Small Fish Big Ocean

Helping small tour operators and niche agents with travel ecommerce

Latest Activity

Helen Mavin added a discussion
A large majority of my contracted hotel rates are quoted in dollars, Euros and dirhams, could any one please give me some advice as to how they hedge against exchange fluctuations, when preparing quotes or taking bookings for clients that are quite…
13 hours ago
Hi Peter, Nice to see an alternative to the travel mafia, "Give us your money and we'll protect your customers... kinda... by the way, we only like you because you pay for our existence". Great website too - looks as though you're as close to yours…
yesterday
We researched options in depth last year, and looked at TOPP, IPP, and many other solutions. The best solution for us by far (i.e easiest to set up and manage) and also the cheapest, allowing excellent cash flow, is IGI Insurance's Failsafe Package…
on Sunday
"We will leave TTA in a heartbeat." Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha... yeah: that I want to see. Took us almost six…
on Saturday
Guillermo, I am in agreement with everything Alex said in the first post. Your website is designed for informational purposes not for online booking or e-commerce sales. In the immediate here are two things you can do: -Place your celebrity testimon…
on Saturday
Thank you about your comments of my website... :( I like it, but you're so right, I prefer reservations. I liked also your comments about my music haha! What kind of music do you recommend for my niche tours? Or is it better without any music? Summ…
on Friday
Hi Guillermo, I'm afraid I have to side with Alex on this one. I realise that you paid good money for a website that looks good - and it is beautiful. But as a web usability expert, I have to say that looking good and converting browsers into buyer…
on Friday
Hi Guillermo Thank you for asking your question here. Firstly the website. It is very nicely designed - but it is not, in my opinion, a good shop front for your tours 1) Flash only - no pages that are designed for search engines 2) Click on "clic…
on Friday
Guillermo Gonzalez Canales added a discussion
Dear friends,   When you have the knowledge of the area, the certifications and permissions, the vehicles, the itineraries, a complete and well designed product, competitive prices, the guides, the nice office and website...   When you have everythi…
on Friday
Matt Zito added a discussion
I know what its like to be a small travel business and just starting up. I've been there and done that, as they say, actually with two different companies, an online travel agency/tour operator and a fly fishing lodge/B&B. I built the online travel…
on Friday
hi i have been reading your discussion and i am in the same boat i am wanting to start up with a host agency but cant find any uk based free ones. i am still at the very begginning stage of starting out. i was just wondering what this american compa…
on Friday
There are options for Principals. Anyone looking for an easy alternative to TTA please call Christine Howard on 01895 236129 or email christine@milsomhoward.com. I have a scheme available which covers Package Travel Regulations requirements, is user…
on Friday
Gary, thank you for the response. I am quite happy to talk to anyone at TTA at anytime. But as a member I feel that I have nothing to hide and that the forum is a good way to share issues with other Tour operators who have dealt with similar issues.…
on Friday
Hi all, I have been alerted to the discussion here and I wanted to make you aware that our association, ABTOT caters for small to medium sized companies wishing to comply with the package travel regulations for their non-licensable bonding. In addi…
on Friday
As someone who is literally just about to send in our application form for TTA, this does all make me a little nervous.... What I can't understand is why a supplier failure cover policy isn't sufficient protection from a bank's point of view. We cur…
on Friday
Eugene, I am disappointed to hear of your frustrations. I know that my colleagues had conversations to help resolve issues surrounding two separate payments. I believe these were resolved some time ago. After investigating the above, my conclusions…
on Friday
What sort of suggestions are you looking for?
on Thursday
Hi Ralph, I understand what you mean. But at the end of the day we are small operators and we can't do everything. But one of our great advantages should be that we understand our business and customers much better than our bigger non-SFBO rivals.…
on Thursday
Hi Christine, I would like to hear more about this. I guess I am cynical, but, for all its faults, I would not like to transfer away from the TTA unless that alternative could GUARANTEE merchant acquiring facilities prior to the switch. I could not…
on Thursday
Roin added a discussion
Greetings, We would like to develop a student travel package, our targeted markets are Turkey, Dubai, Egypt and other neighboring countries; can travel business specialists give some suggestions, share experience and etc. We appreciate your recommen…
on Thursday
 

Forum

Helen Mavin

Exchange rate movements

A large majority of my contracted hotel rates are quoted in dollars, Euros and dirhams, could any one please give me some advice as to how they hedge against exchange fluctuations, when preparing quo…

Started by Helen Mavin in The clinic 13 hours ago.

Eugene Bari

The TTA are sending us mad - Any suggestions? 27 Replies

My company is a TTA member and we really need some advice.   In my experience TTA are a real headache with paperwork. The system is so antiquated and user unfriendly that I bitterly regret joining.  …

Started by Eugene Bari in The foyer. Last reply by Bob Burgher 1 day ago.

Guillermo Gonzalez Canales

What is the next step? 4 Replies

Dear friends,   When you have the knowledge of the area, the certifications and permissions, the vehicles, the itineraries, a complete and well designed product, competitive prices, the guides, the n…

Tagged: agents, travel

Started by Guillermo Gonzalez Canales in The clinic. Last reply by Matt Zito Feb 6.

Matt Zito

What are your biggest challenges in the online travel business?

