Small Fish Big Ocean - Helping small tour operators and niche agents with travel ecommerce

Helping small tour operators and niche agents with travel ecommerce

Setting up a new travel business?

Latest Activity

Ben Colclough replied to Simon Williams's discussion 'Buying flights through a consolidator'

Really usefel answer Ralph. Out of interest what kind of commission can you get on flights booked through consolidators And are the prices they quote you competitive with what a customer can check online?

yesterday

Edd McArdle replied to Simon Williams's discussion 'Buying flights through a consolidator'

I'm sure TourCMS compares very favourably to managing a business through Excel spreadsheets ;-)

yesterday

Alex Bainbridge replied to Simon Williams's discussion 'Buying flights through a consolidator'

Excel spreadsheet Edd!? TourCMS is fine for managing consolidator sourced flight details...... and then you can keep them alongside the tour components too - and keep on top of your bookings!

yesterday

Simon Williams replied to Simon Williams's discussion 'Buying flights through a consolidator'

Thanks Ralph, wonderful stuff! At the moment everything is intimidating yet hugely exciting so it all guns blazing! Thanks again Simon

yesterday

Ralph Foulds replied to Simon Williams's discussion 'Buying flights through a consolidator'

Hi Simon, We have worked with several different flight consolidators over the years and have never had a GDS - it works perfectly well, and I believe it is much easier for your staff as they don't need to be trained in all the various codes and…

Thursday

associations

Wondering if people find it beneficial to join NTA or ASTA? Seems as if a tour operator new to this business has to join as a supplier rather than a "tour operator" - but just wondering if people find it worthwhile.Thanks for any input!DebSee More

Discussion posted by Journey Israel LLC Wednesday

0 Comments

Simon Williams replied to Simon Williams's discussion 'Buying flights through a consolidator'

Thanks Edd. I had emailed the consolidator and was impatiently awaiting a reply! For now I will stick without a GDS but hopefully a mass of bookings will force me into it! Here's hoping! Many thanks Simon

Tuesday

Dee Edwards replied to Family friendly travel's discussion 'Distance-selling regulations / Data Protection Act / Electronic Commerce Regulations?'

Yes, I'm afraid you will most likely have to comply to all of those. Off the top of my head, package holidays aren't really covered under distance selling as they are covered under European PTR (which is more onerous than distance…

Tuesday

Dee Edwards replied to Sue Gregory's discussion 'Merchant Facility providers'

Hi Sue May be worth you having a quick chat with TOPP again to see if any other options as I know people who had it with merchant facilities with either Streamline or Barclays merchant facilities (and that was what we were discussing with TOPP when…

Tuesday

Edd McArdle replied to Simon Williams's discussion 'Buying flights through a consolidator'

To book flights through a consolidator, you do need your TTA license in place, but technically you don't need a GDS - as long as you have an account with the consolidator, you can book through their trade portal or on the phone etc. But of…

Tuesday

Buying flights through a consolidator

Hello thereI am looking to establish my own tour organiser offering bespoke tours and packages to a single country destinations. I am looking to join the TTA for bonding, card facilities etc and have my suppliers sorted but looking for a consolidator to buy flights through. Although may have found one. My question is how easy is it to buy flights through a consolidator without an in-house GDS?Or is that a silly question?Many thankssimonSee More

Discussion posted by Simon Williams Tuesday

7 Comments

Muzi Mohale replied to Muzi Mohale's discussion 'Travel trade introductions...'

Hi Morris, You're more than welcome to send me your answers on email....am in South Africa and cannot make it to your launch party. Regards, Muzi

Tuesday

Morris Kusotera replied to Muzi Mohale's discussion 'Travel trade introductions...'

Hi Muzi This is a great opportunity. We have recently started our business Polarbus Tours & Travel as a UK outbound travel company with special focus on South Africa: http://www.polarbus.co.uk Please get in touch. We are having our launch party…

Tuesday

Alex Bainbridge replied to La Isla Foundation's discussion 'Inexpensive tours along the pacific coastal region of Nicaragua! Looking for travel agents!!'

Here is the thing - your product is not significant enough by itself to be of much interest to travel agents. Sorry to be so blunt, but that is how it is......... instead imagine your product alongside product from other interesting operators…

Monday

La Isla Foundation replied to La Isla Foundation's discussion 'Inexpensive tours along the pacific coastal region of Nicaragua! Looking for travel agents!!'

Alex, I appreciate the feedback! We are brand new and just starting out so any advice you have for us will be used. We do have information on our tours that we could offer to agents for them to list and post on their websites. I listed my…

Monday

Alex Bainbridge replied to La Isla Foundation's discussion 'Inexpensive tours along the pacific coastal region of Nicaragua! Looking for travel agents!!'

Hello! I will ask this to everyone who pitches how you have done - HOW have you made it easy for agents to work with you? Do you have product available in a format that they can immediately add to their website? Do you have an agent login so they…

Jan 20

Inexpensive tours along the pacific coastal region of Nicaragua! Looking for travel agents!!

Hola from Western Nicaragua! We are a non profit organization specializing in tours and excursions! We offer a 7 day, 12 day, and 14 day option for travelers. On our tours travelers will experience volcanoes, beaches, cultural and historical cities, nature reserves, cloud forests, many activities, and so much more! We also offer volunteer experiences and spanish lessons.We would love to start building relationships with travel agents looking to sell our tours for commission! Please let me know…See More

Discussion posted by La Isla Foundation Jan 20

3 Comments

Alex Bainbridge replied to Henry Stanley Kapolondo's discussion 'Special offers for 2012'

Hi Henry The question is - how are you making it EASY for agents to work with you? Just asking agents is not the best strategy...... instead you have to hand them tools, let them know when you have tours available, make it easy for them to put your…

Jan 20

Special offers for 2012

We invites the traveler agents to work with us our website is www.tanzania-sge.com See More

Discussion posted by Henry Stanley Kapolondo Jan 20

1 Comment

Travel trade introductions...

I run a South African travel trade focused blog www.travelwires.com and interested in inviting SmallFishBigOcean users to introduce their travel businesses to other travel trade operators in South Africa and across the world.I'll run a weekly series where you'll get the spotlight to introduce your travel business.I've compiled a quiz for you to answer (please also include a photograph of yourself as the owner):Travel Trade Introductions...1. Describe…See More

Discussion posted by Muzi Mohale Jan 20

2 Comments

Forum

Buying flights through a consolidator 7 Replies

Tags: GDS, consolidator, flighs

Started by Simon Williams in The foyer. Last reply by Ben Colclough yesterday.

US associations

Tags: operator, tour, associations

Started by Journey Israel LLC in The clinic on Wednesday.

Distance-selling regulations / Data Protection Act / Electronic Commerce Regulations? 1 Reply

We are a start-up offering online hotel recommendations and bookings. Would our business fall under the distance-selling regulations, Data Protection Act, and/or Electronic Commerce Regulations? If…Continue

Tags: Electronic Commerce Regulation, Data Protection Act, Distance-selling regulations

Started by Family friendly travel in The clinic. Last reply by Dee Edwards on Tuesday.

Merchant Facility providers 10 Replies

Hi everyoneDoes anyone have details of Merchant Facility Providers that are actually providing services to smaller companies in the Travel Industry. We are presently using Voice Commerce who…Continue

Started by Sue Gregory in The foyer. Last reply by Dee Edwards on Tuesday.

Travel trade introductions... 2 Replies

I run a South African travel trade focused blog www.travelwires.com and interested in inviting SmallFishBigOcean users to introduce their travel businesses to…Continue

Tags: trade, travel

Started by Muzi Mohale in The foyer. Last reply by Muzi Mohale on Tuesday.

Inexpensive tours along the pacific coastal region of Nicaragua! Looking for travel agents!! 3 Replies

Started by La Isla Foundation in The foyer. Last reply by Alex Bainbridge on Monday.

Special offers for 2012 1 Reply

We invites the traveler agents to work with us our website is www.tanzania-sge.com Continue

Started by Henry Stanley Kapolondo in The foyer. Last reply by Alex Bainbridge Jan 20.

