On the occasion of the UFTAA-FATA Management Seminar held in Singapore, the United Federation of Travel Agents Associations (UFTAA) launched its “Travel Industry Pass” – the TIP-Card. The system, created by…
On the occasion of the UFTAA-FATA Management Seminar held in Singapore, the United Federation of Travel Agents Associations (UFTAA) launched its “Travel Industry Pass” – the TIP-Card. The system, created by UFTAA for travel agents, has two levels:
- The TIP Card, serves as an industry identification and includes a photo and personal details on a magnetic strip. It has a unique coded number.
- It will serve as a professional ID to gain benefits from various suppliers within the travel and tourism industry. The approval of the TIP Card is subject to a double vetting procedure complying with required security standards. TIP-Card has an online card verification system at uftaa.travel and XML technology enables suppliers verify identities.
- The second level is the Travel Industry Pass-registration into a database through the same XML technology that gives the registrants and card holders access to the most advanced reservations and user systems, designed exclusively for travel agents needs and interests. TIP Card holders have an automatic access. It also opens a gate to our search-engine for best process from over 90,000 hotels, car-hire and cruise companies, and a reservation portal. The system can upload individual negotiated fares, collects commission.
According to the Federation, the TIP Card gives Travel consultants and managers access to an information databank, online discussion forums between travel agents, individual consultants and the associations, together with weather information, health and security information, mailing, newsletter and email services.
The TIP Card which is a multi-functional and fully integrated Internet-based commercial and management tool, opens the gate to a reservation portal with a secure payment channel. This can also be used for other commercial transactions like membership fees, buying booklets etc.
The programme is currently being Beta-tested with some 4,000 users and has proved solid – with only minor adjustments required to fit a global community. The system is multilingual. The TIP, in addition, provides travel and tourism agency associations with a management tool which will help them to administer their members on a secure site, to use it for mailings, forums, newsletters (UFTAA, and its partners, will provide ready-made templates), membership fee control and other cost saving features.
The South-East Asia delegates attending the Forum showed great interest and welcomed the initiative to get an international system made by the travel trade for the travel industry. UFTAA will open up live registrations later in February.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
