Industry first for underserved group market
Group Travel Planet launched what it called the travel industry’s first fully-automated travel website focused primarily on the small, unmanaged group market.
The site, GroupTravelPlanet.com, will offer its own negotiated group hotel inventory from over 9,200 hotels throughout North America, the company says.
The new site will enable the company to build on its membership of close to 40,000 operators, travel agents and group leaders.
Industry executives estimate the small, unmanaged group leisure market is a $15 billion a year market that is often handled off-line through inefficient call centers, faxes, and telephone connections.
“Our fully-automated system not only makes it easier for group travel planners to plan, book and manage all aspect of their group trips online, but it also eliminates much of the backend costs for all our supplier members,” said Scott Harness, president and CEO, Group Travel Planet
Group Travel Planet says it has 2,700 professional tour operators and 30,000 group leaders with 11,000 supplier members. The company last year had bookings of $38 million.
Report by David Wilkening
David
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Digital Travel Reporter of the Mirror totally seduced by HotelPlanner AI Travel Agent
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports