TRUE ADVISOR EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
TARC - Travel Advisor Resource Center - Answer- Provides travel advisors with
tools to be successful
RTA - Recognized Travel Advisor - Answer- Educated and has completed TARC. An
expert that has a foundation and understands how to articulate business
development.
Why Use a travel advisor? - Answer- We are experts. We research daily the best
options. We know trends and experts in their niche.
Internet Interpreter - Answer- We can simplify what the average person doesn't
know. Terminology like: terms, conditions, itineraries, airport codes
What do we offer our clients? - Answer- . Time. Convenience. Value. Professional
Advice. Personal Service. Unbiased Recommendations. Customer Advocacy.
Niche - Answer- Specialized market and clientele. We become an expert in. We get
referrals and repeat business. It helps with marketing competitive business
advantage.
Niche Markets - Answer- Ocean cruises, river cruises, custom land, all inclusive,
Disney
Client Types - Answer- Romance, multi generational, LBGTQ+ and Groups
Why Niche? - Answer- Niching increases success b/c you become an expert in just
one area.
How to choose a Niche? - Answer- You have a passion for or a desire to have more
knowledge in an area. Good idea to test the waters with current clientele.
Travel Styles - Answer- Ocean cruising, river cruising, all inclusive hotels, custom
land packages, resort and hotel destinations, Disney destinations
Ocean Cruises - Answer- Niche market. Travel expands entire globe and seas.
River Cruises - Answer- Niche market. Travel by ship through many rivers. Different
than ocean liners. More intimate and port intensive experience.
All inclusive resort and hotels - Answer- This includes accommodations, drinks, food
3X per day, soft drinks, non motorized water sports and entertainment. Mostly
located in Central America and Caribbean. Some hotels are now offering a food and
beverage plan for an "all inclusive" experience.
,Tour Operator - Answer- wholesale company for one or multiple destinations that
uses negotiated rates from hotels, airline, DMC's, transfer companies, excursions
and more to offer every component for a clients itinerary as one package.
DMC - Destination Management Company - Answer- In destination tour operator that
will typically handle anything within that local destination.
Escorted Tours - Answer- A curated itinerary conducted by a tour director who takes
care of all services from beginning to end. This normally includes flights, hotels,
transportation, transfers, some meals and sightseeing.
Escorted Vacation - Answer- A tour director that travels with the group throughout
the trip to provide sightseeing commentary and who coordinates all group movement
and activities. Provide curated itineraries. Normally include flights, hotels, some
meals, transportation and sightseeing.
Hosted Vacation - Answer- A host/concierge who is available to answer questions
and give recommendations to the client during their trip. Some components o the trip
may be escorted by the host/concierge, others will be self guided. Provide curated
itineraries. Normally include flights, hotels, some meals, transportation and
sightseeing.
Guaranteed Departure - Answer- Will proceed to travel even in the event of
insufficient demand.
On Request Departures - Answer- Escorted tour companies reserve the right to
cancel or reschedule any vacation departure for any reason including not enough
passengers. They will try to rebook a similar trip on different dates but no guarantee
of availability for additional passengers. (Important for air inclusive travels. Confirm
air schedules subject to availability.)
Tour Packages Include: - Answer- Airfare and hotel accommodations & more. Most
tours have a preset itinerary - several meals, tour guides & excursions. Option to add
optional excursions , pre and post hotel stays, insurance & upgrade
accommodations.
Class of Service - Answer- Different types from hiking to camping to 5 star luxury
hotels.
Single Supplement - Answer- An additional charge, over the per-person double-
occupancy rate, for single occupancy of accommodations. It costs 25% to 100% of
the per person cost.
Shared Accommodations - Answer- Paired with another solo traveler to avoid a
single supplement fee.
Gratuity Supplement - Answer- Ok to tip tour guides, bus drivers, transfer
companies, bellman & any other staff. Sometimes pre pay gratuities. Luggage fee
not always included. Client to check with suppliers about baggage fee and
regulations.
