Welcome to whl.travel
whl.travel is the largest local-travel company in the world, a global network of companies that help travellers find unique ways to experience a destination through local tourism professionals.
whl.travel empowers local partners who have practice in experiential and mindful travel and a local's knack for identifying, explaining and sustaining the distinctive qualities of a place.
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Our focus is on emerging markets and off-thebeaten-track destinations. whl.travel emphasizes responsible travel and keeping things local by focusing on smaller hotels, guesthouses and tour operators, particularly in developing countries and emerging markets where it can really have an impact.
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After 8 successful years, we have become renowned as a market leader in the drive for sustainable tourism.
Collectively we are able to leverage and build relationships which independent entrepreneurs or smaller networks cannot.
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We are looking for people who: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
run a small or medium-sized local, incoming travel agency are looking for new opportunities are truly passionate about their destination understand the potential in the internet Believe in the value of sustainable tourism and responsible travel
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Would like to have the support of a global network Recognize that results only come after investments of time and money
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We have developed a business model that combines: + Variety of products and services + Complete information about the destination + High-quality, trusted website + Personalized and unique tips
= Possibility to become the biggest specialist and the key reference in the destination, generating infinite business possibilities.
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• We provide local partners (franchisees) with a complete package to commercialize accommodations, tours, transfers and other services in the destination, along with powerful tools to compete in the modern online marketplace.
• WHL Group offers entrepreneurs a brand with web sites attracting over 5 million visitors.
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As the exclusive franchise owner you get: •
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Additional opportunities to sell and market your business, through online marketing, representation at trade shows, and our global referral network. Sophisticated yet user-friendly direct sales system for accommodations, tours, activities and transfers. The opportunity to earn profit through both commissions and services provided: accommodations, tours, activities, transfers, events, etc Exclusivity in your destination.
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you can also capitalize on…
Affiliate programs that allow a diversity of marketing and distribution opportunities via partner websites. To be “The Local Connection”, offering the independent traveller market a great variety of products and services in a personalized way, being able to attend specific demands.
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MPOs can offer free websites to local accommodation providers
The websites offered are built professionally, with high quality standards, and allow instant bookings and a secure online payment gateway. The benefit –the MPO receives commissions on all the bookings made via the website. By offering a free website to hotels, the MPO puts himself in a better position to negotiate better rates and creates partnerships for the distribution of other products such as tours and transfers. Some examples of hotel websites: http://www.novotel-hotel-athens.com http://www.art-hotel-laine-riga.com http://www.vilnius-guesthouse.com http://www.hotelkerkini.com
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We help travellers find you.
We provide our partners with access to online business tools like Google Analytics, that collect valuable information like where visitors are coming from and how they interact with the website. More than giving access to this tool, we train our partners on how to utilize their data to optimize results in their online businesses. We also provide support in the setup of sponsored link campaigns through Google Adwords. Companies typically charge a few thousand dollars for this service alone.
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But joining whl.travel brings much more than just a website and Google Analytics. As an entrepreneur, you are tapping in to our network, and leveraging the resources and creative drive of a global network of like-minded operators who can help your business grow in so many ways.
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We facilitate relationships with like-minded people in tourism, from all over the world, so you no longer have to solve business issues alone. We have established a dedicated intranet site with a „Facebook‟ style social-media system to allow you to meet other operators from around the globe. WHL Group hold regular meetings- both international conferences, regional “meet & greets” and country events.
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Also by joining WHL travel, you immediately have access to our international network across all our brands.
Day tours in and around 100 cities designed and led by local professionals. Joint venture with Intrepid Travel.
Eco-friendly (100% carbon offset) airport and inter-city transfer services
Assesses market readiness, develops high quality digital content, builds capacity, improves energy efficiency and assists with access to finance.
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The story of WHL.TRAVEL… • whl.travel was founded in 2002 as a pilot project incubated by the International Finance Corporation (part of the World Bank Group) for bringing small- and medium-sized accommodation and tour providers into the online distribution/booking world. • After a series of very successful trials in the Mekong region, in Southeast Asia and in the Pacific, whl.travel was spun off as a private company to facilitate the rollout of booking portals in other regions of the world.
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Today whl.travel spans 300 destinations in 100 countries whl.travel regional offices are located in Belo Horizonte, Cape Town, Miami, Prague, and Sydney. Additional core operational offices are anchored in Hong Kong, Saigon, Vietnam and Beirut.
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Only companies chosen by whl.travel’s selection process are offered the opportunity to obtain a franchise. The cost to become a partner and own a destination franchise is USD 3,500.00. This is really more of a commitment fee, since the actual cost to WHL is much higher (USD 17,000.00). The whole investment is covered 80% by whl.travel and 20% by the partner.
There is an annual charge to each MPO to cover the ongoing costs of providing membership to the global whl.travel network, access to the whl.travel product, ongoing technical management and marketing support.
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Next Steps Sound good? Our franchise owners actually have a lot to say about how whl.travel has impacted their business. Please click here for testimonials. You can also fill out an application by clicking here.
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If you are interested in learning more, please contact...
Anda Cirule [e] anda@whl.travel [t] + 420 257 913 093 [w] www.whl.travel