Travel Trade
The travel trade (tour operators, OTA’s, travel agents and wholesalers) are an important distribution channel for the tourism industry and play a key role in attracting and bringing visitors to Jersey. Many consumers turn to these partners for inspiration, guidance and as a platform to book.
Travel Trade distributors vary in their requirements and roles within the industry so it is important to understand the audiences they are targeting and markets they are working within to ensure you gain the maximum from your partnerships. Working with these partners can help you attract new audiences, extend your seasonality, improve visitor spend with you and drive interest from new markets.
Below is a short guide to the key distribution partners, their role within the industry and how they would distribute your product.
Travel Agents
Travel Agents
Travel agents sell holidays and travel-based products to the consumer which can be sold through their retail shops, on-line platforms, travel bases within larger retail stores, or call centres. They are predominantly based in the country of origin and focus on selling outbound destinations and domestic products within those countries.
Tour Wholesalers
Tour Wholesalers
Supply touring options, offer transportation elements, accommodation, tours, and attractions to their clients. They don’t sell directly to the public
Tour Operators
Tour Operators
Tour operators predominantly design tours by buying services from different accommodation, attractions, and transport providers to sell these as packaged products directly to customers. They offer these packages at a lower rate than a person or business could potentially get by booking the travel on their own.
Destination Management Company (DMC)
Destination Management Company (DMC)
DMCs (also known as inbound tour operator) are a professional services company with local knowledge, expertise and resources who can design and implement the packaging of tours, events and transportation in a destination, managing the logistics to ensure the smooth delivery of in-market travel programmes.
Online Travel Agents (OTAs)
Online Travel Agents (OTAs)
OTAs are the online equivalent of a traditional travel agent or tour operator and deal directly with the consumer and tourism businesses. Consumers can purchase individual products or experiences, a specific tour, or an entire holiday package. They are one of the fastest growing distribution channels, they specialise with online distribution and act as a bridge between the consumer and suppliers.
Group Travel
Group Travel
There are many specialist tour operators who focus on group travel, from small groups to school groups. They will plan tours to meet their clients’ needs including accommodation options, a package of things to do and see, as well as providing them with coach or minibus travel throughout the trip.
Why the trade industry work with us
Visit Jersey work closely with the travel trade, as they are integral to the distribution of our on-island product. We provide the travel trade with the necessary tools to build destination and brand awareness, to ensure Jersey’s tourism industry is thriving. We value our relationships that we have built with the trade industry and the support they give us in attracting groups, couples, families, and solo travellers to the island.
Visit Jersey is committed to assisting the trade with training, consumer queries, keeping them up to date with the latest on island news, website and social media imagery and videos and campaigns.
Trade partners can also utilise our free business portal to profile their company directly to consumers interested in coming to Jersey, by uploading their company profile on the jersey.com website. Our travel trade partners are also able to promote offers to the destination and will benefit from the huge number of monthly referrals our site generates. Their company and deals will be presented on the website throughout the customer journey when they are searching for Jersey inspiration.
Training the travel industry
In partnership with the travel training platform OTT, we offer specific destination training where travel industry staff can learn more about Jersey. The training includes what to do, see and eat and accommodation options with our 5 easy training modules. We often host incentives on the training page to encourage as many of our valued trade partners to become Jersey experts.
Visit Jersey Brand Guidelines
Get in Touch
Start promoting your business through our mylistingsportal on the Jersey consumer website to attract your next Jersey customer: {INSERT_LINK_HERE}
Get in touch with: [email protected]
