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Check-in Amenities: What’s Next?

Booking a room online is now a more of a personality quiz. Would you like extra towels? A feather-free room? A room away from the elevator? (See Marriot.com for more.) You could always call reception for extra towels or a spa appointment or a late check-out, but now you can do it all before you enter your Visa. It’s good news for travelers.

At Virgin Hotels in Chicago, they even offer a check-in manicure upgrade. (It seems guests’ nails are as well appointed as the chambers.) So what's next?

Aura adjustments, Porsche rentals, and even your own wingman are already trending.  

While you might not book based on manicures alone, amenities can help sweeten the deal. According to TripAdvisor’s 2015 Trip Barometer Report, which measures traveler sentiments and emerging hospitality trends, 77% of travelers say any conveniences are influential during the decision process. No wonder there are almost 2,000 Instagram photos tagged #HotelAmenities.

And while we want more – guests are also wanting less in other areas. In the Hotels.com 2015 survey of 5,000 travelers, they’ve discovered that minibars continue to drop in popularity, as do bathrobes and stationary. In the year to come, we project this trend to continue to rise and look forward to the unique and original perks they’ll think of next.

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The Great Legroom Debate of 2015

Today, travel agents are expected to know almost as much as aircraft technicians. This is due to an increase in industry fees and upgrades that have complicated the booking process. Think of it like ordering a coffee. You used to order hot or cold. Now you can have extra whip cream, flavor pumps, or espresso shots – for a fee. The same is true for airline seating and now clients are struggling to keep up with what’s what.

Ever heard the common traveller question, “Exactly how much is ‘even more’ legroom?” Well, now you can answer with confidence.

Knowing that flight-search startup Routehappy defines roomy as 32 inches measured from your seat to the seat in front of you, we’ve created a handy breakdown. Browse below for the standard and optional paid legroom on three of the most sought-after airlines:

Delta Standard Economy: 31-32” Comfort+ Upgrade = 34-36”

The fee varies; e.g. $100 per way from NYC to SEA.

JetBlue Standard Economy: 33” Even More Space Upgrade = 37-41”

The fee varies; e.g. $100 per way from NYC to LAX.

Virgin America Standard Economy: 31” Extra Legroom Seat Upgrade = 34”

This fee varies, starting at $60 per way.

As the last few years have shown, travelers have and will pay more to be comfortable. And that can be the difference of an inch.

Note: The number ranges above (e.g. 31-32” for Delta Standard Economy) are due to variations in an airline’s planes – each often equipped with different legroom measurements. Interested in going the extra mile? Check your aircraft on TripAdvisor’s SeatGuru and ensure your client has lots of room to stretch out.

As for elbow room and recline? That’s another article entirely!

[tripwing]

Pack in Style: The New Luggage Trends

Until now, carry-ons and checked bags simply needed to be sturdy and, for some, stylish. However, in the last year, new trends have ushered in a reinvigorated age of luggage relevancy. Now it’s about more than just storage. It’s about GPS, Bluetooth, weight scales, and even air pressure.

It’s the old boxes, optimized. And travellers are validating the idea of smart luggage by funding concept brands on IndieGogo.com and Kickstarter.com. For example, one campaign was funded 2,730% over its asking amount. This demand has become so great that new competitors are surfacing to cease the surge. As they do, the market is seeing a host of gadgets add-ons, mainly in the three categories below:

Collapsible Travellers want their luggage to be big enough for the airport and small enough for the closet. Storage has been an uphill battle that new brands plan to end. The Barracuda is made of polycarbonate ballistic nylon and aluminum in order to fold from a hard-side state to a folded state in 10 seconds. Its peer, FUGU, takes a different approach to the size problem. It has a built-in electric pump that extends the sides of the luggage to a larger size with the help of an external air pump. (Note: Both brands’ products are available for pre-order with first editions shipping later this year.)

