Q How can I look at receiving 2-3 more copies of the 2009 River Cruise Manual supplemental piece>

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Q As a home-based host agency I have found it frustrating to find the right GDS technology that would work for my company and allow the sales of my agents to grow. My company’s sales are just under $2 million and we have grown the business booking tours and cruises through our various preferred supplies. However, recently we have been asked to book business and incentive travel for small to medium-sized companies and this is where the frustration begins.

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For the answer to Joyce’s question, I went to Eric Maryanov, owner of All-Travel.com, in Los Angeles. Not only is All-Travel.com one of the most successful agencies in the industry, but they are very savvy when it comes to technology, as evidenced by their TravelAge West Trendsetter award this year for Best Agency Web Site:

“Electronic ticketing is now available for over 90 percent of the reservations booked, and there is no longer any reason to begin a “traditional” GDS/Agency agreement. Joyce should consider one of several options open to her.

“Rather than looking at the new giant remote agency services companies, consider working with a trusted colleague agency that does have a traditional GDS agreement and an ARC assignment. For a small fee, the GDS technology allows the “host” agency to connect her to their GDS system. The hosting agency may charge minimal amounts to cover their transactional costs, ARC reporting, etc., and you can also book your hotels and cars through your hosted agency’s GDS system while still maintaining your own non-ARC IATA identity on the booking, it’s just an added format entry

“If you are a member of a consortium (Signature, Virtuoso, etc.), contact their membership office and ask for a referral to an agency which is providing GDS access for other consortia members. If not a member of a consortium, by hosting affiliation, you will have access to the same rates and commission contracts of the hosted agency, which may more than cover her monthly fees.

“Look into the new GDS programs which require no volume commitment or minimums. Also, for a monthly fee, one of the GDS giants is now offering their own version of hosting for smaller agencies. The agents will have cruise, car, hotel, rail and air inventories at their fingertips.

“Joyce should not be daunted by learning the GDS. The GDS systems have integrated their versions of ‘people friendly’ online booking engines into their Travel Agency platforms, so there is no longer a need for previous experience in the cryptic language of ‘reservations.’”

Eric Maryanov, All-Travel.com (www.all-travel.com)

Q I would really appreciate your help. I am trying to book some clients FIT to Thailand — in particular, I need to book Bangkok or Phuket with air, hotel and transfers — but I can’t seem to find a tour operator or reputable wholesaler to book with. I have checked with one company, but they are limited only to Bangkok, and all the other operators have their own packages that seem impossible to change. There must be some reputable (and licensed) company I could do a booking with.

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I’m sure many of our readers would be able to answer this question themselves, but I went right to the source and asked Peggy Peterka of the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Los Angeles office for help.

To answer this question, there are many, many tour operators who would be happy to sell a Bangkok/Phuket package. The following six come to mind immediately: Ritz Tours (www.ritztours.com), Orient Flexi-Pax Tours (www.isram.com), Jetabout Asia Vacations (www.jetaboutasiavacations.com), Asialuxe Holidays (www.asialuxeholidays.com) and Thailand Vacation Tour (www.thailandvacationtour.com). I could go on and on.
I am so sorry to hear that this agent is having trouble and would encourage anyone having trouble booking Thailand to call me personally at 323-461-9814, ext. 17 (or e-mail: peggy-tatla@sbcglobal.net). I would be happy to help them get in touch with the operator that fits their needs.
— Peggy Peterka, Tourism Authority of Thailand

Q I have clients who are ready to move up into high-end cruising, but I don’t think they are prepared to give up all the entertainment and meal choices on the very large ships. How can I keep them happy and sell up?

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The luxury lines are well aware of this issue, and the ships they are building now are significantly larger, with many dining and entertainment choices. Meanwhile, you could choose the luxury cruise lines with larger ships in the current fleet — Cunard, Crystal or the larger Regent ships.

Another option is to place your clients in one of the exclusive areas on a mass-market ship. Norwegian Cruise Line, for instance, has the ship-within-a-ship concept refined to a tee — offering villas with gardens, Courtyard Villas around an exclusive Infinity pool and sunning area, special dining privileges, etc. Costa has dedicated spa staterooms and suites with a private gourmet restaurant and MSC also is placing a special VIP area on its ships.

A premium cruise line like Holland America or Princess with butler and concierge service might suit your clients very well, too, if you place them in the high category accommodations.

— Marilyn Green, Contributing Cruise Editor (mgreen@travelagewest.com)

Q Recently I had a client ask about last-minute deals to Beijing for the Olympics, but I’m worried it’s a bad time to travel there. That it will be too crowded and it’s too late to find anything. Do you recommend that I send them now or see if they might go after the Games?

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For the answer to this question I went to Evan Chan, CEO of Ritz Tours, one of the largest tour operators to Asia. Here’s what Evan had to say:

While Beijing will certainly be busy because of the Olympics, there will most likely be last-minute travel deals to spur summer travel to China. Hotels and airlines want to fill space — no one wants to operate empty — so as we draw closer to the Olympics, and hotels and airlines assess their inventory, I’m confident rates will drop.

Despite the perception of inflated prices in China, the truth is the destination remains more affordable than ever. Ritz Tours’ pricing has not risen compared to 2007, taking into consideration currency fluctuations and the fact that airline fuel surcharges are now included in our 2008 fares. So it makes sense to consider leisure travel to China before and after the Olympics because pricing will be quite favorable. —Evan Chan, Ritz Tours (www.ritztours.com)