| Marketing channel members provide information, | | | | Corporate Travel Managers: Big corporations have |
| promotion, selling, financing and risk taking. Intermediates | | | | in-house travel departments. They reduce business |
| increase the geographical and market coverage of | | | | cost and increase purchasing power by bulk buying. |
| tour operators. Here is a bit of information various | | | | With the advent of CRS-Computer Reservation |
| types of intermediaries in tourism industry. | | | | System and Interactive Computer Software, corporate |
| Tour Wholesalers: They plan and market tour | | | | travel department has become more popular concept. |
| packages. Services they provide are combination of | | | | Incentive Travel Planner: Travel operators offer |
| the services of various service providers such as | | | | concessions to potential travelers to have their tour |
| carriers, hotels, catering, guides, and transportation. | | | | confirmed. Special agents called Incentive Travel |
| Tour Operators: They offer tour packages prepared | | | | Planners take care of these type of travelers. |
| by wholesellers. Planning of a tour package begins | | | | Consortium: Organisations make consortiums to offer |
| more than a year before the start of a tour. Thorough | | | | services. For instance Phuket in Thailand has an |
| market research is done before finalising a package. | | | | organisation with several hotels as members. Booking |
| They hold negotiations with service providers. | | | | can be done in any of these hotels. |
| Promotion and distribution strategy is also finalised. | | | | Franchising: This is a hybrid form of entrepreneurship. |
| Travel Agents: Travel industry all over the world is | | | | An established brand grants an individual or a firm the |
| dominated by travel agents. They make for 95% of | | | | right to conduct business operations using its name. |
| international tour packages and 80% of international | | | | The rights holder is required to follow a set pattern of |
| hotel bookings. There income comes from the | | | | operation over a period of time. The arrangement is |
| commissions they receive from airlines and hotels. | | | | good for both the sides. The franchisee gets |
| Travel agents are implants and independents. Implant | | | | established brands to sell and assistance in |
| agents have their office in the premises of corporate | | | | management. Franchisers receive royalty on the gross |
| clients. Independent travel agents have offices in the | | | | sales. |
| market and operate independently. | | | | |