How can survive TRAVEL AGENCY'S & T.O in 2013 ?!

How can survive  TRAVEL AGENCY'S & TOUR OPERATORS in 2013 ?!

With the massive internet use this last 10 years , Travelers are building thyself their Holidays. And don't use anymore the traditional channel of reservation Travel Agency's. You always see in the street's travel agency Going out of Business ( I have lived in 5 city's the last 10 years and never see a new one opening ) . And when I go shopping at The Mall I never see someone inside at the only travel agency.

I'm afraid that we are going to forget a scene like the photo below... At least in Western Europe and in the States... :(

So every year data show that this business is suffering the technology change's . Just with a credit card in the main on-line Booking website such as : Booking.com ,Expedia.com , HRS.com etc etc you can book a Hotel Room worldwide in a few click … And you can compare the price at the meta-search engine such as Trivago.com , Kayak.com , or the newest Google hotel finder.

You can book a cheap Low Cost Airplane Ticket , directly at the website of the company , or use many website that compare prices and availability such as Skyscanner.com , cheapflights.com , fly.co.uk …

But technology advanced so much that the new and complete meta-search engine , can find for you the best price for The Hotel, Airplane, Rent Car, Travel Insurance, Train , Ferry etc etc , in just few click's you can book your own made holiday. As you need it... And I bet that it cost less than a ready one in a Travel agency , and it is more personalized.

So what to do to survive ? Any Ideas ?!

The old adage “knowledge is power” is wrong. At least, partially wrong. You can have the greatest ideas in your head, but if you don’t put them into practice, they become worthless. The true mark of success lies in having the courage to invest emotionally, physically and financially in your idea.

SO I SUGEST TO YOU NOT JUST TO READ THIS POST BUT TO PUT IN ACTION NEW IDEAS.

Whats the right street to take, I think that are three .

1- Work with the 4 Faster Growing Country Travelers. BRIC

In this sense, we want to focus today’s post on the always-thriving majority of the market that comes with the so-called BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, and China).

In this new confederation of states, which represents the nations with the biggest economic development the world (we should also note that all of the most recent billionaires around the globe hail from these countries), the average income continues to grow, therefore also raising the potential amount of tourist spending.

The growth of spending from these countries has just about doubled in the last few years and is forecast to grow exponentially between now and 2016.
The tourists who spend the most are undoubtedly the Russians, who in the sector of leisure travel spent something close to a billion Euro between 2011 and 2012. Livening up some of the most famous locations in Italy, they are considered some of the most avid users of online tourism.

Business Travelers , are dominated by Indians, who arrive in Italy for meetings and conferences throughout the entire year. Although the e-commerce in India has shown slow development, the travel sector has been the exception, yielding more than three-fourths of the overall transactions done online.

Regarding the Chinese, there is still not enough data to make a comparison with the other countries of the confederation, but according to an evaluation done by eMarketer Chinese travelers in 2016 will spend significantly more than the other BRIC countries combined.

The main word is , big numbers and tourist who avoid online tourism. I personally work a lot during winter with the Main Russian Tour operator like PAC Group , Danko , Travco , 6tour etc. That use Rimini as loading city where they can find cheap hotel during Winter, and start the Italy Tour from Rimini by bus. The language gap , the problem of frequent flight's, avoiding using credit card on web ( and in this country’s credit card aren’t diffuse as in Western Countries, make that they heading to travel agency to buy a holiday.

So my advice is to do two thing's, close your travel agency in Europe and with your experience move to a BRIC country , you can earn a lot in 10 years, less payed employers, cheaper rent, less taxes ,or the second one , the cooperation with a Big BRIC Tour operator to assist them during the stay of their guest's in Western Europe .

NO PAIN NO GAIN ;)

2- THE COUPON STRATEGY

I bet that all of you have heard of GROUPON , and maybe by stuff's or service in this GOOGLE website. So what's your biggest problem ?! You can't reach with advertising campaign you potential client , so why not use the biggest marketing company in the world and share the profits with them . If you are good dealer and purchasing a lot of holiday packet from BIG TOUR OPERATOR , you can use the groupon as a reseller for you . We all know that more you sell , you have bonus in discount of the final bill. You can just try it once , at east remember you are the one who decide the price and Google earn only if you sell Groupon ticket's.

3 – Creating a packet that isn't on the market

If you read the other post on my Blog you will understand my rule '' Give to the Client's what they want, not what you think is the best'' . In the year's I have heard a lot of interesting ideas about different kind of holiday's. Not the same old boring holidays. RESORT JUST FOR SINGLE UNDER 30 YEARS OLD , Only for families with dedicated space for children, Resort for pet's etc etc I wanted to tell you about the 2 most interesting I have heard.

1-THE DUREX LOVE BOAT http://www.lovebeatboat.com/

It's a 4 day Holiday in the Mediterranean for young people in a Cruise organized from the famous condom company DUREX . From Barcelona to Rome , with different kind of activities like quick ''speed dates ''on boat, The Durex buffet with only ''aphrodisiac appetizer'' , and the ''tuppersex'' meeting , to know the latest sex toys . Or the ''treasure hunt'' game where the prize it's hide in the '' G point of the Ship '' . The cost is around 200 euro for a person with 1000 people capacity. ( interesting idea to offer to your client's )

2- Sex and the City Hotspots Tour

I have read an interesting article about a travel agency of New York that sell a Holiday named ''Sex & The City'' ( like the famous sit-com ). When you can live you holiday as one of the actress of the famous Sit-Com / Movie . Sleeping in the best hotel's of New York , happy hours where Samantha and Carry usually go , The restaurant, wearing the famous Manolo Shoes ;) .

So don't sell a Tour that show's to you guest's the old city of Florence , the museum's the old boring thing's. Invent a Tour around Tuscany just to taste the Wine directly in the ''Cantina'' of Chianti or '' Brunello di Montalcino'' … Where to eat the real food of the hills of Tuscany , after Riding a horse. The next day the Montecatini famous Thermal water maybe . Something exclusive.

Remember people now day's are lacking of real experience, true adventure and contact with nature.

Offer them emotion , passion, breathtaking views , make them feel alive again.

Reinvent Reinvent Reinvent

TURN THE BAD INTO GOOD

Rejection is a part of our everyday lives: often a phone call does not go through; a relationship turns sour; an investment does not pay off, and so forth. Instead of dwelling on the negatives, successful entrepreneurs have learned “how to find strength in the highs and the lows, ups and downs.”

AND REMEBER : NEVER GIVE UP

As important as knowing which direction to go to is your ability not to give up until you reach your goals. When obstacles appear; when calls aren’t returned, remember what brought you to where you are, in the first place. It would make no sense for you to give up now. Keep pushing. Keep striving. Keep facing the sun. For each rejection, ask yourself, “What can I do differently? What can I learn from this situation?” Finally, say to yourself: “I am bigger than this.”

I hope that your business will go better :)))))))))

See You

Klement Hasaj