I know what its like to be a small travel business and just starting up. I've been there and done that, as they say, actually with two different companies, an online travel agency/tour operator and a…

Tagged: starting, tour, operator, niche, growing

Started by Matt Zito in The foyer Feb 5.

Anastasija

Setting up an online travel agency in UK 23 Replies

Hello to all Small Fishes!!! I am a new-comer in this site as well as to travel business. So, don´t be surprised by my REALLY beginner-questions. My plan is to start-up with a Host Agency (or coupl…

Started by Anastasija in The clinic. Last reply by Danielle Feb 5.

Roin

Creating a student travel package 1 Reply

Greetings, We would like to create a student travel package, our targeted markets are Turkey, Dubai, Egypt and other neighboring countries; can travel business specialists give some tips how to creat…

Started by Roin in The foyer. Last reply by Dee Edwards Feb 4.

Alan Rooney

Joint marketing inititives for niche escorted tour operators 9 Replies

I have just started The Cultural Experience - see www.theculturalexperience.com and presently we are selling escorted battlefield tours. As we all know marketing is very expensive and I thought that…

Tagged: sharing, operator, tour, niche, marketing

Started by Alan Rooney in The foyer. Last reply by Alan Rooney Feb 4.

Riya Thanissorn

Web design and booking engines 7 Replies

Hi, I have set myself a 12 month lead time to open a specialist agency dealing in high end accommodations / tours in a specific region. I am obtaining my agents qualification next year but also want…

Started by Riya Thanissorn in The foyer. Last reply by Roin Feb 4.

Helen Mavin

Operators Liability 4 Replies

The recent event of the BA threatened strike started me asking how a tour operator can protect themselves in the event of a claim for a full refund by a client should they evoke "significant change"…

Started by Helen Mavin in The clinic. Last reply by Helen Mavin Feb 4.

Mark Davison

Sage Reports: Booking date and Departure date 4 Replies

Sage (the accounts software) can be tircky to use.It's OK if you want to work Sage's way, but customising it is a bit of a challenge. I've been using Line 50 Accountant Plus for about a decade and it…

Tagged: ATOL reports, accounts, Sage

Started by Mark Davison in The clinic. Last reply by Mark Davison Feb 4.

Alex Bainbridge

2010 - Moving SFBO onwards! 6 Replies

Hi everyone Been a bit quiet here lately..... something we plan to change in 2010. First off, we will be running a short series based on new year resolutions. First one very soon indeed (maybe even…

Started by Alex Bainbridge in SFBO site news. Last reply by Alex Bainbridge Feb 3.

Len Hough

Free Marketing 5 Replies

Hi all   Heres a question about marketing that is very frustrating for me and I would welcome the groups observations.   I am working on www.schooltripadvisor.com and the idea is that teachers review…

Started by Len Hough in The foyer. Last reply by Ralph Foulds Feb 3.

John Walsh

Recommendation needed for insurance company/ broker 8 Replies

Hi Does anybody have a good insurance company/ broker that they could recommend to me: for things like liability insurance etc? Thanks John

Started by John Walsh in The foyer. Last reply by Ralph Foulds Feb 3.

Len Hough

Great domain names but no bookings, what to do? 27 Replies

Hi I have not been on the site for a while as the reason I joined was that my new business which was Voluntourism and Responsible Tourism was outside my experience as a school tour operator. Having…

Started by Len Hough in The clinic. Last reply by Dee Edwards Feb 3.

Alex Bainbridge

Choosing a tour operator system - Genesys report is a must buy

If you are researching a new reservation system for your company then it is probably a wise idea to buy a report from Genesys http://www.genesys.net/publications.htm T 2010/2011 Tour Operator Techno…

Started by Alex Bainbridge in The foyer Jan 31.

Jamie Wake

New Travel Agency/Small Tour Operator 7 Replies

Hi all I'm in the process of setting up as a Travel Agency/Small Tour Operator which seems the most natural thing to do after building up a client base homeworking for a while! I've been impressed w…

Started by Jamie Wake in The foyer. Last reply by Alan Rooney Jan 28.

G Green

New Travel Agency 9 Replies

Hi everyone, I have been researching setting up my own travel agency for a while now and I am really keen to get it going. I believe that I have found a niche market for travel products in my area.…

Started by G Green in The foyer. Last reply by dipti agrawal Jan 28.

Jamie McCubbin

Website Revamp - Please let me have your feedback 1 Reply

Hi everyone, I've just finished revamping the Hidden Gems website in time for the new golf season - www.hiddengemsgolftours.co.uk It would be great if I could get some feedback from the small fish…

Started by Jamie McCubbin in The foyer. Last reply by Paul Slugocki Jan 27.

Rachel Harvey

All about Timing! 8 Replies

Dear all, This is just a very open discussion about the (dare I say it!) the present economic climate and people's views on starting as a new tour operator this year. I was hoping come Jan 2010 the…

Started by Rachel Harvey in The foyer. Last reply by Rachel Harvey Jan 21.

Alex Bainbridge

Small Fish Big Ocean now on Twitter @sfbo

In order to make it easier to keep up with what is happening on these forums - if you use Twitter - you may like to follow @sfbo ! Also, these forums now have Twitter integration. This makes it easy…

Started by Alex Bainbridge in The foyer Jan 20.

Members

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