenship

Documentation that establishes nationality.

property irregularity report

Form submitted by passengers to ground handling agents at airports in the event of loss or damaged baggage.

property management system

Computer-based system for controlling hotel inventory, check-in and -out and billing.

Pacific Standard Time. A time zone in the US, also known as Pacific Time or PT.

PTA (see “Pre-paid Ticket Advice”)

Public fares (air).

Fares that anyone can obtain and is available in a regular fare display.

Quality of Service Index. An index developed by the Civil Aeronautics Board to provide a comparative rating of service offered by individual airlines.

A computer’s electronic filing system. Also a contact center term for the holding point for a number of calls or interactions that are waiting to be answered by an agent. The calls or interactions are usually assigned to available agents in a first-arrived, first-answered basis, but may also be assigned based on a company’s routing strategies.

queue group

A contact center term for a group of virtual queues. Also referred to as a DN Group or Group of Queues.

The official posted rate for each hotel room.

rate desk (see “International Rate Desk”)

Rate of exchange (roe) (see “iata rate of exchange”), rearden commerce.

BCD Travel is a referrer for Rearden. Rearden provides an online booking platform for the confirmation of air, car, hotel and rail itineraries.

reason codes (RC)

An industry term for codes used to document and report on traveler decisions and behavior.

reconfirmation

Particularly on international flights, passengers are required to indicate their intention of using the next leg of their itinerary by contacting the appropriate carrier before departure; internationally, reconfirmation is requested 72 hours prior to departure.

record locator

A computerized number that identifies a Passenger Name Record – PNR or other reservation; when speaking to travelers, usually called a confirmation number.

red-eye flight

Usually an overnight flight that arrives early in the morning – great when you don’t want to lose precious sightseeing time at your destination.

If necessary for a passenger to change journey en route, the ticket must be reissued. The value of the original ticket will be offset against the new fare and any extra or refund, calculated. Settlement can be direct with airline or with referral to the issuing agent.

BCD Travel is a re-seller for ResX. ResX provides an online booking platform for the confirmation of air, car, hotel and rail itineraries.

return journey

A journey for which the fare is assessed as a single pricing unit using half round-trip fares.

revalidation

If the passenger’s travel date or flight needs to be changed, without affecting the route, there is not always a need to reissue the ticket. The relevant flight coupon is simply revalidated by means of a revalidation sticker.

Revenue Per Available Room. A hotel industry measure that calculates room revenue divided by rooms available (occupancy times average room rate will closely approximate RevPAR.)

Rate Loading Instructions. A hotel industry term for the instructions provided to hotel properties for loading client-specific or TMC-specific rate codes as displayed in the GDS.

room with facilities

Describes a hotel room which has a bathroom en-suite. In some smaller two-star or three-star hotels facilities may refer to toilet and washbasin only.

round-the-world (RTW) (see “Around-the-World”)

A trip that begins and ends in the same city with no un-flown portions; internationally, with the same dollar amount on both portions .

route deal / route incentive

An agreement between a corporate customer and an airline. The agreement allows for an incentive payment to be made to the cient by the airline as a reward for loyalty.

The carrier and/or cities and/or class of service and/or aircraft type via which transportation is provided between two points.

routing fare

A fare based on a specified routing.

run-of-the-house (ROH)

A flat rate for which a hotel offers any of its available rooms.

Schengen Visa

A special visa that permits holders to travel to any of the 25 Schengen member countries on a single visa (rather than obtaining a visa for each country. It is only issued to citizens of countries who are required to obtain a visa before entering Europe for leisure, tourism or business travel. Schengen Visa holders are not permitted to live permanently or work in Europe. The following countries are currently active Schengen Visa members: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.

A specific time of year for a fare; High Season is the most popular time of year to travel to a specific destination and fares are more expensive at that time; Low Season is the least popular time of year to travel to a specific destination and fares are less expensive at that time; Fares affected by seasonality are usually indicated as such by fare basis coding and/or seasonality details listed in the fare’s rules.

The distance between aircraft seats, measured in inches and commonly used to show a passenger’s legroom.

security surcharge

Surcharge assessed by a carrier to cover costs of airport and in-flight security.

secondary carrier

Airline(s) flying the sectors preceding and/or succeeding the prime segment.

A journey from one point to another.

