NTA Group Trip Planner 2011-2012 : Page 6

Who We Are Why Work with an NTA Tour Operator? NTA is the premier professional trade association for tour operators. Travel professionals join NTA to demonstrate their commitment to their profes-sion, further their education, and collaborate and partner with the best in the field to bring their customers (you) the very best product. Since its founding in 1951, NTA has served a broad and diverse group of travel com-panies to help them expand their network of partners and grow their businesses. While the association’s base remains strongly North American, its membership features tour operators, tour suppliers and destination marketing orga-nizations that represent more than 40 countries around the world. Its nearly 1,500 tour operator members include everything from smaller, family-owned businesses to larger companies that work with hundreds of thousands of cus-tomers per year. nta trip planner NTA members come together several times a year to network and develop product in destinations around the world. This group of tour operators met for NTA’s international business builder, Montage, which was held in Aberdeen, Scotland. Attendees visited the Strathisla Distillery in nearby Keith. For group leaders, working with an NTA tour operator delivers many benefits. Among them: › Worldwide reach. As part of a global network of tourism professionals, including representatives of hotels, destinations and attractions, an NTA tour operator can take your group anywhere. › Volume pricing. Because of the volume of business they do and their relationships with other travel professionals, NTA tour operators have access to competitive pricing. › Insider knowledge. NTA tour operators know the market and can negotiate with authority. › Easy planning. When you place your group’s trip in the hands of an NTA tour operator, he or she will find out exactly what you want and put it together for you. That frees you up to sell the trip. › Valuable experience. NTA tour operators have been in business an average of 23 years and are among the most experienced in the industry. › Plenty of options. Most NTA tour operators customize packages for groups, based on specific interests and needs. › Experienced itinerary pacing. NTA tour operators understand how to plan activities, meals and downtime throughout an itinerary so your group is happy and comfortable. › Security. NTA tour operators are among the most experienced in the industry and must uphold key requirements to join NTA’s ranks, including a minimum of $1 mil-lion in public liability insurance and a peer review. 6

Why Work with An NTA Tour Operator?

NTA is the premier professional trade association for tour operators. Travel professionals join NTA to demonstrate their commitment to their profession, further their education, and collaborate and partner with the best in the field to bring their customers (you) the very best product. Since its founding in 1951, NTA has served a broad and diverse group of travel companies to help them expand their network of partners and grow their businesses. While the association’s base remains strongly North American, its membership features tour operators, tour suppliers and destination marketing organizations that represent more than 40 countries around the world. Its nearly 1,500 tour operator members include everything from smaller, familyowned businesses to larger companies that work with hundreds of thousands of customers per year. In order to become a truly international gathering place for the travel industry, NTA has formed strategic partnerships with a range of allied organizations, which include the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association, National Association of Career Travel Agents, Sister Cities International, Sustainable Travel International, Travel Professionals of Color and the United Motorcoach Association. NTA also brings its members into contact with destination experts across the globe through its alliances with Destination Marketing Association International, the Africa Travel Association, the Caribbean Tourism Organization and the Indian Association of Tour Operators. On the pages that follow, you’ll nd information on 20 top cities for groups, destinations and attractions to target for history lovers, the latest shows on Broadway and elsewhere, and information on group-friendly casinos, restaurants and shopping venues. You can read a couple of Q&As with NTA tour operators who package travel for special-interest groups, too. Planning successful trips involves the precise coordination of so many elements. When partnering with a professional tour operator, not only will you be sure all the details are taken care of, but you’ll get the best trip for your group’s money, too! Flip to the Tour Operator Directory on page 64 to look for a tour operator you can work with. Every tour operator mentioned in NTA Trip Planner articles and in the directory is a member of NTA. at means they are professional tour operators who are: vetted by their peers, globally networked, required to maintain at least $1 million in general liability insurance, and most importantly passionate and dedicated to what they do. You also can search for NTA-member tour operators on www.NTAonline.com. For group leaders, working with an NTA tour operator delivers many benefits. Among them: Worldwide reach. As part of a global network of tourism professionals, including representatives of hotels, destinations and attractions, an NTA tour operator can take your group anywhere. Volume pricing. Because of the volume of business they do and their relationships with other travel professionals, NTA tour operators have access to competitive pricing. Insider knowledge. NTA tour operators know the market and can negotiate with authority. Easy planning. When you place your group’s trip in the hands of an NTA tour operator, he or she will find out exactly what you want and put it together for you. That frees you up to sell the trip. Valuable experience. NTA tour operators have been in business an average of 23 years and are among the most experienced in the industry. Plenty of options. Most NTA tour operators customize packages for groups, based on specific interests and needs. Experienced itinerary pacing. NTA tour operators understand how to plan activities, meals and downtime throughout an itinerary so your group is happy and comfortable. Security. NTA tour operators are among the most experienced in the industry and must uphold key requirements to join NTA’s ranks, including a minimum of $1 million in public liability insurance and a peer review. How to Find an NTA Tour Operator on NTAonline.com A majority of NTA’s tour operators work with group leaders. Finding them is easy with the tour operator search engine available at NTAonline.com. Here’s how: Go to www.NTAonline.com. Click the “Travelers” tab on the dark-blue banner at the top of the page. Click the orange “Find a Tour Operator” box. Fill in the open fields that you’re interested in searching by. (You can search for tour operators based on various criteria, including the type of trip you want to organize, your chosen destination or where the travel company is based. The search will give you a list of tour operators based on one search parameter or many.) When the search is complete, the results will appear on your screen as a list of company names with contact information. Click “More Info” by any listing to get additional details about the company, including the destinations the company packages, types of tours they offer and even how long they have been a member of NTA. The list also may be downloaded as an Excel file.

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