Summary
Why are the Chambers going into the travel business?
The biggest player is Citslinc Inc., Chamber Discoveries and Collette Vacations.
Citslinc is a cash basis company and does not provide documentation. Is this company even bonded especially since they are on a cash basis?
The biggest player is Citslinc Inc., Chamber Discoveries and Collette Vacations.
Citslinc is a cash basis company and does not provide documentation. Is this company even bonded especially since they are on a cash basis?
How to the chambers in California get away with advertising their tours in the local newspaper, radio and TV with out using a CST#?
Analysis
I own Academy Travel and had a client go on a Greece trip booked through Chamber Discoveries and she called me asking if she could sue them because they used a hotel in the "red light" district in Greece, that is only one of many calls that I get from my clients.
Travel agencies are only allowed to sell travel at what the tour company quotes. We cannot do a "markup" trips for clients as quoted in the article "For the most part, chambers organize travel events as fundraiser, adding their own markups to the operator's price to supplement their income from membership dues. "
http://www.chamberdiscoveries.com/ is a company based in Fresno, California and do not have their CST# on their website which is against the law.
http://www.citslinc.com/ is a company based in Monterey, California and does not have a CST# on their website.
http://www.collettevacations.com/index.cfm Collette Vacations sells travel in California and they do not have a CST# on their website.
http://ag.ca.gov/travel/ read more about CST# of California.
http://slochamber.org/Library/2009ChinaFlyer.pdf San Luis Obispo flyer has a CST# but when I searched the Sellers of Travel website, nothing came up. San Luis Obispo Chamber must be processing credit cards because it states on their flyer that there is a $50 additional fee if you use a credit card. Citslinc is on a cash basis. If the San Luis Obispo Chamber is taking in money for travel and processing credit cards then they need their own CST#. That is the law.
The article goes on to say "However, Shammas added, Citslinc bookings are cash only." I have looked over their website and I do not see that they are insured and bonded. I would be hesitant of booking with a company that does not have a bond with The Unites States Tour Operators Association.
Why should the local travel agency join the chamber if they are promoting and
by- passing the local agency? Chambers should not be promoting travel with
direct companies. It is against every Chambers mission statement. Chambers are to help promote local businesses within their community.
I see the chamber-sponsored tours as unfair competition, and I am not alone in thinking this.
What do you think?
This author consults with leading institutions through GLG
Analyses are solely the work of the authors and have not been edited or endorsed by GLG.
