Tripwing Takes Flight

PHOTO: USTOA’s new search tool powered by Tripwing. (Image via USTOA’s website)

Tour Operator (USTOA) active members offer limitless opportunities for your clients to forge deep cultural connections to the people, traditions and customs of the destinations they are visiting. And now, with the new enhanced search tool that recently launched on ustoa.com, it is easier than ever for you to research a multitude of itineraries and tour packages from our tour operator-member brands.

Powered by Tripwing, a leading developer of innovative online itinerary platforms for tour operators and travel agencies, the new search function is a simple solution to finding a variety of tours for a chosen destination. By visiting ustoa.com, you can find a range of tour and travel package itineraries by simply typing the desired travel destination within the “Find Your Dream Vacation” section of the homepage.

The search results page provides a snapshot of all applicable tour operator itineraries with trip highlights, including countries, length of trip, price and a direct click-through to the tour operators’ websites for more in-depth information on the travel package. Filters allow users to further narrow searches by budget, trip duration and travel dates.

As an added benefit, if you are currently registered for Tripwing’s Itinerary Builder program, you will now have access to the full USTOA database, making it easy for you to find, build and send customized trip proposals to your clients incorporating USTOA tour operator-member itineraries.

Tripwing’s Itinerary Builder is a web-based, time-saving tool that allows you to create, edit and share travel itineraries and proposals with your clients digitally.

For more information on the itinerary builder, visit tripwing.com.

So how can the new search tool help you, our valued travel agent partners, satisfy clients who want to book today’s hot destinations?

Here are three examples:

Hot Now: Cuba
With the loosening of travel restrictions for Americans, Cuba is the hottest travel destination for 2015. Twenty USTOA tour operator members currently offer “people to people” cultural immersion trips to Cuba, providing countless opportunities for travelers to dine at family-owned paladars, take native dance lessons, meet with local artists and students, and ride in legendary 1950s Thunderbirds. As interest in this island nation skyrockets, our members are adding additional departures, programs and itineraries to provide even more immersive experiences in Cuba.

USTOA’s new search tool makes it easy to navigate the new travel limitations to this nation. To find the itinerary that best matches your client’s interests, simply type “Cuba” within the “Find Your Dream Vacation” section of the homepage. Our members that go to Cuba know the regulations inside and out, so they can offer you and your clients peace of mind.

Hot Next Month: Europe
The current strength of the dollar is a boon for Europe-bound travelers as Americans benefit from the most favorable exchange rates in more than a decade. With increased European bookings this year, as well as earlier than usual requests for summer travel to Europe, USTOA active members have expanded already robust tour programs to meet growing demand and many also provide special value offers.

Through USTOA’s new search tool, you can find a wide range of itineraries to Europe from many of our member tour operators, including Insight Vacations, Cox & Kings, Mayflower Tours, SITA World Tours, Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection, Celtic Tours World Vacations, Collette and more.

Hot Next Year: National Parks
For your clients who are already looking ahead to next year, why not consider a trip to one of America’s many treasured national parks — areas of natural beauty set aside for the entire nation to enjoy? The National Parks Service turns 100 next year, making it the ideal time to explore some of the 401 areas covering more than 84 million acres that make up the national parks. From famed areas like Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon and Yosemite to lesser-known wonders such as North Cascades National Park in Washington, with the highest concentration of glaciers in the lower 48 states, and Utah’s Capitol Reef National Park, renowned for its colorful cliffs, there is something for every taste.

Like themed itineraries for Cuba and Europe, national parks-focused tours from Austin Adventures, VBT Bicycling and Walking Tours, Tauck, Grand American Adventures and more are easy to find using USTOA’s new search tool.

For more information about tours and packaged vacations, visit www.ustoa.com. Also remember that when booking with USTOA active members, you get the assurance of knowing that they are held to the highest standards in the industry with our $1 million Travelers Assistance Program.

For complete details, visit www.ustoa.com.