A flight; see Leg.

self-service reservations

Situation where the traveler makes his/her own reservations. A reservation generated by the customer using an online booking tool.

selling carrier

In a codeshare, the airline offering the flight for sale, under their vendor code

service fee

A fee charged by a travel agency to a company/individual for travel services.

Service Level Agreement

An agreement stating measurable performance commitments made to our customers.

Regular or schedulable bus/van transportation such as from an airport to a downtown location; regular air service on heavily-traveled routes (e.g., BOS-LGA).

A journey from and/or to an enroute point of a fare component.

Accommodations designed for one person.

SLA (see “Service Level Agreement”)

Designated take-off and landing times allocated to airlines at certain airports.

soft opening

Period when new hotel is open for business although not entirely finished – some services of facilities may not yet operate.

Standard Operating Procedure. A set of instructions that define the official standard for a specific process or situation.

Scope of Services. A document that defines the number, type, and intensity or complixity of services to be provided.

space available

Confirmation of a reservation subject to availability at the last moment.

special needs

Atypical traveler needs such as a special meal or wheelchair service.

split ticket(ing)

Issuance of two or more tickets usually for the purpose of obtaining a lower fare; usually applied to international itineraries to take advantage of fare and/or currency conversion differences.

Spouse fare

This type of are applies to selected destinations on a round-trip only basis and offers a discount of 50% to the spouse of a full first class or business class passenger. Economy passengers also qualify where there is no business fare.

SSR (see “Self Service Reservation”)

Special Service Request. A GDS request for a carrier to provide additional action for a traveler such as special meal, ticket number transmission, wheelchair, etc.

standard room

The normal hotel room type, generally with television, and en-suite bathroom.

A passenger on waitlist or one prepared to travel if space becomes available at the last moment.

Interruption of travel for more than domestic US – 4 hours; domestic US as part of an international journey – 12 hours; international – 24 hours .

stopover charge

An additional fee assessed for making a stopover.

STP (see “Satellite Ticket Printer”)

Any extra literature included with the delivery of travel documents.

sub-journey

A self-contained pricing unit that is combined end-on-end with another self-contained pricing unit on the same ticket; this fare construction principle is only used internationally.

surcharge (Q)

An airline-imposed fee included in fare calculations; see also Excess Mileage Surcharge, Fuel Surcharge, and Security Surcharge.

surface sector

Travel from one point or another not by air (ARNK – which stands for Arrival Not Known).

Travel 24. A BCD Travel department that services customers 24 hours a day when their normal business office is closed.

Ticket Fulfillment Location. An industry term for a virtual ticket printer that is shared by various BCD Travel ARC ticketing locations on the same GDS.

through fare

A fare applicable for transportation via an enroute city(ies) between the origin and destination of the fare that allows for intermediate points of travel.

A contract of carriage for an airline to transport a passenger from one point to another.

ticket on departure

Transportation ticket collected at the point of departure such as an airline ticket counter at an airport.

ticketed point

A city for which a flight coupon has been issued.

time and mileage rate

Car rental rate based on fixed charge for the rental period plus a charge for each kilometer or mile driven during the period of the rental.

TOD (see “Ticket on Departure”)

Tourist card.

A registration form required by certain countries indicating a traveler’s intended stay; used in lieu of a Visa and common in Latin America.

transaction

A Ticket issued; defined as all airline and rail tickets (electronic and paper) issued by BCD Travel or reserved by BCD Travel through a third party, regardless of whether the ticket is subsequently used, refunded, or voided in whole or in part. Cancellation of a reservation before a ticket is issued is not considered a transaction. Optional: Hotel and car booking made, regardless of whether or not the traveler uses the hotel or car reservation.

transaction – domestic air

Domestic – travel between two destinations that are within the same country. e.g. Frankfurt to Berlin

transaction – regional air

Regional – Travel within the same continent. e.g. Madrid to London

transaction – international air

International – Travel between two continents. e.g. New York to London

transaction – offline – traditional

A transaction that is initiated by an agent following a call/email request by a client

transaction – online high touch

Transaction – online low touch.

A transaction that originates via an online booking tool and then requires agent intervention or manual review/processing that is initiated by the customer.

transaction – online no touch

“Touchless E-fulfillment transaction” An electronic transaction entirely processed through an online booking tool and BCD central fulfillment service, without any agent intervention and where invoicing is provided via email.