Travel Operator Promotions with TOPs

I recently asked my webmaster this simple question:How many new travel clients are waiting to be uploaded onto TheTopTravelClub.com? Answer: Lots!I asked again: How many, in number. are waiting to…Continue

Started by Tony Humphrey in The foyer Jan 17.

Looking for Partnerships 8 Replies

Dear all,We Favour Tours and Safaris is a reputable tour company licenced by the government of Kenya to offer destination management services. We are also also fully approved by kenya association of…Continue

Started by Favour Wildlife Safaris in The foyer. Last reply by Favour Wildlife Safaris Jan 16.

Start-up advice 1 Reply

Hi Everybody,Im so pleased I have found this website, i have been searching for a while to find some genuine advice.I am in the process of having a website build marketing a few properties for…Continue

Started by Adam Burke in The foyer. Last reply by Matt Purser Jan 16.

Another new member´s website up for critique/advice 3 Replies

Hi there,I discovered this excellent website by chance last spring when I´d decided to set up a tour business here in Baja California with my brother in law (he subsequently dropped out, delaying…Continue

Started by Ian Paul Wright in The foyer. Last reply by David Urmann Jan 15.

V.small ski tour operator, no flights, no insurance: breaking the law? 12 Replies

I very recently set up a ski tour holiday company, operating in only 2 resorts in the Alps which really has only transpired to one due to size of the company (...me) and the fact that I get more…Continue

Started by Jordski in The foyer. Last reply by Matt Purser Jan 11.

liable for actions of suppliers?? 2 Replies

Hi I´m new to the forum. Been gradually working through the issues and regulations of starting as a tour operator. I thought I was almost there when I came across some info about being liable for all…Continue

Started by m smith in The clinic. Last reply by m smith Jan 10.

Insurance 9 Replies

Hi everyone,I'm new to the site, looks really useful so thanks to whoever set it up. I have a question about insurance - I need professional indemnity and public liability insurance in order to join…Continue

Started by Samantha in The clinic. Last reply by Alan Pattison Jan 9.

Tour Operator Insurance (US)

I am in the process of starting a new tour operator business in the US. It appears as if getting insurance may be tougher than I thought. Looking for any tips/insights. Thanks!Continue

Tags: liability, insurance

Started by Journey Israel LLC in The foyer Jan 6.

clients 2 Replies

hello everybody.i have a little puzzle that i would love someone to help me out with.well a new member of lake basin tours and travel( Uganda). but for the 9 months I've worked with lake basin.it has…Continue

Started by lakebasintours@yahoo.com in The foyer. Last reply by Dee Edwards Dec 23, 2011.

Best way to make international payments to pay suppliers? 11 Replies

Hi all! I'm looking at how to make international payments to pay suppliers and it seems the banks are neither particularly helpful nor cost effective for this. I wonder if anyone can suggest a…Continue

Started by Pete in The clinic. Last reply by Dee Edwards Dec 16, 2011.

Working under an umbrella company vs TTA / other solutions 8 Replies

I am looking to set up as a tour operator offering overseas trekking trips as a sole trader. I have suppliers already lined up for my packages.My customers are mainly, but not exclusively, UK based.I…Continue

Tags: T-ATOL, TTA, company, umbrella

Started by Ann Foulkes in The clinic. Last reply by Dee Edwards Dec 16, 2011.

PLI Insurance and Group flights? Any Help? 1 Reply

Hi everyone,I am looking to start a niche tour operator business early next year, can anyone recommend where to look for Public liability Insurance for this type of business?Also where Is the best…Continue

Started by IAN FLOOK in The clinic. Last reply by Matt Purser Dec 15, 2011.

Bonding 3 Replies

HiAs a relatively new start up, operating with a Trust Account & PL/PI insurances, I'm looking for access to a straightforward comparison between the relative costs & benefits of bonding…Continue

Tags: Bonding

Started by Terry Rawding in The foyer. Last reply by Terry Rawding Dec 15, 2011.