November 21st, 2018 by Admin
We care about our clients and are happy to hear from them, we were able to sit down with one of them and hear their story. Let’s get some Monday motivation and meet Kash Patel from Baryia Travel.
Thank you so much for taking the time to do this interview, it is an honor. Since we know you are taking time away from your busy schedule let’s get started. Tell us about yourself and your business.
I founded Baryia Travel in 1991 and have been designing luxury travel packages for individuals to small groups! We specialize in South Pacific (Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, Fiji, Cook Island and Hawaii), Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, and the Indian Ocean Islands), and Luxury Cruises (ocean and River). I am a Premium Aussie, Kiwi, Kenya and Fundi (South Africa) Specialist and certified by respective countries Tourism Commissions! I have also completed certification offered by Silver Seas, Uniworld River Cruises, among the major cruise lines. Our expertise include romance (honeymoons, destination weddings, etc.) adventure, and sports (golf, tennis, etc.) travel.
Thank you so much for sharing. Tell us, has the journey been smooth or have there been some bumps along the way?
The journey has been anything but smooth, but we are still going strong now for about 27 years! Couple years after starting the business, airlines stopped paying commissions to travel agencies, but we survived and since then have learned various lessons as we march forward! Although many bumps in the road, it has been a very pleasant and enjoyable journey!
Please tell us more about Baryia Travel.
Our motto is “Making your dream vacations a reality”. We accomplice this by making sure we understand what they want and design to meet their needs and desire and paying attention to every detail! By working with local tour operators in various countries we make sure they get the best experience!
Wow, that is very interesting, thanks for sharing. What made you decide to open up this business? What are you most passionate about it?
I have been passionate about travel and born and raised in Africa I wanted people to experience this very different continent! One of my first trip after starting my business was Australia and I fell in love with the island continent and since then I have visited South Pacific about 25 times to learn what they have to offer!
Thank you so much for answering all of our questions, before we let you go, is there any tips of advice you would give to other entrepreneurs like yourself?
Listening to customers’ needs and providing superior customer service with attention to details! Provide them off the beaten path experiences!
Share with us how customers can find you.
kash@baryiatravel.com
617-527-4799
We work by appointment only but have flexible hours and can also come to you for a meeting!
It was a wonderful opportunity to meet and talk with Kash Patel, be sure to contact them for your luxury travel needs!
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged with: business, business cards, business travel, entrepreneur, entrepreneur blog, feature, interview, luxury, online travel, travel agency, traveling
August 25th, 2017 by Elma Jane
A travel merchant account helps you manage all your transactions. It also allows you to integrate into your booking software; plus, there are more features that you get to process payments in a secure environment.
Virtual Merchant Payment Terminal
This is a web-based system that allows you to view processed payments in real-time. You can access it using any web browser, and the transactions are conducted over a secure and encrypted connection.
Customers get receipts for their payments via email once the transaction is complete. You can also handle installments and recurring payments online. It also accepts different payment methods, including gift cards, electronic checks, and credit and debit cards.
Loyalty Programs
With a travel merchant account, you are able to reward your loyal travel customers. You can personalize your loyalty program for customers basing on their behavior. A loyalty program can offer free products or discounts on certain tour or travel packages.
Also, you can make gift cards part of your program. With these cards, you can simply load them with any dollar amount and present them to your customers. Plus, they’re re-loadable and offer a great way of advertising. These programs can go a long way in boosting your customer’s loyalty.
Trams & Sabre Integration
If you’re using Sabre Travel Network for agency services, you can easily integrate your account into Sabre to improve your travel options. This integration allows you to provide convenient payment methods for customers searching for cruise lines, hotel properties, car rental services, and airlines.
Also, for those using Trams for accounting and reporting, NTC travel merchant account lets you make a simple integration. In the long run, you are able to focus on growing your travel agency and offer quality services to your clients.
Mobile Processing
Accepts payments fast and on-the-go with mobile processing solutions that are PCI compliant. With this service, you only need to use a mobile device card reader to swipe cards.
Mobile payment processing allows you to use your own iOS or Android device with a free mobile app which you can integrate with your account to manage transactions.
