AFTER years in the doldrums, the Network of Independent Travel and Allied Services Philippines (NITAS) has re-emerged with a new direction to foster a culture of networking and arrange B2B transactions between its members and wholesalers.
NITAS’ name change from the original Network of Independent Travel Agencies Philippines and new logo came into effect this month, and gives a more accurate reflection of what it does, said vice president Angel Ramos Bognot.
The NITAS will promote networking not just among travel agencies, hotels and airlines, but also with hospitality schools, restaurants, handicraft shops, and so on, both locally and abroad.
Agencies from Vietnam, Thailand and Sri Lanka have indicated interest in joining, Bognot said.
The group is also actively organising business fam trips that will include meetings with wholesalers rather than just the usual site inspection, as it did with a fam trip to Osaka in February.
More trips are being planned in collaboration with Philippine Airlines and Turkish Airlines.
NITAS is also working on inviting its partners and suppliers to Travel Business Exchange for networking so they can do marketing, promotions and selling on-site, Bognot said.
Formed in the early 2000s, NITAS had over 1,000 members during its prime but was overtaken by the National Association of Independent Travel Agencies until former officers revived it nearly three years ago and formed chapters in Cebu and Mindanao.