A point at which the passenger changes aircraft; if the change is to/from the same carrier, it is an online transfer; if the change is to/from different carriers, it is an interline transfer.

transit lounge

An area within an airport for the sole purpose of international flight connections; travelers do not clear immigration or customs to enter the transit lounge as it is considered to be an international point.

transit point

Any stop at an intermediate point which does not fall into the definition of a stopover whether or not a change of planes is involved.

Travel Management Company

A travel management company (TMC) is a company that provides corporate travel services to businesses.

A BCD Travel umbrella brand name for our technology suite, which includes a variety of products listed below. read more

• TripSource:Active Itinerary A single point of access for traveler and travel arrangers for active and historical travel detail, including real time flight status, itinerary details, destination information and invoicing, billing and expense information.
• TripSource:Flight Alert Keeps travelers informed & productive while on the road by providing flight status information, including delays and real-time gate changes, for BCD Travel bookings.
• TripSource:Fulfillment Drive touch-less transactions with as little human intervention as possible while driving traveler contact behavior to minimize touches.
• TripSource:Portal (TSP) A comprehensive global solution to address traveler needs, travel program and corporation objectives. Arming travelers with rich content, productivity tools and critical safeguards for business travel, TripSource:Portal empowers travel programs as a centralized communications vehicle to deliver relevant, timely information and critical alerts to targeted audiences. The Portal expands traveler services while aligning program needs to drive savings, support business objectives and avoid corporate travel program risks.
• TripSource:Profile Manager (TSPM) Drives optimal data management by integrating profile management and online booking, and promoting secure web-based self-service maintenance of traveler-level detail.
• TripSource:Quality Measurement (TSQM) Ensures a means to track and manage supplier & transaction quality in addition to resolution of client concerns.
• TripSource:Rail Search (TSRS) BCD own rail booking tool for Deutsche Bahn only.
• TripSource:Ticket Tracker BCD manages and recovers committed travel dollars. Based on markets and supplier rules, BCD communicates with travelers to prevent loss of committed funds and when to apply unused funds toward future travel.
• TripSource:Trip Authorizer In response to growing concern for compliance, this module enables clients to implement pre-trip authorization requirements as well as post-ticketing compliance reporting.

Transportation Security Administration

twin for sole use

A twin-bedded reserved for sole occupency and charged out at a rate that falls between the single and double room price.

Two Factor Authentication

Also known as 2FA. Method of accessing a secure environment where a person proves their identity with two of three methods

User-Defined Interface Data. UDID remarks are standard and contain predefined reporting information such as lost hotel night reason codes, merchant billing codes or additional traveler data fields.

unlimited mileage rate

Car rental rate that covers all costs, other than insurance and petrol, for the duration of the rental, regardless of the distance driven.

Move to a better class of airline service, larger rental car or more luxurious hotel room.

validating carrier

Airline designated as the “owning” ticketed carrier; the carrier on whose “plate” the ticket is issued. The validating carrier is the carrier to which payment is submitted and is usually the first carrier on the itinerary (domestic) or the carrier on the first international flight (international). If a ticket is issued on multiple carriers or is validated on a carrier not on the itinerary, the validating carrier is responsible for payment to the other airlines on the ticket.

The process of stamping an air ticket or other airline document, at the time of issue, with the issue date, name and location of the issuing office and its IATA code number. Tickets not bearing such a stamp re invalid and will not be accepted by airlines.

value-added tax (VAT)

A general tax that applies, in principle, to all commercial activities involving the production and distribution of goods and the provision of services.

VAT reclaim

Value-added tax, or VAT, is included in hotel, dining and car rental bills and more when travelers go to countries that assess the tax. It can be a significant expense: VAT rates can be as high as 25%. The good news is most T&E-related VAT is eligible for reclaim. The bad news: In the past, it’s been hard to collect. But automation has made VAT reclaim for European Union transactions much easier. BCD Travel has partnered with VAT-recovery firm Taxeo to automate the process.

virtual credit card (VCC)

A VCC isn’t a physical card, but it has many of the same features as plastic corporate cards.

virtual payment

A virtual payment is a terminal-based payment method where the payment is delivered through a virtual card (VCC) instead of by check or cash.

An endorsement or stamp placed into a passport by officials of a foreign government giving a traveler permission to visit; not all countries require visas.

