Members of the National Tour Association recognize that partnering among their peers is an important part of building business in the packaged travel industry…
Members of the National Tour Association recognize that partnering among their peers is an important part of building business in the packaged travel industry. According to a recent NTA study, the association found that 17 percent of tour operator business comes from other tour operators. As such, NTA continues to find new and unique means of facilitating this significant method of collaborating.
As the study shows, a growing number of operators rely on other operators to purchase their product. More than half of NTA tour operators (51 percent) offer receptive services.
Partnering between tour operators is becoming the norm rather than the exception, NTA Chairman and CEO, Ann Thomas, CTP, said. With smaller groups, closer booking times and diverse travel requests, it has become the sensible thing to do. Partnering gives us the opportunity to offer value to our guests by working with colleagues in our association.
NTA continues to provide programs that deliver bottom-line results for tour operators. These members meet one-on-one with suppliers and DMOs at the Annual Convention, and they also participate in partnering sessions with other tour operators at the Convention and Tour Operator Spring Meet.
At the 2005 Tour Operator Spring Meet, NTA revamped the Tour Operator Partnering Session around the speed dating business meeting concept. As well, this new format will be incorporated at the 2005 NTA Annual Convention in Detroit this November. During each appointment, both operators will have approximately three minutes to explain what new, different or unique ideas they have for packaging their product. The new format increases the number of operator business contacts participants receive and was rated extremely high by 2005 Spring Meet participants.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
