Expedia, hotwire, and other online distributors handle over 80% of all travel bookings. Travel is now done at home instead of driving to a brick and mortar establishment.
Let's face it, as technology advances, human interaction is slowly taken out of the equation. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, because now instead of paying more to a Certified Travel Agent to book your trips, you can become a CTA yourself and save thousands every year while even making money off the trips you book.
Another fact that makes this industry so appealing is that there is very little competition in online travel. There are few travel companies compared to the thousands that market the next "wonder vitamin". The others are big ticket, $1000-$3000 dollar programs that mostly use the travel perks as an excuse to have money exchange hands.
Some online travel companies get caught up in recruiting agents and lose the travel aspect of their business. Without the travel aspect, these companies can be shut down for being a pyramid/ponzi scheme. One of the major online travel business suppliers has recently lost its IATA credentials. This means they are no longer authorized to book through Marriot Hotels, Hyatt Hotels, and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. If you cannot book travel with every distributor then YTB (Your Travel Business) may not be for you.
What is recommended when looking to start an online travel business, check out how they book travel. See how you are certified, don't be an RTA, or referring travel agent; you want to be a CTA so you can book directly with suppliers and save the most money. Most important factor is that your travel company is based around travel and not just recruiting. I hope to see you all on a cruise sometime enjoying life, cheers to your success.
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Become a Certified Travel Agent
http://travelwithtraverus.com
Sylvan Noel
954-254-0116
http://SylvanNoel.com


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