VCC (Virtual Call Center)

A network of call centers where the client calls one phone number, regardless of where they are based, that will be routed through to an available agent. For multi-national accounts this service would be multi-lingual as appropriate.

Virtual Multiple Purpose Document. A document issued by a travel agency or airline, working with BSP, as proof of payment for transactions and services, either related to an eticket already issued (example: rebooking fees) or for services other than flights (for items like surface transportation, transfers, and excess luggage charges).

A traffic document which has been spoiled or canceled.

Documents issued to confirm arrangements or used to be exchanged for services.

A list of people seeking a travel service that is sold out; generally, as other travelers cancel, waitlisted individuals are confirmed in the order in which their waitlist request was received – sometimes prioritized by frequent traveler membership.

When a hotel is sold out and there are no rooms available for a person who has a confirmed reservation, the hotel provide alternate accommodations at a different hotel.

an agreement to pay to use an aircraft with a crew , fuel, and insurance

wide-body aircraft

Aircraft with wide passenger cabins and seating configurations that require more than one aisle. Current models include Boeing 747, 777 or Airbus A380, A350

system that checks hand luggage at an airport, without damaging, for example, light-sensitive film material or laptops.

Yield Management

is a variable pricing strategy, based on understanding, anticipating and influencing consumer behavior in order to maximize revenue or profits from a fixed, time-limited resource (such as airline seats or hotel room reservations).

Zulu Time Zone (Z) has no offset from Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). Zulu Time Zone is often used in aviation and the military as another name for UTC +0. Zulu time, also known as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), is the time zone used by the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England. It is the basis for all other time zones in the world.

2FA, or two-factor authentication, is an extra layer of security used to protect online accounts. In addition to a password, users are also required to enter a code that is sent to their mobile device. This makes it more difficult for hackers to gain access to an account, as they would need to have both the password and the code.

Travel smart. Achieve more.

Get solutions for business travel that help you save time, money and stress.

Leading Travel Agency Suppliers

Travel agencies and tour operators face numerous challenges in today’s highly competitive travel industry. They struggle to efficiently manage their operations, keep up with the constantly changing travel content, and provide a seamless booking experience to their customers. The demand for personalised travel experiences also adds complexity to their operations.

Traveltek offers a comprehensive B2B travel technology products that empowers travel agencies and suppliers to overcome these challenges. Our advanced platform seamlessly integrates travel content from multiple suppliers, allowing travel businesses to access a vast array of products, including flights , hotels, cruises , tours, and more, all in one place. Our cutting-edge technology simplifies the booking process and enables travel agencies to tailor packages to their customers’ unique preferences.

Travel Agency Operations with Efficiency and Personalisation

Traveltek revolutionises travel agency operations through enhanced efficiency, offering substantial time and effort reductions in crafting and managing travel packages. This newfound efficiency translates into heightened productivity and significant cost savings for travel agencies. Our platform AgentConnect boasts an extensive array of travel content from global suppliers, ensuring that travel agencies can present an enticing and diverse selection of travel options to their customers. Moreover, Traveltek’s cutting-edge technology empowers travel agencies to craft personalised travel packages tailored to the specific preferences and needs of their clientele, elevating the overall customer experience. By harnessing Traveltek’s technology, travel agencies gain a competitive edge, staying at the forefront of the industry with access to the latest travel offerings and innovations. With a global network of suppliers and travel content, Traveltek facilitates worldwide expansion for travel agencies, enabling them to serve customers across the globe. Furthermore, our platform provides valuable data insights and analytics that empower travel agencies to make informed business decisions, optimise pricing strategies, and identify new revenue opportunities. As a partner, Traveltek offers dedicated support and training, ensuring that travel agencies maximise the advantages of our technology while staying current with the latest industry trends. In summary, Traveltek’s B2B travel technology solution is the cornerstone of a transformation for travel agencies, making them more efficient, competitive, and customer-centric. Through our platform, travel agencies can diversify their travel product offerings, offer personalised experiences, and thrive in the dynamic and ever-evolving travel industry.

Empowering Travel Agencies and Tour Operators with Technology

At Traveltek, we understand the unique challenges that travel agents, travel groups, and tour operators face in today’s travel industry. Our cutting-edge technology is designed to empower travel agencies and groups, making booking travel seamless and efficient. With a proven track record of serving the travel industry, we are your trusted partner for success.