App Controlled Now there’s an app for that. That being your luggage. The ability to use Wifi and Bluetooth technologies has endless travelling possibilities. Two innovative companies have grabbed on to this opportunity. First, BlueSmart, the brand most people associate with the smart luggage trend because of its early arrival in the category. Its app shows the bag’s weight (with the help of an internal scale) and allows users to track their bag’s location via GPS in the case of misplacement. Another leader in the category, Space Case 1 has similar features, plus a biometric closure which uses a fingerprint to open the luggage. It’s hard to believe that this is only the beginning of what’s next.

Self-Charging Yet another travel dilemma is the fight for airport outlets. The elusive charge is increasingly sought-after. Today’s new launches are taking this into account. While the two app-controlled bags above both tout onboard batteries for charging, the Rolopower uses the rolling wheels to self-charge via USB electric generators. So get ready for the age of charging as you run to the gate.

With the ever-evolving marketplace and the injections of technology, smart luggage is likely to become so ubiquitous that it becomes cost of entry.

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Destination Scouting: The New Age of Meerkat & Periscope

Imagine the places on your clients’ bucket lists. The canyons, the cliffs, the watersheds, the islands that they envision in their minds. The challenge is translating that imaginary place to a real destination. Until now, formal destination scouting has been the niche of the well-traveled agent, the Travel TV Channel surfer or the professional Pinterest hunter. That’s all about to change with the advent of social-media phenomena Meerkat and Periscope.

Welcome to a world of live video streaming apps.

Now that you can just push ‘Stream’ on your app and instantly broadcast your whereabouts to Twitter followers, there’s opportunity everywhere. Travel agents can show their clients the most up-to-date views of the most sought-after locations, including tonight’s sunset from the Brooklyn scene at the Wythe Hotel’s Ides rooftop or the just-opened spa in Dubai.

Not only is it immersive, it also increases the broadcaster’s relevancy and credibility.

Only the most cutting-edge agents and brands (e.g. Jetblue and Southwest) are at the forefront of technology’s rapidly expanding foray into travel planning. Common uses of this differentiating social media, such as navigating from a hotel to a theatre, can make jetsetters feel more familiar and more comfortable with where they’re off to, before they even embark on their trip.

Before you start streaming, here are some guidelines to remember:

1. Reuse your content. Whether you save it to your phone via Meerkat or keep it in your app with Periscope, keep track of your videos so you can leverage them as content on your website and other channels later, too. 2. Encourage followers to retweet. If you want to increase your chances of more people viewing your broadcast include “RT and let your friends in on what’s happening now” in addition to opening up your security settings. 3. Follow other travel-relevant Meerkatters and Periscopers. You’ll get push notifications when they broadcast and be able to comment as the action unfolds to engage more directly. This is also an excellent way to track others as they scout destinations and use their feeds as research and inspiration for your own work.

To download the app, head to the iOS App Store or Android Google Play and get live.

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Travel 2020: The Future of Travel Planning

As “Selective Interaction” grows, travel planners will need to build a roster of destination-city locals who can offer one-on-one experiences to visitors. This will be an advantage for those who establish relationships early on, and then come out on top in 2020.

The travel industry is constantly evolving. Consider mobile check-ins and inflight Wi-Fi or the wave of service-travel (WWOOFing) and today’s social-media boom.

In 2020, how will the industry evolve again?

Just five years from now there will be approximately 7.7 billion people on Earth—half a billion more than now—according to the U.S. Census. And their travel motivations will have changed yet again. The trend that’s just starting to bubble up and will be widespread in five years is a surprising dichotomy: less time spent with service representatives and more time with locals.

We call this Selective Interaction.

It was spurred by two things: the rapid travel-tech evolution and the shared economy. The former has meant travelers don’t need to make small talk in order to make a hotel, car, or tour reservation. With Uber, they don’t have to tell the driver where they’re going (it’s input in the app) or even swipe a card. Paying for airline extras with iPhone Passbook or Google Wallet doesn’t require a stewardess. And with invisible-service hotels, travelers don’t have to charm the receptionist for a late checkout (their phones and smartwatches unlock the room door).

2020 will ring in the rise of these autonomous amenities. Now, Aloft is even trying out robot butlers instead of room service waiters. Increasingly, it seems anti-conversation tools are a newfound travel luxury—and will continue to be in 2020.

