New site aims to give local agents a global reach
Travel agents struggling to compete against online rivals are signing up to a new site called 1Trip3.com.
Developed after its US founders spent months analysing customer buying habits, the site is designed to make it easy for consumers to find the best travel agents across the globe.
Its creators expect it to be particularly popular for travellers wanting to visit hard-to-book locations such as Asia, Africa, South America and the Indian Ocean, as well as those interested in multi-city trips and cruises.
They say hundreds of agents have already signed up from 15 countries and the three top markets so far are the US, UK and Australia.
There is no cost to join and agents do not need to hold membership in any paid consortium or marketing group.
“While the majority of the world’s leisure and unmanaged business travel is booked through travel professionals, travellers have no effective way of finding a qualified agent,” said 1Trip3.com co-founder Chinedu Echeruo.
“Most people tend to rely on the recommendations of friends or family and typically end up consulting only a single agent to book a relatively expensive international trip.
“Up until now, the internet has marginalised many travel agents but agents still play a crucial role in travel because of the specialised knowledge and convenience they offer.”
Fellow co-founder Jason Griffith said most travel agents lack the technological experience and resources to reach new customers via the web and mostly compete in their local markets.
“It boils down to this,” he said. “James in London may want to go on an African Safari, and the best Africa travel agent in the world may be Jane in Montreal. 1Trip3.com introduces James to Jane, when previously they wouldn’t have had a chance of doing business together.”
By Bev Fearis
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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