Our comprehensive platform caters to the specific needs of the travel industry, offering a one-stop solution for travel agencies and tour operators. We understand that staying competitive in this fast-paced environment requires access to a vast array of travel content. That’s why Traveltek provides you with an extensive network of global wholesale suppliers through our APIs , ensuring you have a diverse range of options at your fingertips.

Efficiency and Ease of Booking

Travel agents and tour operators can’t afford to waste time on cumbersome booking processes. Traveltek’s technology streamlines the entire booking journey, significantly reducing the time and effort required to create and manage travel packages. This efficiency translates into increased productivity and substantial cost savings, giving you a competitive edge in the market.

Personalisation for Customer Satisfaction

In the travel industry, personalisation is key to satisfying customers’ ever-evolving preferences. Our platform enables you to craft personalised travel packages, tailoring each experience to your customers’ specific needs. This level of customisation enhances the overall customer experience, leading to higher satisfaction and loyalty.

Partnering with Hotel Chains

We have strong partnerships with hotel chains worldwide, ensuring you have access to an extensive selection of accommodation options. Whether your clients are seeking luxury, budget, or boutique stays, our platform has you covered.

Global Reach and Expansion

With Traveltek, you can expand your reach globally. Our platform connects you to a global network of suppliers and travel content, allowing you to serve customers from around the world. Say goodbye to geographical limitations and embrace worldwide opportunities.

Data-Driven Decisions

We believe in the power of data . Our platform provides valuable insights and analytics, enabling you to make informed business decisions, optimise pricing strategies, and identify new revenue opportunities. Stay ahead of the curve with data-driven insights.

Dedicated Support and Training

Traveltek is not just a technology provider; we are your partner in growth. We offer dedicated support and training to ensure you maximise the benefits of our technology while staying updated with the latest industry trends.

Want to find out more about TravelTek’s Connect Product Suite?

Frequently Asked Questions

What services does traveltek offer to travel agency suppliers.

Traveltek provides a comprehensive platform that offers access to a global network of wholesale suppliers, allowing travel agency suppliers to access a wide range of travel content. Our technology streamlines booking processes, offers personalisation options, and provides data-driven insights.

How can Traveltek help improve the efficiency of my travel agency as a supplier?

Our platform streamlines booking procedures, reducing the time and effort required to create and manage travel packages. This efficiency leads to increased productivity and cost savings, giving you a competitive advantage in the market.

Can Traveltek assist with personalisation for our travel packages?

Yes, Traveltek's platform enables you to create personalised travel packages tailored to the specific needs of your customers. This level of customisation enhances customer satisfaction and loyalty.

What types of accommodation options do you offer through your partnerships with hotel chains?

We have strong partnerships with hotel chains worldwide, offering a wide selection of accommodation options, including luxury, budget, and boutique stays.

How can Traveltek help me expand my business globally as a travel agency supplier?

Traveltek connects you to a global network of suppliers and travel content, allowing you to serve customers from around the world, eliminating geographical limitations and opening up new opportunities.

How does Traveltek provide data-driven insights to travel agency suppliers?

Our platform offers valuable insights and analytics, helping you make informed business decisions, optimise pricing strategies, and identify new revenue opportunities based on data-driven information.

What kind of support and training does Traveltek offer to travel agency suppliers?

Traveltek is more than just a technology provider; we offer dedicated support and training to ensure you maximise the benefits of our technology while staying updated with the latest industry trends.

Is Traveltek's platform suitable for both large and small travel agency suppliers?

Yes, our platform caters to the needs of travel agency suppliers of all sizes, offering scalable solutions to meet your specific requirements.

How can I get started with Traveltek as a travel agency supplier?

To get started with Traveltek, you can contact our team through the website or request a demo to explore how our platform can benefit your business.

Is Traveltek's platform secure for handling sensitive customer data and transactions?

Yes, Traveltek prioritises security and compliance, ensuring that your customer data and transactions are handled securely through our platform. We adhere to industry standards and best practices to protect your business and customers.

