New Tour Operator Aims for A Unique Product Exclusively for Travel Agents

Nikos Bolias (center) with Plan and Go staff members at the new tour operator’s premises.

New tour operator “Plan and Go” opened its doors on May 2 with the aim of providing “reliable and competitive travel services and products to the package tour market,” according to Nikos Bolias, general manager of Plan and Go.

Mr. Bolias explained that the new company is the first Greek tour operator providing travel related services with quality, confidentiality and reliability to five continents all year round, exclusively for agencies and not individual customers.

It is along these lines that two well-established and longstanding travel agencies, Monogram Travel and MTS Tourism Solutions decided to unite and create a new, independent travel agency, following their vast experience and a common vision that the two owners share. The two companies realized that there is a strong need for travel related products and services that are easily accessible, competitive, with quality, which has became stronger in recent years since tourism rose internationally and Greeks now travel more.

The  new company has three main objectives, and according to Mr. Bolias, these are to create, implement and support packages and programs all year round for five continents, build on trust and support from all Greek travel trade, and provide experienced and well-trained personnel, as well as professional online sales tools and support of travel agencies’ activities.

All the above are planned to serve one common goal; quality travel services and products available at the best possible and most competitive prices to travel agents. The way to achieve this goal is through investment on knowledge, experience, professionalism of staff members, modern organization, correct infrastructure -including online booking systems-coherence, and transparancy.

Having these in place the potential for Plan and Go in the Greek market according to Mr. Bolias, is tremendous. The company’s internet site, www.planandgo.gr is already operational and travel agents can find practical information about destinations, book existing group package tours on real time availability and, in due time, create individual, tailor-made package tours. Plan and Go has also produced an informative brochure to be sent to all its customers-travel agents so they can be thoroughly informed on what a specific country offers, thus relay and communicate this to their clients.

The production of promotional material -folders, note pads, pens- is also in process. This is part of the tour operator’s strategy to improve the service provided at all levels and in every way possible.

When asked about whether Plan and Go aims for competitive prices, the general manager explained that the concept of “competitive price means for us simply providing the service needed at a price level that the travel agent can make the sale at a reasonable profit without jeopardizing the quality of the product.”

Mr. Bolias asserted the ambition of Plan and Go is first and foremost to establish itself dynamically in the Greek market by creating a relationship of trust and eventually a long lasting relationship between the company and the travel agent.