26 January 2010

Bucking trend, tour operator finds biz on upswing

Tour operator business was down for many, but not Travel Bound -- which reported a 15 percent increase in 2009 bookings compared to 2008, with gains in all product categories, while destinations with the highest booking gains were the US and Greece.

"For many tour operators, business improved in the latter part of 2009, but we experienced a significant bookings increase as early as May," said Nico Zenner, President of Travel Bound.

Reasons?

"As travelers opted for shorter vacations and staying closer to home, we capitalized on the trend by expanding our US. hotel portfolio "

He added: "Another reason we have been successful in this tough economy is that we offer very competitive rates, thanks to the negotiating clout of GTA, plus we give agents and their clients the flexibility of putting together only those products they need, with no minimum stay required."

Gains included hotel stays at 8 percent; sightseeing tours 15 percent; transfers 33 percent and pre-set land packages 50 percent.

"Selling exclusively through travel agents, Travel Bound saw the largest volume of business last year in ten European countries and North America: Italy, France, the US U.K., Spain, Greece, Germany, Canada, the Netherlands, and Switzerland," says the site.

Most popular cities booked included New York, Las Vegas, Rome, Paris, London, Venice, Florence, Barcelona, Athens and Amsterdam.

"Agents are now cross-selling more and adding transfers and sightseeing tours to customized F.I.T. itineraries and hotel bookings. Agents also are taking advantage of the pre- and post-cruise selling opportunity that we have been promoting," Zenner added.

Agent commissions start at 10 percent on hotels, sightseeing tours and transfers, 15 percent on pre-set packages.

By David Wilkening