, Groups (3 types) - Answer- 2 or more FIT reservations. 10 or more people or rooms
on the same itinerary. Exact number may fluctuate based on hotel, airline etc. A
lucrative part of travel advisor business due to more revenue, rebooking each year,
creating network for travel advisors and incorporating marketing by different means.
Affinity Group - Answer- A group of people linked by a common interest or purpose
Speculative Group - Answer- A group created in hopes of brining people into the
same group.
Promotional Group - Answer- A type of speculative group that offers a particular
promotion that the advisor was able to reserve.
Managing Groups - Answer- A group is departing from many different locations,
different venues, on site events.
Group Leader - Answer- Person who reaches out to the travel advisor. Could be the
person making the final decision of the group. Organizer of group. Primary contact.
Pied Pipers - Answer- Ensure growth of the group. Market for the group. Well
connected and can bring people in. Can be group leaders or OTHERS and share in
the perks of group leaders.
Air Consolidator - Answer- A wholesaler selling tickets at a lower rate not available to
the public. A consolidator buys tickets from the airlines. Usually best prices are: long
haul, upper class tickets, sometimes on economy
Air Consolidator PROS - Answer- Impress clients with good rates, earn a
commission or add a markup or both.
Air Consolidator CONS - Answer- Tickets subject to airline terms and conditions.
Unable to obtain frequent flier miles since did not book with airline directly. Credit
card processing fee is up to %5.
GDS (Global Distribution System) - Answer- A worldwide computerized reservation
network used as a single point of access for reserving airline seats, hotel rooms,
rental cars, and other travel related items by travel agents, online reservation sites,
and large corporations. DOS based so will need training. Corporate Travel uses
GDS while leisure advisors use others.
GDS (Global Distribution System) PROS - Answer- Can book all segments of a
clients itinerary in real time. Can see different classes of services. Can earn
commission.
GDS (Global Distribution System) CONS - Answer- Must have training. Must have
IATA number and ARC. Huge margin of error.
AND ANSWERS
TARC - Travel Advisor Resource Center - Answer- Provides travel advisors with
tools to be successful
RTA - Recognized Travel Advisor - Answer- Educated and has completed TARC. An
expert that has a foundation and understands how to articulate business
development.
Why Use a travel advisor? - Answer- We are experts. We research daily the best
options. We know trends and experts in their niche.
Internet Interpreter - Answer- We can simplify what the average person doesn't
know. Terminology like: terms, conditions, itineraries, airport codes
What do we offer our clients? - Answer- . Time. Convenience. Value. Professional
Advice. Personal Service. Unbiased Recommendations. Customer Advocacy.
Niche - Answer- Specialized market and clientele. We become an expert in. We get
referrals and repeat business. It helps with marketing competitive business
advantage.
Niche Markets - Answer- Ocean cruises, river cruises, custom land, all inclusive,
Disney
Client Types - Answer- Romance, multi generational, LBGTQ+ and Groups
Why Niche? - Answer- Niching increases success b/c you become an expert in just
one area.
How to choose a Niche? - Answer- You have a passion for or a desire to have more
knowledge in an area. Good idea to test the waters with current clientele.
Travel Styles - Answer- Ocean cruising, river cruising, all inclusive hotels, custom
land packages, resort and hotel destinations, Disney destinations
Ocean Cruises - Answer- Niche market. Travel expands entire globe and seas.
River Cruises - Answer- Niche market. Travel by ship through many rivers. Different
than ocean liners. More intimate and port intensive experience.
All inclusive resort and hotels - Answer- This includes accommodations, drinks, food
3X per day, soft drinks, non motorized water sports and entertainment. Mostly
located in Central America and Caribbean. Some hotels are now offering a food and
beverage plan for an "all inclusive" experience.
,Tour Operator - Answer- wholesale company for one or multiple destinations that
uses negotiated rates from hotels, airline, DMC's, transfer companies, excursions
and more to offer every component for a clients itinerary as one package.
