introduction to whl.travel

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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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.

Our focus is on emerging markets and off-the-beaten-track destinations.

After 8 successful years, we have become renowned as a market leader in the drive for sustainable tourism.

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Collectively we are able to leverage and build relationships which independent entrepreneurs or smaller networks cannot.

1. run a small or medium-sized local, incoming travel agency2. are looking for new opportunities3. are truly passionate about their destination4. understand the potential in the internet 5. Believe in the value of sustainable tourism and responsible travel

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We are looking for people who:

6. Would like to have the support of a global network

7. Recognize that resultsonly come after investments of time and money

We have developed a businessmodel that combines:

+ Variety of products and services+ Complete information about the

destination+ High-quality, trusted website

+ Personalized and unique tips

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=Possibility to become the biggest specialist and the key reference in the destination, generating infinite business possibilities.

• 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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• Additional opportunities to sell and market your business, through online marketing, representation at trade shows, and our global referral network.

• A 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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As the exclusive franchise owner you get:

Affiliate programs that allow a diversity of marketing anddistribution opportunities via partner websites.

Being“The Local Connection”, offering the independent travellermarket a great variety of products and services in a personalized way,and being able to attend specific demands.

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you can also capitalize on…

The websites offered are built professionally, with high quality standards,and allow instant bookings and a secure online payment gateway.

The benefit –the franchise owner receives commissions on all thebookings made via the website.

By offering a free website to hotels, the MPO puts himself in a betterposition to negotiate better rates and creates partnerships for thedistribution of other products such as tours and transfers.

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Franchisees can offer free websites to local accommodation providers

Some examples of hotel websites:http://www.copacabanario-hotel.comhttp://www.nirvanaresortportvila.comhttp://www.metropolehotel-bh.comhttp://www.brasilpalacehotel.com

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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We help travellers find you.

But joining whl.travel brings much more than just a website and Google Analytics.

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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.

We facilitate relationships with like-minded people in tourism, from all over the world, so you no longer have to solve business issues alone.

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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.

Also by joining WHL travel, you immediately have access to our international network across all our brands.

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Assesses market readiness, develops high quality digital content, builds capacity, improves energy efficiency and assists with access to finance.

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

• 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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The story of WHL…

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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Today whl.travel spans 300 destinations in 100 countries

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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Only companies chosen by whl.travel’s selection process are offered the opportunity to obtain a franchise.

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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Next Steps

Mika SantosProgramme Development Manager

Asia and the Pacific Regional Office

[e] mikaela@whl.travel[t] + 63 917 7956452

[s] mikasandtoes[w] www.whl.travel

If you are interested in learning more, please contact...