Travel

[ChrisAITY]

Has anyone on UKBF created/started there own online travel agency??

Could do with someone to talk to about it..

Thanks All

 

[Andrei]

Hello! I was browsing this forum looking for a business idea.

An online travel agency sounds good. My experience in this area is limited but we could talk and do research together (limited=I've designed the coding part for an offline travel agency and I've sold promotional material - bags,pens,small anti-stress planes,stuff like that - for the biggest low cost air operator here in Romania, Blue-Air). If you would like to talk send me a PM.

 

[Be Known PR]

Hi,

I have almost a decades worth of experience in travel PR, so know the industry pretty thoroughly. Have worked as a PR consultant for clines including major hoteliers, tourist boards, big and small online and offline tour operators, youth hostel groups etc etc as well as spending a couple of years in-house heading up the PR and marketing for an award winning online operator.

PM me / give me a shout via www.be-known.co.uk if you want to pick my brains / get my honest opinion on what works and what doesn't etc etc.

Always happy to help.

David

 

[J-Wholesale]

Is the number of people using travel agencies (online or off) holding up? Personally, I haven't used a travel agent in over 10 years, and I travel a lot. Flights are all booked direct with the airline online. The same with car rentals. And hotels are usually booked using laterooms.com.

Maybe you'd be better looking at new ways of selling travel, rather than duplicating the old ways that are declining. I think the days of all in one shops will soon be in the past. Flights, hotels, and car rentals (the main purpose of old time travel agencies) are all very different fields. How about focusing on 1 of these, or on niche travel?

 

[ChrisAITY]

I am doing a niche. So its not just your standard travel agency like Thomson, Expedia, Last Minute.. Mine is a niche, so it will only compete with a couple of other websites who offer what I will offer (but ill be better )

 

[ChrisAITY]

Anyone else? Surely there has to be someone?? Other than onlinetravelservices and willself..

 

[extremedistro]

what's the niche....??

I have experience of online villa rentals businesses, car hire, etc...

 

[Willself]

HEHEHE!So Travelhigh!!....How can i Help!!lol

 

[ChrisAITY]

Willself, how did I know you would be interested What was your business again in the travel industry??

 

[ChrisAITY]

The niche is clubbing holidays

 

[Willself]

Well i sell Luxury Rental Accommodations!! to the Family Market!!lol

If i was looking to grow the Clubbing Scene..then i would advertise in
Uni, Mag's, School and Colleges..etc! plus all the major venues!

Perhaps offer some PR. to clubs in your neighbour hood!!

Just a suggestion!!

 

[ChrisAITY]

This is going to sound stupid but whats PR?? :$
Are you ABTA or Atol or both?
Whats your website link??

 

[PewPew]

I call PR, marketing, but it could mean any of the following:

Public representative;
Public relations;
***** restoration;
Profit raking.

Who knows? All I know is that when I do 'PR' I usually advertise places, but I'm probably missing out on a big chunk of PR

 

[ptrjakson]

I have worked with one Online travel agency its a good business specially at the time of festival ,new year and holiday.

 

[ChrisAITY]

Your profile link to Direct Traveller.. is that your business or someone elses??
When was this travel agency created??
PM me info..

 

[Willself]

Travelhigh!!

Unfortunately i am only a Travel Advisor!Not ABTA//ATOL..or any other!

PR.is PUBLIC RELATIONS!! best known name..MAX CLIFFORD!!

1 simply suppy Quality Self Catering Resorts!! The clients ask me to put
a package to-gether ie.

Flights, Car-Hire, Airport Parking, Insurances & Accommodations!!etc etc.

BUT..book those services themselves! leaving me to sort out the Accommodations. ONLY!!

 

[ChrisAITY]

Oh right Willself!! I didnt realise, sounds good. Do you have a website?? Do you get much interest?? When did you start this??

 

[Be Known PR]

This is going to sound stupid but whats PR??

Not stupid at all – very few people understand what PR is.

PR (public relations – can also be called media relations) is essentially part of the overall marketing mix. In its most simple terms it is based around the premise of gaining editorial coverage as supposed to advertising.

Almost every news story or feature you read in a newspaper or magazine would have had a PR person behind it who has worked with the journalist on behalf of a person or company in order to arrange or control the coverage. Unlike advertising space, the editorial space is free.

Why pay someone to get editorial coverage when you can just pay for advertising space?

1 – it is more powerful. It is generally believed that readers trust editorial coverage three times more than they do an advert. Therefore a journalist endorsing a product or service is going to have a greater impact on the reader than an advert praising the same product/service.

2 – it is cheaper. If paying a PR consultant on a monthly basis you may end up spending £X,XXX a month of their fees. However they are likely to secure you significantly more media exposure than if you were to have spent the same amount on an advert. For example, last month one of my clients paid me just under £2k in fees. The media coverage they got that month was regular mentions and quotes throughout a three page feature in Glamour magazine and a mention and quote in the Observer. To advertise in the same space would have cost the client in the region of £30k.

With regards to the travel industry specifically, PR tends to involve arranging for journalists to visit hotels, countries etc in return for them reviewing it in the travel pages. So, again, for example, in September I took a group of 5 journalists away for three nights for a tour operator client. The result has been editorial features in a selection of national and regional newspapers (this was one - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/a...Israels-second-city-weekend-break-heaven.html)

Today you will tend to find that PR goes beyond just arranging media coverage to wider reputation management and advising businesses on all aspects of activity that could have an effect on how the public perceive them.

 

[Willself]

Travelhigh!!Last Posting before i fly out to TENERIFE!!LOL

Been in this business some 20 years......working mainly abroad!!lol

No web-site...my niche..is private members clubs!!lol

Most clents belong in this group....ADS..on ALL Free sites, plus e-Bay!!
belong to several travel forums..including..Holiday Watchdog!!lol

Must Dash>>>>>>>>>GONE<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<LOL

 

[footie_matt]

If anyone pulls up this thread looking for a holiday recommendation, the Maldives... amazing.

 

[ChrisAITY]

thanks footie matt

Willself you lucky man!! Enjoy your 'holiday' or is it business

Thanks