Offering a convenient and smooth payment methods to your clients is one of the ways to grow your business. National Transaction Corporation merchant account, offers secured travel payment processing services e-Pay, to process your payments; with no delays and at a very competitive rates.
Also, you can accept payments from anywhere and get 100 percent funding. Faster deposits for bookings, which can occur as quick as the next business day.
To speak to our travel payment consultant, call now 888-996-2273
Posted in Best Practices for Merchants Tagged with: card reader, credit, debit cards, electronic checks, Gift Cards, Loyalty Programs, mobile, payment processing, payments, PCI, swipe, terminal, transactions, travel agency, Travel Merchant, virtual merchant
May 15th, 2017 by Elma Jane
Process Your Travel Agency Payments For Less. Get 100% Funding The Next Day!
Call now 888-996-2273 or sign up here NationalTransaction.com
Posted in Best Practices for Merchants, Travel Agency Agents Tagged with: merchant, payments, travel, travel agency
March 20th, 2017 by Elma Jane
Process Your Travel Agency Payments For Less. Get 100% Funding The Next Day!
Call now 888-996-2273 or Sign Up now!
Posted in Best Practices for Merchants, Travel Agency Agents Tagged with: payments, travel agency
September 30th, 2016 by Elma Jane
The Process of Underwriting!
Some of the key things that are reviewed in setting up electronic payments.
Getting a merchant account, is an important step for any businesses that sells services.
Merchants need to understand the following process:
Billing policy – Businesses that bill too far in advance are at greater risk for a chargeback. Knowing how does the business bill is important.
Example: A travel agency who sold travel destination packages six months in advance and cancel the trip.
Business type – Businesses at a higher risk are industries with vague products or services; which are more highly to be examined in detail than those with concrete offerings.
Chargeback history – A business with a lot of chargebacks tied to their old merchant account will have a hard time with underwriting. A chargeback can be issued by the cardholder; if the merchant does not fulfill the product or services being rendered as agreed.
Owner/signer credit score – Credit score plays a big role during merchant account underwriting. However, some processors will review financial statements instead in the case of poor credit. if the original signer’s credit score is insufficient, businesses with multiple partners can also try the application with a different signer.
Requested volumes – This are weighed against the processing volumes requested on the application. New businesses usually start with smaller volumes to build a trustworthy relationship before increasing their processing volumes.
Years in business – Long terms in business go a long way in merchant account underwriting; it speaks for their legitimacy and they are more prepared to respond to something like a chargeback and often have a more stable cash flow.
Posted in Best Practices for Merchants, Travel Agency Agents Tagged with: cardholder, chargeback, credit, electronic payments, merchant account, processors, travel agency
August 1st, 2016 by Elma Jane
ASTA/NACTA Florida Summit & FAM Trip with Richard Delos Santos, NTC Specialist; and Robert Duglin, Vice President of Business Development at ASTA (American Society of Travel Agents) and NACTA: The National Association of Career Travel Agents
National Transaction the Payments Expert for Travel Agency! For more information give us a call at 888-996-2273.
Posted in Best Practices for Merchants, Travel Agency Agents Tagged with: payments, travel agency, travel agents
June 14th, 2016 by Elma Jane
Getting a merchant account is an important step for any business that sells services. Helping merchant to understand the underwriting process and some of the key things that are reviewed, in order to get approved.
Billing policy – Does the business bill in advance or after products or services are rendered? Businesses that bill too far in advance are at greater risk for a chargeback.
Example: A travel agency who sold travel destination packages six months in advance and cancel the trip, you’ll need to reimburse your customers.
Business type – Some business types are riskier. Industries with vague products or services are more highly to be examined in detail than those with concrete offerings.
Chargeback history – A business with a lot of chargebacks tied to their old merchant account will have a hard time with underwriting. A chargeback might be issued by the cardholder when they feel that the merchant does not fulfil the product or service being rendered as agreed.
Owner / signer credit score – Credit score plays a big role during merchant account underwriting. However, some processors will review financial statements instead in the case of poor credit. if the original signer’s credit score is insufficient, businesses with multiple partners can also try the application with a different signer.
Requested volumes – Are weighed against the processing volumes requested on the application. New businesses usually start with smaller volumes to build a trustworthy relationship before increasing their processing volumes.
