How come Nobody . . .

[Isis]

ever answers the specifics?

I have gone around the net looking for answers.
Would be glad to get one here

Can anyone tell me how to start an online travel agent site?
Fully loaded with reviews, news release, booking, hotels, insurance etc,
and how to manage it?

Can anyone also tell me how to set up an online payment system
like graphcard.com. because I know I can offer much more.
(would have love to list all but that would be too lengthy.)

Would appreciate any directions given.

Thanks

Hoselita
www.ErrandConcierge.com/blog

[Jack Humphrey]

I will answer very specifically that I don't know. But surely someone here does or at least knows some links to check out.

[Richard Schulz]

I am not positive that this is what your after but there is a network marketing company that is everything you are mentioning and more. I am but I use it only for the travel benefit not as a business, my sponsor is a man name Bobby, his site is bobbys travel, if you have any question you may contact me, if this isn't what you were after sorry bout that.

Richard

[JuneIn2]

Hi,
Loaded question, depends on the type of travel site you want and what your credentials are.

Are you a licensed agent with certifications, or are you looking to be a travel representitive which is completely different from a travel agent who has undergone hours of training and testing to hold those licenses.

I work with a lot of travel agencies so know the field is very competitive, for generalized travel. You also need to be prepaired to have some dollars behind you to gain some exposure and develop a site if you are a travel agent and want to have a booking engine etc. There are some out of the box solutions offered to licensed agents ( services to manage bookings, etc. which are mo fee based)

there are some mlm type travel representitive type programs where you work under a agency, pay a entry fee and gain income off of others you sign up or sell to your friends. They promise you agent travel deals etc. be aware that the major wholesalers and resorts as well as associations are frowning on these "representives" and if alligned with those companies (mlm's whom I wont mention) are not granting or terminating those privlidges.

Before you do any online sales of travel, make sure your bases are covered, meaning you need a E & O policy incase anything goes wrong with your clients travel, say you publish a trip to XXXX for $ and it is all inclusive 5 star resort. Your clients get there and its a pup tent on the beach, they get stranded on the way home. They deside to ....take you to court,,,, Even if you work under a agency it is always wise to carry this type of policy.

So could go on about this but first need to know what sort of travel seller are you?

[Isis]

Wow,
Nice to get all this info from you.
This exactly is the kind of advise I need.

Nobody can be clearer than this

I was thinking of becoming a licensed agent and running my own
travel site but with all the complexities you just mentioned, I think I would
make do with being a travel rep.. Though I'd rather not do any MLM stuff.
Maybe, become a direct rep. with commissions. I just want to sell travel
opportunities for now. Though I may prefer to own my own business!

An example of the kind of site I like is
www.amadeus.com and www.farecompare.com/
If I can do that I would be very grateful indeed

Hoselita
www.ErrandConcierge.com/blog

[Isis]

Thanks guys,

Your different advises paid off. The search term
"start your own travel company online" worked very
much for me; and much more.

To Be Specific

1. How can I start A Payment Gateway that enables merchants
world-wide to accept cash payments on their web site securely.
Specifically tailored to suit 3rd world countries?

2. Solution for auction sellers, online gaming, micropayments and
digital content providers.

3. E-commerce platform
Services
P2P, B2B, P2B Payment solutions
Purchase assistant

Thanks in advance for your contribution

Hoselita
www.ErrandConcierge.com/blog

[JuneIn2]

Hi again

Perhaps I can add additional info to my prior note. You can be a credentialed agent and work under a agency umbrella think of real estate agents work under real estate broker licenses, both have to have the credentials but the agent works under the brokers licenses and umbrella. Same with full blown travel agents, you can choose to work under as a independant under for example american express or other independant travel agenicies. To buy or book travel from say for example carnival cruise and be paid a commission you have to be a licensed agent. The former "representive" you can't, you work for the "company and just book or make a smaller commission with the packages that they as agency owners have access to. In the mlm case, this is not so good as your credentials is what sells your service its a layer of trust too, but as a business owner you want the flexibility of choosing whom you buy your travel packages from. Even as a representitive, you would still want e& O insurance though.

Question: are you wanting to offer concierge type services and online gamming,?
merchant accounts for that, well would be difficult because of the nature of the beast, and you are opening yourself for some liabilities with that if that is what you intend on offering.


While if you were offering say nich travel & support services to exotic out of the way places say hiring drivers, tickets to theater, etc as part of your services that the payment thing would be easier, but the min you say gamming many big providers balk on that because of abuse, chargebacks etc. many won't accept those sorts of accounts. Merchant account providers segment their offerings into groups, and charge accordingly ex. online marketing pays a higer rate and has to go through checks before being accepted.

If you say for example you wanted to sell world gamming trips, to the carribbean or somewhere you book the hotel, airfair, etc. through the hotel, set up a relationship with the hotel to pay you a % commission on booking and if they deposit into a account for their gamming prior to comming (like you can do in Lv) than that would be understandable.

so now to accuratly help you, I am a little confused by wanting to know about merch. accounts for gamming etc. Is travel just an element of what you are trying to do, or are these all totally random elements

[Bill Wardell]

You may also want to check with fellow ASC member and friend Karen, she has done a lot of research on the travel industry, and has also built an authority site...

Hope this helps...

Bill

[Isis]

Hello JuneIn2

""you can choose to work under as a independent under for example American express
or other independent travel agenicies. To buy or book travel from say for example
carnival cruise and be paid a commission you have to be a licensed agent.""

Oh thanks, I could settle with this for the main time; since I am about to start out.

""Question: are you wanting to offer concierge type services and online gaming,?""

Not exactly online gaming. I am looking to help people from the third world with
alternative payment system since they can't use the traditional credit card system
"prepaid cards you can reload, pay into their account [my developed payment system]
in their local currency to be converted into major international currencies,
receive payment online etc.

offering say niche travel

""Is travel just an element of what you are trying to do, or are these all
totally random elements""

I want more than anything to develop a system to facilitate online payment for
"the under privileged" my aspiration

Travel my hobby and I think it will be easier to set up while I develop this
payment system.

[Michael Lofton]

Hi Hoselita,
... an affiliate program (as mentioned) may be the way to go... many to chose from
amongst the affiliate providers, however, if you are looking for a way to create your
own (mostly from scratch) you may want to consider ScriptLance.com or even give
a look see at GetACoder.com. Interesting enough I was just alerted from GetACoder
that a client was looking to set up their own online travel agent site... it went to bid
and maybe you could tag along to see how the process works... you'll need to
become a member (no charge) to see the guts... yet, this may be a good avenue
for you, that of outsourcing your requirements. The party that requested the build
up of an agency site in GetACoder is at this location for 4 more days.
http://www.getacoder.com/projects/travel_co_website_design_74538.html

best and good luck with your venture.
-michael

[Isis]

Thanks a lot Michael.

ScriptLance.com and GetACoder.com really gave me a better i
dea for sure. I hope I find what I need there.

As for your previous statement...
[""an affiliate program (as mentioned) may be the way to go...""]

That I've been pretty involved in.
From my observation, to grow you need to pretty much have your
own game. I would follow the top winners but as long as I achieve my
own aspirations.

It took me about two years to be able to make as simple a payment is,
online 'cos I was technologically challenged.

These challenges are what I want to help others overcome.
The potentials are so immense that it just blows me off.

A Payment Gateway that enables merchants, individuals world-wide to
make payment with their own currency and get it cconverted to international
currencies and accept cash payments on their web site securely. Starting
of course from my location

I am ever so grateful for this wonderful support.

For the first time I think I am going somewhere!!!

Hoselita
www.ErrandConcierge.com/blog