Anza Travel has spun off their gateway website to be developed as a global brand for qualified expert travel consultants to market and promote specific knowledge, experience and expertise over the internet. Development, marketing and promotion will be by Plainjanes.com who have been involved for over 5 years with the Anza Group.
Janice Hemsley of Plainjanes.com states “the success of this ‘expert only’concept with Anza has proved to us that other qualified travel consultants will benefit from promoting their specific areas of expertise along the lines of Anza over the past 5 years but now for all destinations and activities. ” Consumer advertising is underway in the major Canadian travel press with plans for extensive and targeted campaigns to the discerning traveller who will now no longer be restricted to agents that may not have the skills for traveller- specific destinations or activities.
Canadian agents are presently being contacted by email and fax to invite them to visit the website and to submit an application for review by toptravelsites.com. Successful applicants will then be invited to become a Showcase Expert and will be offered up to 12 webpages under destination, cruises and activities leading to quality enquiries direct to their desk.
A controversial aspect of this site is that the ‘Destination Specialist’ will not necessarily qualify as an expert and a webpage called - The Myth of Specialists - highlights this trend in retail travel that, according to the toptravelsites.com team is putting the quick sale aspect of travel above the quality of expert and informed consulting advice. This is a fee-driven site but as toptravelsites.com is not a reservation or booking agency no further fees are payable by the Showcase Expert to toptravelsites.com.
——-