Years in business – Long terms in business go a long way in merchant account underwriting, it speaks for their legitimacy. They are more prepared to respond to something like a chargeback and often have a more stable cash flow.
Posted in Best Practices for Merchants Tagged with: business, cardholder, chargeback, customers, financial, Industries, merchant account, products, services, travel, travel agency
May 13th, 2016 by Elma Jane
Getting new clients are one of the most time-consuming and expensive parts of running a travel agency.
Here are some travel agency marketing tools that are cost-effective and time-saving to help you.
E-Marketing – email marketing is a key to connecting with your customer on an ongoing basis. You want to make sure you’re in touch since they could plan a trip on a moment’s notice.
Personalized Email Addresses – Gmail is one of the top lists of a free travel agency marketing tool. Gmail is easy-to-use and effectively manages your inbox with labels.
- Gmail is free as long as you have less than 10 email users and each user sends less than 500 emails per day.
- Use your personalized travel agency domain name email address instead of gmail.com.
- Promote your travel agency name using YourName@YourAgencyWebsite.com email address.
CRM Tool – a salesperson’s success usually can be traced back to an efficient sales process. The sales process is the method of sales person takes a perspective customer from lead to a sale.
- Online CRM (Customer Relationship Management) tool can help you manage that process and help you close that sale.
- CRMs are an investment and are an essential travel agency marketing tool.
Website Live Chat – free instant messenger client, a great travel agency marketing tool.
- Choose to interact with the visitor to answer their questions.
- Promote it as another channel existing clients can reach you.
- There’s also a free iPhone app, so you can interact with clients on the go. All for free!
Posted in Best Practices for Merchants, Travel Agency Agents Tagged with: crm, customer, travel, travel agency
March 16th, 2016 by Elma Jane
More and more travel agents and tour operators are working in a card-not-present transaction that opens the door to travel agency credit card fraud. Travel Agencies are among the highest-risk merchants, as far as credit card processors are concerned. The reason is more likely the dispute and chargeback transactions.
So what should you do, whether you have just started your travel agency or have been in business for years to reduce risk?
First, understand the potential liability associated with selling airfares online before you even apply for a merchant account. Understanding risk exposure will help travel agency take adequate steps to minimize losses associated with chargebacks.
A good example is an airline sales agent. A travel agency or a tour operator merchant account may be liable for the entire amount of an airline ticket, if it is successfully disputed by a customer or if it was purchased with a stolen credit card.
To reduce risk, you will need to set up card acceptance policies and procedures to address the following issues:
- Authorization requests approved by an issuer. In most cases, airlines are liable for card-not-present transaction fraud, even when they were approved by the card issuer, because authorization approval is not a proof that the legitimate cardholder is making the purchase, nor is it a guarantee of payment.
- As a travel agency, your organization may not necessarily be a Visa or MasterCard merchant, subject to the Credit Card Associations’ rules and regulations. In most fraud-related transactions, the airline transfers liability to the travel agency it has partnered with as part of the contractual agreement. In such cases, your organization will bear the full financial responsibility.
Selecting a payment processor is a big step, choose one with experience in working with travel agencies and other high-risk merchants. Your processor must be able to assist you with your fraud prevention procedures.
Check out National Transaction Corp. we are the travel experts when it comes to electronic payments for travel agencies! Give us a call now at 888-996-2273 or visit us at www.nationaltransaction.com
Posted in Best Practices for Merchants, Travel Agency Agents Tagged with: card, card-not-present, cardholder, chargeback, credit card, customer, fraud, high-risk merchants, merchant account, merchants, payment, processors, risk, transaction, travel, travel agencies, travel agency, travel agents
March 7th, 2016 by Elma Jane
It is my pleasure to write this testimonial for National Transaction Company!
My travel agency has been associated with this organization since 2005 and I continue to believe they are the best solution for my home based operation’s credit card merchant transactions. The process is simple, efficient and it provides me a profitable way to accept client credit cards and manage my agency’s cash flow.
Their support team is the best!
Judy K
JMK TRAVEL INC.
Posted in Best Practices for Merchants, Travel Agency Agents Tagged with: credit card, merchant, transactions, travel, travel agency