However, we’re not moving towards unsociable recluse travelers.

Behavioral usage shows that Millennial travelers are simply more interested in talking to locals than in talking to service reps. They have a growing appetite to meet, great, and even eat with longtime city residents. That’s why neighbor-hosted homemade meals (e.g. Eatwith.com) are as in demand as native-led personal city tours (e.g. Vayable.com). This allows a more original experience, which is a highly ranked desire for those traveling in the next few years.

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Three Generations. One Trip.

Multi-generational family travel is skyrocketing. It brings geographically scattered families together. Plus, it syncs up the youth generation's craving for experiences over assets, and the retirement generation's love of an active lifestyle. According to a study by the Preferred Hotel Group (2011), one third of American grandparents took at least one leisure trip with their grandchildren last year.

When planning this particular breed of trip, consider these three travelers' stories:

Once-in-a-lifetime memories

Nancy Anastasi lives in Silver Spring, MD and shares her values on family and togetherness with her four children and nine grandchildren. Though she had never traveled with her grandmother, she saw an opportunity for her grandchildren to do so. In June 2014, she swept the entire family away to Turks & Caicos. It was the perfect way to truly honor togetherness. Taking everyone on a nice vacation for a week was "always on my bucket list," says Nancy.

The youngest was in her teens, and the eldest was in her seventies. Needless to say, the itinerary accounted for the age gap.

That's why it was important that the house they rented was right on the beach. The beach is for everyone. "[It] had kayaks and snorkeling equipment and a volleyball court!" she emphasized. The gaggle even rented a half-day catamaran. It sailed to a beautiful island where they picnicked. And food was another thing that brought them together. "My grandchildren are all old enough that they loved eating out!"Further, the house kept them together - like the days when the siblings all lived under the same roof - but this time there was an infinity pool in the living room. A memory they'd not soon forget.

Midpoint global reunions

The nuclear family is no longer living down the street. They are stretched across continents and oceans. In the case of Melanie Lucas' family, 10,000 miles stood between them. When they discussed meeting, it became obvious: roughly halfway between Australia and NYC is Hawaii. Melanie's parents, in-laws, sister, brother-in-law, nieces, and husband packed their bags. In November 2014 they arrived at the island of Oahu.

"We considered California and somewhere in the Pacific (Fiji, etc). Hawaii was price-right and had the amenities we needed for a big group," says Melanie. That included activities like Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head State Monument, and North Shore surfing contest for those "who need to feel they've accomplished something touristy other than lazing on the beach," she explains. The vacation-maker? The outdoor kitchen at the house they rented. "[It] enabled all of us to sit, chill, cook together, talk and enjoy the moment." Though they could've dined in at one of their homes, this trip allowed them to all be on vacation - and not leave one person to feel the burden of hosting. With no distractions, they could concentrate on each other, and on their tans.

Improvisational adventures

Cathy Davis and her mom had traveled to the UK before. Once when she was in college. And eight years ago they even took a barge trip down the Loch Ness. To add to the fun, her stepdaughter joined them on a trip - her first one abroad - in July 2014.

One of the best parts of traveling together was the anticipation. "It gave us all something to look forward to doing together," says Cathy. The trio visited England, Wales, and Ireland over two weeks and loved their time driving through the countryside and sailing along in the ferries. However, in the cities, the grandmother and granddaughter had different interests (e.g. the cathedrals vs. Abbey Road, respectively). So they improvised. A guidebook was consulted each morning and everyone's opinions were shared. Because they had only booked their stay for the first two nights and last two nights, they could immerse themselves in the local culture and find their own way. This brought them together - however varied their ages and interests were.

[tripwing]

Capitalizing on the Boost in Bleisure Travel

Traveling for business. Staying longer for leisure. When professionals venture out to shake hands, close deals, and attend conferences, they’re now more likely to extend their stays. How likely? 57% according to those surveyed in the 2013 Ipsos/CT/Google Travel Study.