DMC - Destination Management Company - Answer- In destination tour operator that
will typically handle anything within that local destination.
Escorted Tours - Answer- A curated itinerary conducted by a tour director who takes
care of all services from beginning to end. This normally includes flights, hotels,
transportation, transfers, some meals and sightseeing.
Escorted Vacation - Answer- A tour director that travels with the group throughout
the trip to provide sightseeing commentary and who coordinates all group movement
and activities. Provide curated itineraries. Normally include flights, hotels, some
meals, transportation and sightseeing.
Hosted Vacation - Answer- A host/concierge who is available to answer questions
and give recommendations to the client during their trip. Some components o the trip
may be escorted by the host/concierge, others will be self guided. Provide curated
itineraries. Normally include flights, hotels, some meals, transportation and
sightseeing.
Guaranteed Departure - Answer- Will proceed to travel even in the event of
insufficient demand.
On Request Departures - Answer- Escorted tour companies reserve the right to
cancel or reschedule any vacation departure for any reason including not enough
passengers. They will try to rebook a similar trip on different dates but no guarantee
of availability for additional passengers. (Important for air inclusive travels. Confirm
air schedules subject to availability.)
Tour Packages Include: - Answer- Airfare and hotel accommodations & more. Most
tours have a preset itinerary - several meals, tour guides & excursions. Option to add
optional excursions , pre and post hotel stays, insurance & upgrade
accommodations.
Class of Service - Answer- Different types from hiking to camping to 5 star luxury
hotels.
Single Supplement - Answer- An additional charge, over the per-person double-
occupancy rate, for single occupancy of accommodations. It costs 25% to 100% of
the per person cost.
Shared Accommodations - Answer- Paired with another solo traveler to avoid a
single supplement fee.
Gratuity Supplement - Answer- Ok to tip tour guides, bus drivers, transfer
companies, bellman & any other staff. Sometimes pre pay gratuities. Luggage fee
not always included. Client to check with suppliers about baggage fee and
regulations.
, Groups (3 types) - Answer- 2 or more FIT reservations. 10 or more people or rooms
on the same itinerary. Exact number may fluctuate based on hotel, airline etc. A
lucrative part of travel advisor business due to more revenue, rebooking each year,
creating network for travel advisors and incorporating marketing by different means.
Affinity Group - Answer- A group of people linked by a common interest or purpose
Speculative Group - Answer- A group created in hopes of brining people into the
same group.
Promotional Group - Answer- A type of speculative group that offers a particular
promotion that the advisor was able to reserve.
Managing Groups - Answer- A group is departing from many different locations,
different venues, on site events.
Group Leader - Answer- Person who reaches out to the travel advisor. Could be the
person making the final decision of the group. Organizer of group. Primary contact.
Pied Pipers - Answer- Ensure growth of the group. Market for the group. Well
connected and can bring people in. Can be group leaders or OTHERS and share in
the perks of group leaders.
Air Consolidator - Answer- A wholesaler selling tickets at a lower rate not available to
the public. A consolidator buys tickets from the airlines. Usually best prices are: long
haul, upper class tickets, sometimes on economy
Air Consolidator PROS - Answer- Impress clients with good rates, earn a
commission or add a markup or both.
Air Consolidator CONS - Answer- Tickets subject to airline terms and conditions.
Unable to obtain frequent flier miles since did not book with airline directly. Credit
card processing fee is up to %5.
GDS (Global Distribution System) - Answer- A worldwide computerized reservation
network used as a single point of access for reserving airline seats, hotel rooms,
rental cars, and other travel related items by travel agents, online reservation sites,
and large corporations. DOS based so will need training. Corporate Travel uses
GDS while leisure advisors use others.
GDS (Global Distribution System) PROS - Answer- Can book all segments of a
clients itinerary in real time. Can see different classes of services. Can earn
commission.
GDS (Global Distribution System) CONS - Answer- Must have training. Must have
IATA number and ARC. Huge margin of error.
