A FEW IMPORTANT QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR TRAVEL PROVIDER
If you already have a travel provider, here are some questions that you should be asking. The onus is on you to ask penetrating questions to protect your travelers and your institution.
Question: Do you have a travel license? And if so, under what regulatory board? In this age of Ponzi schemes and hedge fund fraud, you should make sure that the travel provider you use is in fact properly licensed to offer travel services both nationally and internationally.
BT Answer: We are licensed by TICO (Travel Industry Council of Ontario) in North America -Registration #4477196 and by the Préfecture de la Côte d’Or in France - Licence # 021.05.0003. These licenses allow us to legally operate trips all over the world.
Question: What is kind of insurance coverage does your company have? Do you have full insurance or will you just take out a one-time policy for my trip?
BT Answer: We carry full-time insurance for all of our trips with Lombard in North America and AXA in Europe for up to $10 million per incident. These insurance arms cover incidents on destinations throughout the world not just in North America and Europe.
Question: How many staff do you have?
So many “one-man” operations make it appear that they have a big support staff. But if there are only one or two people working at the company what happens if they have a personal tragedy, sickness or injury? You are left without an operator.
BT Answer: We have 8 full-time staff and a crew of 15 part-time experts that we can call on if needed.
Question: Do you make the arrangements for my trip directly or do you work with a local ground operator in the destination we have chosen?
If you’re dealing with a US company or agency which then has to pay a ground operator in Europe to arrange and run the program, you are paying extra for an intermediary.
BT Answer: We have offices on both sides of the Atlantic with staff speaking 7 languages. We handle all aspects of the trip from beginning to end directly with the suppliers. This is more efficient, results in better quality and saves money.
Question: Who will administer our trip here in North America?
If you’re dealing with a strictly European company, what about all the important before and after? Who will handle the trip administration, payment, mailings and enquiries? Who will collect the traveler’s program fees? (In some states it is illegal for the institution to do so.) Who will answer the many questions that crop up daily? What if people want to pay by credit card?
BT Answer: Our North American office at the end of an 800-line handles all these issues and many more while you concentrate on your job of running the institution.
Question: I have an idea for a trip but I need a proposal before our board meeting next week. Can you help?
BT Answer: We have three offices, the work goes on 24/7 and we can have a proposal and costing to you within a few days of your request.
Question: What kind of support do you offer in helping us publicize our trip to our members?
BT Answer: We can create a trip website for you as well as a printed trip synopsis. Please ask to see samples.
Question: What kind of on-trip information do you provide to the travelers?
BT Answer: We create a personalized handbook for each trip. Please ask to see samples.
Please ask about the above issues and any others that occur to you. Your important donors are counting on you.
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