A search for “bleisure” results in over 39,000 results. This buzz is symptomatic of a dramatic change in the way travelers plan their trips. That’s why the industry has responded with discussions at annual events (Boutique Design Trade Fair; Serviced Apartments Summit), new research studies (2014 Hotwire State of Travel Report), and trade press (Meetings & Conventions; Travel and Tour World).

Top travel agents are anticipating this behavior. They’ve fielded the requests from business travelers. They’ve even seen the rising search terms (“work and travel” up 110% on Google Trends in Q4 2014).

How travel agents can encourage the stayover:

1. Broadcast the savings

This trend was sparked, in part, by its thriftiness. The traveler’s employer has already covered the flight. So visiting Atlanta or Las Vegas or Boston is already hundreds to thousands of dollars less expensive. Plus, now hoteliers are open to reduced rates for corporate stayovers, which further reduces the traveler’s bottom line.

2. Alleviate FOMO

Millenials over-index in the bleisure category. The 2013 Future of Travel study showed that 62% had extended a trip into a personal vacation. As digital natives with a self-described “fear of missing out,” this set opts for experiences that allow them to take in everything happening around them. By adding extra days, they’ll get the satisfaction of immersing themselves in a new city and a new culture.

3. Encourage group activities

Help the buck go further for a family. With already-low associated costs, bleisure travel is ideal for families, couples, and friends. That means packages customized to this need are likely to grow in the year ahead.

With this in mind, travel agents are prepping for a new world order in 2015. A year in which “business traveler” and “vacationer” no longer define two separate mindsets. Now they’re often one and the same – and their itineraries prove it.

[tripwing]

Seniors Vs. Millennials: Today's Two Most Travel-seeking Populations

Paradigm shifts are underway in the travel industry. These transformations have been supercharged by changing generational priorities. Targeting both markets is an art that requires knowing what each has in common (spoiler: a penchant for international travel) and what makes them unique.

Meet the Baby Boomers

They’re fit. They’re young at heart. And they have disposable income. The youngest of this generation are 50 years old, and just receiving their AARP cards in the mail. The oldest are 68, and two years into receiving their social security checks.

Meet the Millennials

These travelers are the first to grow up as digital natives. Today, hyper-connected Millennials range from college freshman to those in their early thirties with young families. In the next 5-10 years, these optimistic go-getters will be in their peak earning years.

While both expect extraordinary customer service, they value many things differently. The three examples below showcase new factors affecting what they think is important and what they value most.

1. New Channels

Boomers have a single social media account.

Millennials have multiple social media accounts.

Boomers are in many ways still brand loyal. This includes which tools they use to validate the reputation of tourism destinations and activities. According to GlobalWebIndex, a London-based market research firm, 70% of this population has a Facebook account (Q2 2014 Generations report) with a minority reporting subscriptions to other platforms.

Tip: Market to Boomers on Facebook.

Millennials deny the idea of brand loyalty in favor of a more democratic approach that values getting information from a variety of sources. This explains why they have more accounts than seniors on Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, and Google+, beyond just Facebook.

Tip: Market to Millennials on YouTube (where 72% have accounts) and on Instagram (which has seen a 25% increase in Millennial usage in 1H 2014)

2. New Devices

Boomers are increasingly booking via mobile.

Millennials are increasingly booking via tablet.

Now, 39% of people ages 55-64 own a smartphone according to Pew Research’s Smartphone Ownership 2013). So last-minute bookings via smartphones are growing exponentially—especially geo-targeted ones. That goes for where to eat (Yelp), how to get there (Uber), and who to meet (Match). It’s no longer a long, involved research process that requires a laptop with multiple browsers open for research. Boomers have the online reviews and information to confidently make reservations on the go.

Tip: Make your website mobile-friendly (e.g. responsive HTML5 formatting) that makes travel research/reviews easy to read on a small screen.

This is the case for Millennials too, however they also turn to their tablets as a mobile booking tool. The Generations report explains this inclination to new tech, stating that 30% of this younger group has used a tablet to go online within the last month compared to 23% of Boomers.

