The trend towards DIY packaging of travel elements and Internet booking services is continuing and the market for flights and hotels on line is growing rapidly.  However, one part of the journey has not been widely bookable in advance on the Internet, until now - the transfer between the port of entry and one’s accommodation.  OctopusTravel.com
has just closed that gap for the first time and allows retail agents to book chauffeur-driven cars, limousines, minibuses or even a coach to transfer clients to and from the airport, railway station or port, in over 250 cities worldwide.  It is even possible to book a local English-speaking driver and guide to provide a personalised sightseeing tour of the city.

These new services provide an additional commission-earning opportunity for retail agents, at 12%; the same rate offered on all other OctopusTravel products at www.Agents.OctopusTravel.com. 

They complement OctopusTravel’s extensive portfolio of 19,000 discounted hotels, apartments and group sightseeing tours and have been developed in response to numerous requests from customers.

 

For clients, the biggest benefit of the private transfer service is the removal of anxiety because they can travel to a destination knowing that they will be met by someone they can trust, they will avoid standing in line, they will experience a high quality vehicle, with sufficient room for everyone in their group, and they will not have to worry about the fare as they will have already paid the travel agent in advance.  OctopusTravel’s policy is to price competitively against the local chauffeur-driven car market. 

 

Ray Mason, Managing Director, said: “We decided to develop these new services after hearing too many horror stories from our customers involving taxi journeys from foreign airports - families of four having to take two cabs because there is not enough room, cab drivers overcharging or taking circuitous routes and dirty cars in hot countries with no air conditioning.” 

 

Should a flight be delayed, there is no need for concern, as the flight times are checked in advance and pick-up times are automatically adjusted if necessary.  Clients are also given a 24-hour contact number for added reassurance.  If clients wish, in many cities, they can pay a premium to book a local representative who speaks their language, who will provide useful local information and will assist them checking in at their accommodation.

 

OctopusTravel is also offering tailored private sightseeing.  With this option, travellers enjoy the services of a highly experienced local guide who speaks several languages, a quality vehicle and their own chauffeur to take them around.  They can choose from a recommended itinerary or request their own choice on the day. 

 

Agents can book the new services on OctopusTravel’s Retail Booking System in the same way that they book hotels, apartments and tours, paying by direct debit, cheque or credit/debit card.  Retrieving and amending bookings is very simple and telephone support is available from 8am-10pm on weekdays and from 9am-5pm on weekends.

 

Ray Mason continued: “With the launch of this service, OctopusTravel is providing agents with exciting new add-ons that will enable them not only to earn additional commission but also to offer a much more complete and personalised service to their clients.” 

 

He concluded: “As far as I am aware, nobody else has such an extensive combination of services and destinations worldwide.  I am confident that Octopus now offers travel agents the widest selection of add-ons and www.Agents.OctopusTravel.com deserves to be the first point of call for increasing revenues per booking.”

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