We live in a digital world populated with chatbots, robocallers, and Alexas. And it’s a wonderful thing! Technology makes our lives easier in so many ways- but it can’t replace genuine human interactions.
As a rule, our herd mentality drives us to connect with others to form a community of support and safety.
This is especially true for travel. While software and apps make planning group travel a snap, planners know it takes a personal touch to provide the best possible travel experience. They also know that an industry community of support is essential.
Join the GTO Community of Support for Travel Planners
Group Travel Odyssey is cloud-based software and service designed to make planning group trips simple and efficient. Its signature feature is hosted supplier data that users can access.
GTO’s other signature feature is its human connection! GTO is a community of support for group travel planners. Everything GTO does is hands-on and developed for the greater good.
That’s right – a technology company with a very real emphasis on personal connections!
How Does GTO Build a Community of Support for Travel Planners?
Since its inception, GTO has made a very deliberate effort to think like a community of users. GTO products and services respond to user needs:
- What do group travel planners need to be efficient and effective?
- How can GTO address industry trends?
- How can GTO leverage partnerships that support group travel planners?
- What resources are available?
These are the building blocks for the GTO community and the inspiration for resources that are available to its members.
Exclusive Hosted Supplier Data
GTO is the only travel planning platform that HOSTS and MAINTAINS supplier data. Accuracy Gurus work closely with the GTO community, suppliers, and trade associations to keep supplier information reliable and up to date.
Group travel planners understand that there is nothing more valuable than time spent growing their businesses. And less time spent on operations means more time nurturing new opportunities for success.
Each member of the GTO community can access this hosted data, streamlining operations and saving time.
Why Hosted Supplier Data is THE Smartest Move for Your Business
Coach and Go
When it’s time for a new phone, I spend countless hours trying to figure out how to use the new features that are supposed to make my life easier. Then I finally wise up and go to my teenagers, who get me up to speed in a snap.
GTO Coach and Go sessions are the informal coaching equivalents of my teenage tutorials. Each Thursday at 1:00 p.m. EST, Coach and Go streams live on YouTube or LinkedIn.
The GTO team answers questions about new features, rolls out new and helpful planning tools, and share ideas with the GTO community. Learn about reporting, maintaining clean data, managing passengers, and many other topics relevant to planning group travel.
The best part? It’s an open-door policy, so tour planners and come and go as needed!
Convos with Colleagues
Like Coach and Go, Convos with Colleagues is a casual roundtable discussion with DMOs, CVBs, tour operators, and travel advisors in great group destinations. Find out what’s new and exciting in our favorite places or what to try in some fresh spaces!
Convos with Colleagues is also structured so travel planners can drop in, ask the questions that are important to them, and move on with the day.
It streams live on YouTube or LinkedIn Tuesdays at 2:00 pm EST.
Stay on top of the latest information and industry trends – another way the GTO community takes care of its own!
Destinations Beyond Expectations (DBE)
The DBE podcast is a great way to learn about exciting locations or uncommon attractions. DBE brings a fresh perspective to trip planning and helpful information for the GTO community.
Broadway Inbound Partnership
One of the coolest community member features is GTO’s premier partnership with Broadway Inbound. Access show availability in real-time and know exactly what’s on sale for the dates of your trip.
Building a Broadway trip itinerary in the GTO system just got a LOT easier. That’s the power of a community of travel planners!
Community Architects
The Community Architects are the friendly faces and helpful experts of Team GTO. These are the people who are in touch with the user community and suppliers daily.
When travel planners and advisors have questions about GTO services, products, or the latest software features, Jo-Ann, Jim, and Kevin are ready to help.
Imagine… real people with real answers! Siri’s got nothin’ on these three ?
CONNECT WITH JIM, JO-ANN, AND KEVIN
Tourism Academy
Professional growth and development are essential for success. The Tourism Academy helps group travel planners with the tools they need to make it happen.
As an elite partner, the Tourism Academy brings resources like online training, certifications, skill development, and more to the GTO community.
Travel advisors and planners can also use the Tourism Academy GTO training platform. It helps them to better understand the system through bite-sized video snippets. It’s a really easy way to refresh, review with ops teams or learn something new and helpful!
A True Community of Support for Travel Planners
We embrace technology in its many forms – like my GPS guy who keeps me on the right road (most of the time. Until I ignore him and end up lost. I digress.)
But we also understand that human connections are essential. We rely on each other for support, understanding, and well-being.
GTO is a true community of support for group travel planners. It’s a forum for discussion, a way to leverage partnerships, and a planning resource that all members can access.
Group Travel Odyssey is a smart choice for an industry that thrives on a personal touch!
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT WHAT THE GTO COMMUNITY OF SUPPORT CAN DO FOR YOUR TRAVEL PLANNING BUSINESS