Tip: Create a mobile app that translates easily to tablets.

3. New Economies

Boomers want to grow.

Millennials want to share.

Boomers are accustomed to a certain level of comfort and privacy, yet are highly engaged in active endeavors. They use travel as a time to reflect and climb Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and strengthen their esteem and self-actualization attempts.

Tip: Compile travel packages driven by holistic and health benefits (e.g. Active.com events and meditation retreats)

Millennials are the force behind what the Economist coined “the sharing economy” in 2013. This group is feeling more informed and therefore more confident to go off the beaten path. This takes them in search of experiences recommended online by like-minded travellers and guides them toward indigenous cuisine and more interaction with locals, including even staying in their homes. They are seeking authenticity. Not a replicated hotel experience. Not even something they could see on Google Maps. They are looking for original moments, people, and activities.

Tip: Compile travel packages driven by collaborative consumption (e.g. using SideCar for ride-sharing or Airbnb for room-sharing)

The goal here is to talk to each target where they already are and in a manner that they’ll respond to. The research is there. It’s time to use it to serve the traveller and grow your business.

[tripwing]

Social Media Boot Camp for Travel Agents

Travel agents are defined by their itineraries and their personalities. This is never more apparent than on their social media accounts. In the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) Technology and Web Usage survey released in March, 80% of travel agencies who responded had a social media presence.

Having an account is one thing. But optimizing it is another.

With a combined half a billion users, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram are critical to every travel agent’s acquisition, referral, and return-customer strategies. What’s most important is adjusting your approach in each of these tools based on which part of the process your client is in.

How to enhance your social media strategy:

Phase 1: Pre-trip research

The strategy in this phase is to inspire. The best media outlet for this motivating phase is the visual-discovery tool Pinterest. It doesn’t’ just romanticize the pending trip with alluring photography. It also allows potential customers to uncover expert itineraries (including yours) through image searches. Tip: Start by creating destination boards. Example: Valerie Wilson Travel’s Antarctica board. 

Phase 2: In-progress-trip feedback

Approach this phase with a new objective: to simply help. The inspiration is over – for now. Transition into a more transactional role for customers who are actively on trips and now require solutions and specificity. The perfect social media for this phase is Twitter. It’s a real-time way to comment with advice and add value to your itineraries. Tip: Search for inquiries by hashtag. Example: Joel Zack for Heritage Tour’s tweets.

You also can send each day’s itinerary to your customers through our very own Itinerary Builder Platform! Click Here for more information.

Phase 3: Post-trip review

After a client’s trip is complete, your strategy should be to validate. Being a part of their homecoming glow is just as important as being a part of their planning excitement. For these moments, use the photo-sharing mobile app Instagram. Tip: Follow clients to ♥ and regram their photos. Example: McCabe World Travel’s account.

In 2014, travel agents still have an advantage over DIY booking websites: 1-on-1 interaction. There is value in connecting with your client in each phase and adjusting your conversation based on their changing needs. The new generation of jetsetters expects this individualized attention to occur where they already are online. So give them the information they’re seeking via their favorite social-media. Your ability to curate, help, and validate may be your best social strategies yet. 

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Tripwing Itinerary Builder Platform Updates

I am proud to announce that our long-discussed e-mail alerts are available for use. On your "Tours" page you will see a new button next to each itinerary that says "E-mails." This section allows you to do 2 things:

1. Send your customers their itinerary (no more copy and paste!).

and

2. Set automatic alerts for every day of their trip. Now you can have an e-mail arrive at 12:01am every day of their trip that tells your customers exactly what they are doing that day of their trip, populated automatically from the itinerary you created for them.

I hope this new functionality will allow you to deliver personal service to your customers from the moment you send them an itinerary until the very last day of their trip. Please do not hesitate to test out the new e-mails and let me know what you think!

In addition to the e-mail alerts, there have been several other tech improvements that will hopefully make your Tripwing itineraries prettier and easier to make.

1. Social Media Links

You can now link your Tripwing account to your company's Facebook account so you customers can "like" your page. They can also share their personal itinerary across a dozen different social media networks, increasing your visibility and helping with word-of-mouth referrals.