• Why Choose Us
• Terms of Service
• Cookie Policy

Travel Technology Products

• AgentConnect
• CruiseConnect
• iBos – Administration
• iSell – Search & Book

Travel Software Solutions

• Data Warehouse Reporting
• RPA – Automation
• Dynamic Packaging
• Travel Agent White Label Solutions
• Tour Operator Software
• Travel App Development
• Travel Agency Web Design & Development

Travel API Provider

• Travel API – 300+ Suppliers
• Tour Operator API
• Payment Gateway API
• Flight Airline API
• Meet the Team
• CruiseConnect API
• Travel Agency Web Design and Development Services
• RPA – Automation

• More from M-W
• To save this word, you'll need to log in. Log In

Definition of supply

 (Entry 1 of 3)

Definition of supply  (Entry 2 of 3)

transitive verb

intransitive verb

Definition of supply  (Entry 3 of 3)

less common spelling of supplely

• accouter
• kit (up or out) [ chiefly British ]

Examples of supply in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'supply.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

derivative of supply entry 2

Middle English supplien "to fill up, accomplish, discharge (an office)," borrowed from Middle French soupplier "to add what is lacking to" (also souppleer, suploier "to make up for [a lack, deficiency]," suppleer a, soupplir "to replace"), going back to Latin supplēre "to fill up, complete, raise (a military unit, crew) to its full complement, make good a deficiency in," from sub- sub- + plēre "to fill" — more at full entry 1

Note: Though the French verb receives its semantic start with Latin supplēre, none of the great variety of formal outcomes appear to be directly traceable to it. Variants such as suploier and soupplier have evidently been crossed with outcomes of supplicāre "to sue for forgiveness, supplicate " (see also suppliant entry 1 ). The form suppleer, which may be directly behind Modern French suppléer, appears to have been both latinized (after supplēre ) and conformed to verbs such as créer. The variant soupplir suggests the general Romance re-formation *supplīre (compare Old Occitan and Spanish suplir, Italian sopperire ).

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 5

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3

Phrases Containing supply

• in short supply
• law of supply and demand
• money supply

supply and demand

• supply chain
• supply line
• supply - side
• supply - side economics
• supply teacher
• the money supply
• water supply

Dictionary Entries Near supply

supplicavit

Cite this Entry

“Supply.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/supply. Accessed 2 May. 2024.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of supply.

 (Entry 1 of 2)

Kids Definition of supply  (Entry 2 of 2)

Medical Definition

Medical definition of supply, more from merriam-webster on supply.

Nglish: Translation of supply for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of supply for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about supply

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the day.

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

What’s the difference between ‘hillbilly’ and ‘redneck’, more commonly misspelled words, commonly misspelled words, how to use em dashes (—), en dashes (–) , and hyphens (-), absent letters that are heard anyway, popular in wordplay, the words of the week - apr. 26, 9 superb owl words, 'gaslighting,' 'woke,' 'democracy,' and other top lookups, 10 words for lesser-known games and sports, your favorite band is in the dictionary, games & quizzes.

• Dictionary Home
• Recently Added
• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy

Define Travel Partner

travel partner. A travel supplier that participates in a frequency marketing program operated by another travel supplier.

To find the abbreviation, acronym, or term you’re looking for, use the Search box (below) or click on any letter (above).

This site is Copyright© 1999-2022. All rights reserved.

Serving the travel industry since 1999

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Mike Pinder, Founding Keyboardist of the Moody Blues, Dies at 82

His expertise on the electromechanical Mellotron helped define the band’s progressive sound in the 1960s and ’70s on albums like “Days of Future Passed.”

By Richard Sandomir

Mike Pinder, the last surviving founding member of the Moody Blues , whose innovative use of the Mellotron — a predecessor of the sampler — helped make the band a pioneer of progressive rock, died on Wednesday at his home in the Sacramento area. He was 82.

His son Dan confirmed the death. He said that his father had breathing difficulties and had been in hospice care for a few days.

The Moody Blues were formed in 1964, with a lineup of Mr. Pinder on keyboards, Denny Laine on guitar, Graeme Edge on drums, Ray Thomas on flute and Clint Warwick on bass. The group’s “Go Now! ,” sung by Mr. Laine, rose to No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Mr. Laine and Mr. Warwick left after the release of the band’s first album, “The Magnificent Moodies” (1965), and were replaced by Justin Hayward and John Lodge. The change in personnel set the stage for a change in direction: from R&B-tinged rock to the psychedelic, orchestral sound that the Moody Blues vividly showcased on their breakthrough 1967 album, “Days of Future Passed.”

Mr. Pinder had worked as a tester in the Mellotron factory in Birmingham, England, before the Moody Blues formed. Playing the company’s Mark II model for the first time was “my first ‘man on the moon’ event,” he told the British music website Brumbeat .

