Road Map
This roadmap is subject to change.
Phase 1 - Hotels
UPLOAD FIRST ROUND OF PROPERTIES: I'll be starting with a few thousand of the top luxury properties worldwide to get a baseline and verify that the information and copy is working as intended and is helpful and accurate. Will gather feedback and refine. I have quite a few sample pages live right now but here are a few to check out. Amankora, Hotel Xcaret Arte, and Belmond Cap Juluca.
UPLOAD NEXT BATCH OF PROPERTIES WORLDWIDE: Will then upload the next batch of properties focusing on ones that are bundle-able through most popular tour operators. Think things like Delta Vacations, VAX, Vacation Express, Classic Vacations etc.
Phase 2 - Hotel Recommendations Assistant
INTERACTIVE ASSISTANT: This will be a hyper-specialized assistant designed specifically for travel agents. It will ask guide you through specific questions about your clients trip request and you be as broad or precise as you see fit. For example, maybe your clients advised to just go somewhere warm and have passports. Or maybe they were ultra specific and wanted to go to Cancun within 1 hour that offers balcony with private pool. etc. It will converse with you and make the best recommendations.
Phase 3 - Supplier Profiles
SUPPLIER PROFILES: Static pages for different suppliers. Cruise Lines (things like RCL, Avalon, Ritz) Group Tours (things like Globus, G Adventures, Contiki), Tailor Made Tours (think Audley Travel, Kensington Tours, VAYA). etc.
Phase 4 - Assistant Upgrade - Supplier Recommendations
UPGRADE: The assistant will get an upgrade to help even narrow down best match for suppliers. (I hope to be able to also do so based on who your host agency has better commissions with if you have a host so it can also help guide you to products that you can earn the best with while still providing the correct product for a client.)
Phase 5 - Assistant Upgrade - IRROPS
ASSISTANT UPGRADE: The assistant will be able to walk you through best practices and things to think of downline when things go wrong. Delayed flights, bags, hotel is oversold, cruise diverted, etc.
COMPENSATION GUIDELINES: For example, your clients flight is delayed out of the EU for 5 hours. The assistant will look up your clients specific flight history and advise what it could qualify for and how to go about getting compensation for your clients.
Phase 6 - Travel Agent Discounts and Rewards Programs
AGENT DISCOUNTS GUIDES: One of the biggest benefits of being a travel agent is traveling for less. This will have guides on what suppliers have discount programs and how to redeem. Think things like Marriott's FAM-TASTIC Rates program, Hiltons, IHG, etc.
REWARDS PROGRAMS: Many all-inclusive resorts in Mexico/Caribbean have rewards programs to earn either extra commission or even just straight up free nights or points.
Phase 7 - Destination Guides
DESTINATION GUIDES: Prepped guides/itineraries for popular destinations with varying number of days and price points. Stop starting from scratch for every trip.
Phase 8 - Assistant Upgrade - Destination Specialist and Itinerary Builder
ASSISTANT UPGRADE: Can help you come up with flow and number of nights for each city of an FIT trip. Can refer to the prepped guides and itineraries and you can advise any deviations or must do requests from the clients and the Assistant can help modify to make it perfect for your clients.
And Beyond...
I literally have so many more ideas of different things that can be helpful for travel agents but I think this enough to chew on for now and I'm quite ambitious to get this live! :) --Oliver