2. Eliminating Errors on Photo Uploads

We are halfway through a multistep process to make uploading photos easier, particularly for those of you with slower internet speeds. You may not see the changes, but they are there. Now you can also upload one photo fully without having to hit save. Now just hit the new "upload photo" button. Coming up, you will be able to upload a photo, copy and paste the URL of a photo on the internet, or choose from our library of photos for top destinations. These options should be available in the next week or so. Now you will be able to add dozens of photos to your itinerary in seconds!

3. Currency

You can now display prices in any currency in the world. And when I say any currency, I mean ANY currency.

4. Cityscape Background Changes

Have you made an itinerary for a CentralAmerican country only to see an American skyline in the background? Or what about a New Zealand trip, only to get no background at all. We were able to work with the Yahoo geography database to make changes to the system so countries will get a city scape that is relevant to them.

***COMING UP*** In the next couple of weeks you will not only see the photo database, but also:

1. An easier way to enter flight and hotel data 2. Better printable versions (one for proposals and one for final documentation) 3. Ways for your customer contact you (even internationally)

Thank you for your continued support and feedback,

Eric Tanner Founder and CEO

[tripwing]

The great affair is to move.

[tripwing]

In Defense of the Startup

     Perhaps these are cries of self-justification. Perhaps we are insecure that what we’re doing is foolish; or maybe the startup doesn't even need defending. Regardless, Tripwing is a travel startup and I’ve written many blogs in defense of the travel agent and the necessity for travel itself, but I have yet to discuss the benefits of founding a startup. So here it is: In Defense of the Startup.

     On a personal level, founding a startup is one of the most fulfilling endeavors anyone could ever attempt. It’s somehow terrifying, stressful, and fun all at the same time, while putting you and any/every skill you have to the test. Whether founding a successful startup or something that goes belly up in a year, you leave with a wealth of knowledge that cannot be found any other way. You become a people-person, salesman, financial wizard, businessman, legal expert, accountant, and above all you have an interesting story to tell.

     From a larger perspective, startups and the “startup mentality” have helped to better society through their inherent ingenuity and creativity. Individuals pushing one-another to come up with “the next big thing” has incredible ramifications for society as a whole. The saying “shoot for the moon, and if you fail, you’ll fall amongst the stars” is extremely applicable to the startup world. Not everyone is going to be the next Google or Apple, but everyone wants to be. And in attempting to do so, thousands of startups have changed the way we live our lives. Uber might not be the next Google, but it has nevertheless revolutionized the way people travel; and snapchat might not change the world, but it has certainly changed the way people interact.

     Established companies, not just college students, have adopted startup mentalities to help better themselves as well. The startup mentality: arbitrarily defined as creative, lacking the shackles of a larger company dictated by bureaucracy, and novel, should not be thought of as only something done by 19 year olds in their dorms. Established companies can take on a startup mentality to help improve their own functionality. Hundreds of very well established companies have started to adopt Lean Startup Methodologies or other startup conventions to help reinvent and reinvigorate themselves. By having a creative sect within the company designed purely to build something new/change the environment of the company has shown incredible results for all companies that have tried. This often improves the work place for employees, which increases productivity, which then has socio-economic ramifications. Is this a stretch? Sure. But mixing it up can’t hurt.

       The point: startups are great, and they affect more of the world than you would probably think. So go, build that company from the ground up, and see what happens. They say you can only learn from failure, so the worst-case scenario is that you learn something!

[tripwing]

Get after it.

[tripwing]

Calling All Travel Agents: Don’t Forget To Travel.

What’s the most important characteristic a travel agent can have? Connections are great, experience is lovely, and personality helps, but I don’t need any of those. What I need is a travel agent who is well traveled. And I don’t mean someone whose been to Europe, had a great time seeing the sights, and now Google-Images pictures of “Rome at Night” for their proposals. If you are going to be a travel agent you need to have spent a serious amount of time abroad, with a small amount of money, a backpack that keeps breaking, and a Nalgene water bottle that served as your literal elixir of life.