So he understood the musical possibilities of using the Mellotron, an electromechanical keyboard that uses tape loops to simulate the sounds and rhythms of an orchestra, on “Days of Future Passed” and beyond.

“With the ’Tron, I could develop melodies and countermelodies within the Moody Blues’ songs,” Mr. Pinder told Rolling Stone in 2018 for its oral history of “Nights in White Satin,” the album’s signature song, which was written and sung by Mr. Hayward. “When you become the orchestra, I think you become the arranger by default. I could create the backdrops and the landscape for the melodies that the guys were writing.”

After Mr. Pinder’s death, Mr. Hayward wrote on Facebook : “Mike was a natural born musician who could play any style of music with warmth and love. His reimagining and rebuilding (literally) of the Mellotron gave us our identifiable early sound.”

Mr. Pinder said that he had recommended the Mellotron to John Lennon. It was played by Paul McCartney on the Beatles’ 1967 single “Strawberry Fields Forever.”

“Days of Future Passed” also featured Mr. Pinder’s baritone-voiced recitation of “Late Lament,” the mystical coda (written by Mr. Edge) to “Nights in White Satin.” Mr. Pinder was lying down “in a meditative state,” he said in the oral history, when he recited the poem that famously begins, “Breathe deep the gathering gloom/Watch lights fade from every room.”

Michael Thomas Pinder was born on Dec. 27, 1941, in Erdington, a suburb of Birmingham, and grew up in nearby Kingstanding. His father, Bertram, was a bus driver, and his mother, Gladys (Lay) Pinder, was a barmaid.

Michael had no formal training and started playing the piano and guitar when he was young. He was in the British Army, where he performed with a band, when he first heard the Beatles.

“When I heard ‘Love Me Do,’ it was like, ‘OK, that’s what I’ve been waiting for,’” he told the website Classic Bands in an undated interview. “I’ve been waiting for that signal, because the music scene in England up until then was pretty poor.”

When they formed in 1964, the Moody Blues were called the M&B 5, using the initials of the brewery that owned clubs and dance halls where they had been playing. The name was a ploy to get money from the brewery to fund the band. It didn’t work. So, Mr. Pinder told Classic Bands, he was inspired to create the name Moody Blues by tying together “the mood affecting changes of music” and the fact that the band’s repertoire at the time was primarily rhythm and blues.

Mr. Pinder remained with the Moody Blues until 1978, providing vocals and contributing songs as well as continuing to use the Mellotron on albums like “In Search of the Lost Chord” (1968) and “On the Threshold of a Dream” (1969). He moved to another electromechanical keyboard, the Chamberlin, for “Seventh Sojourn” (1972), and the synthesizer for “Octave” (1978) .

By then, he had already released a solo album, “The Promise,” in 1976. He spent many years off the scene, part of that time consulting on composing music for computers for Atari, the video game maker, before recording a second album, “Among the Stars,” in 1995. He also recorded two albums for children, “Planet With One Mind” (1995) and “A People With One Heart” (1996), in which he told stories, accompanied by his musical arrangements.

“We wanted stories that had multilevel meanings,” he told The San Francisco Examiner in 1997, referring to the search for the right picture books that he pursued with his wife, Taralee (Grant) Pinder. “We went through hundreds of books. We were looking through a lot of books that were like, ‘The rabbit went down to the mouse’s house for a cup of tea.’ But we were looking for books like, ‘The rabbit went down to the mouse’s house and discussed the Zen of tea making.’"

In addition to his wife and his son Daniel, from his marriage to Donna Arkoff, which ended in divorce, Mr. Pinder is survived by two other sons, Michael and Matthew, from his second marriage; four grandchildren; and a sister, Monica Hackett.

After the Moody Blues were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2018 — nearly 30 years after they first became eligible — Mr. Pinder wrote about the ceremony on his website.

“All the band brought their children and grandchildren and that was magic,” he wrote . He added: “Many MB fans have asked why I did not speak at the induction, but by the time the Moodies took the stage, we were five hours into the ceremony. The oldest of the inductees were up the latest.”

Richard Sandomir is an obituaries writer. He previously wrote about sports media and sports business. He is also the author of several books, including “The Pride of the Yankees: Lou Gehrig, Gary Cooper and the Making of a Classic.” More about Richard Sandomir