The perks of being well traveled, however, go beyond the obvious. Here are some ways that being well traveled can kill multiple birds with one stone for a travel agent.

  Traveling abroad forces you to be resourceful:

            If you spend time on your own anywhere, let alone in a foreign place, you learn to use what you have (often not much). With little money and friends, and often a language barrier, you will be impressed with how quickly you adapt to your surroundings and think of new ways to solve your problems. As a travel agent, resourcefulness is an invaluable skill.  If a client is stranded in Paris and calls you for help, you’ll know exactly what to do.

  Traveling forces you to be personable and humble:

            Practice makes perfect. Spending everyday meeting knew people and getting to know them turns even the shyest of people into the most charismatic. Being lost in a foreign country where every third person speaks English is also quite humbling! Funny how exploring the world makes you more down the earth than ever.

Experience, experience, experience:

            The more places you visit, the more people you know, and the more regions you can specialize in! This will multiply your client base, hopefully resulting in more business.

  Finally, connections!

In the process of traveling, you are bound to make connections in the most remote parts of any city. If I want to see the sights, Google can provide just as “local” of a feel as some pre-packaged vacation websites. The travel agent who can show me the coffee shop that he/she went to when he was stranded in the middle of nowhere and needed electricity will stand out and be successful. Having these connections also gives you people on the ground that you know and trust to look after your clients. People want to have as authentic of a trip abroad as possible, but without the dangers that come with authenticity.  What better way to provide that comfort than by leaving your client in the capable hands of someone that you spent time with?

At the end of the day, a travel agent needs to be well traveled, but for more reasons than you would think. Obviously nobody wants to use an agent who has never been on an airplane, but people do not want to use agents who have never genuinely spent time overseas either. So, agents, get out of your comfort zones, spend some time in the places you send your clients, get to know the locals, and watch your careers blossom. People love interesting people. Be a little more interesting.

[tripwing]

Start-Up from the Ground-Up

What does it feel like to take that leap of faith and start your own company? That’s a great question and one that cannot be truly described. You can read as many blogs or books on doing it, but at the end of the day everything is about experience, and until you start selling your product out of the back of your car or build it in your dorm room in between classes, you’ll never really know what it is like.

But, if you are ready to give it a try, here are some tips on doing so.

Be Lean:

The lean methodology is definitely “in” at the moment, but for good reason. Before, becoming an entrepreneur was an almost impossible endeavor that required more money than most of us could afford. However, this is a thing of the past.  The lean methodology allows founders to be entrepreneurs without maxing out credit cards or going deeply into debt. Simply, the lean method means that you make a product that people actually want.  That may sound obvious, but many companies fail to accomplish that simple task. The means in which many companies are founded is that an individual has an idea and runs with it. He then gets financial backers, hires employees, and starts building the product. Finally he releases the product, everyone loves it because they spent so much money building it, and the company lives happily ever after. Unfortunately, this does not happen. Most of the time people will build a product that nobody wants, because it was never tested, resulting in a failed startup. The lean method encourages you to grow as a company only as quickly as your fan-base grows. Build only what people want you to build, and do not waste money on expensive marketing. Faceboook/Twitter are great ways to spread the gospel without breaking the bank.

  Be Bold:

  The lean methodology makes the hardest part of a startup much more accessible: go and do it! Even if you only make it one month, and it flounders, and you never want to start a company again, at least you went for it! Swinging the bat is much more valiant than chirping from the bench. Besides using the lean methodology, any tip that someone gives you is probably worthwhile, but it will mean nothing until you start that company. So go, make a cool video, post it to YouTube, get some feedback, make a concrete product, tinker with it, and see where it takes you.

[tripwing]

In Defense of Travel Agents

Hopefully we weren’t missed too much. The only blog out there that covers everything entrepreneurial and travel is back from its summer hiatus. We haven’t decided if our uniqueness reflects our competition’s lack of technological know-how, or if we simply have no competition. Regardless, we thought we’d start off with a topic that covers both of those genres: being a travel agent. As a company that provides tools for travel agents, we get a litany of questions daily. To synthesize these questions into one: “Why do travel agents still exist?”

  We get it. As a group of young men who love to travel, we understand why people ask this question. With modern technology and that “Go Getter” attitude that characterizes generation-y, the need to pay a stranger who will plan out your trip abroad seems not only antiquated, but also outright foolish. However, 12 months into building our startup here we are: a company not looking to eliminate travel agents, but rather help them adapt to the 21st century. So why did we do this? The simple answer is that after spending time in the industry, eager to “disrupt”, we realized that travel agents are important cogs in the lucrative machine that is Travel.

  So, in defense of the travel agent, here are some arguments for their longevity.

  Insight:

When’s the last time you spent over $1000? Odds are you didn’t throw it blindly. Traveling abroad is expensive, and although backpacking through Europe or jumping from hostel to hostel in South America is a way to cut costs, the money still adds up. The last thing you want to do is go abroad and leave feeling unfulfilled because you failed to see all the sights or do all the activities that define that region. Hiring a travel agent guarantees you an extremely well thought out and well planned adventure that will cover the region in the most economical way possible. Don’t waste your money, have a professional do it for you the first time around.

  Exposure:

It’s impossible to know all the little things about a city or town unless you live there. Using a travel agent allows you to gain the local perspective that can turn you from a typical tourist into a traveler with a genuine experience. Travel agents are often partnered with Destination Management Companies (DMC) that have branches on the ground in every country in the world. These DMCs give you the insight and experience needed to have a truly incredible trip.

  There are hundreds of other benefits to hiring a travel agent, but for the sake of brevity, these two are the most significant. Keep traveling, and come back to the blog next week for some more groundbreaking discussions.   

[tripwing]

The Pros and Cons of Group-Travel

If you book a vacation online, chances are you’re packaged with a group of strangers. It’s cheaper for you, easier for the tour provider, and ultimately a really great experience. However, for those of you dreaming of your solo trip around the world, this will not come in the form of a G Adventures or Intrepid Travel trip you book online. Here are some pros and cons of group travel:

  Pro: Safety and Security

            You are usually safer/more secure than you think. However, going to a foreign country is definitely daunting for any new traveler, and going in a group with familiar faces and accents can help ease the pain of culture shock. Large groups make everyone feel more secure, as they have 15 people with them at all times, and safety is usually not an issue as every member of the group looks out for one another.

  Con: The only trade-off for safety and security is perhaps a sense of privacy and self-reflection. Traveling is honored as one of the few ways to truly search within oneself and discover “who you really are.” But, with 12 other Americans running around asking for “authentic food,” soul searching becomes difficult.

  Pro: New friends

            There is nothing like being thrown into a foreign country with strangers for an extended period of time. Hopefully in a good way! You’re forced to trust and depend on these new people quickly, developing a unique bond that is sure to last. Also, you share very specific memories, creating an even stronger bond.

  Con: No New Friends!

            Some people don’t want to make new friends. However, the way to get around this is to simply go with a few of your friends from home. This way you do not have to meet anyone new, while maintaining all the perks of group tours! If you’re shy or not really a people person, this may also add stress to an already stressful event.

  Pro: The Costco effect!

            Traveling in groups is usually cheaper. Traveling alone and creating a very specific itinerary tailored to your specific desires is expensive. In a pre-packaged tour, the tour provider you’re dealing with can book everything ahead of time in a large number, getting you the discount price. G Adventures, Intrepid Travel, and all the other large tour providers offer pre-packaged group trips that are sure to satisfy your needs.

  Con: The only thing is that you are locked into the provided itinerary, with no real opportunity to change. With an individual trip, you and a travel agent would discuss your individual wants and needs, and then accommodations would be matched. However, in a group trip what you hate might be somebody else’s favorite part of the tour, so you cannot simply remove it from the itinerary. However, you may have the option to opt-out of certain parts of the trip, or you can try it out anyway! Maybe you’ll find that you really love what you thought you once hated.

    BOOM go travel.