any experience with ClassicTravel.com? (Virtuoso)
#1
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any experience with ClassicTravel.com? (Virtuoso)
Hi there,
I just came across this website:
http://www.classictravel.com
They claim to be "the only Virtuoso Travel Agency to offer Virtuoso Rates that can be booked online".
They also have a blog:
http://virtuosohotels.blogspot.com/
Does anyone have any experience booking on their website?
Im not very familiar with booking through Virtuoso travel agencies, so is there any disadvantage in booking through this site vs. other Virtuoso TA?
I just came across this website:
http://www.classictravel.com
They claim to be "the only Virtuoso Travel Agency to offer Virtuoso Rates that can be booked online".
They also have a blog:
http://virtuosohotels.blogspot.com/
Does anyone have any experience booking on their website?
Im not very familiar with booking through Virtuoso travel agencies, so is there any disadvantage in booking through this site vs. other Virtuoso TA?
#2
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,805
great post ^
added to sticky >
added to sticky >
US FHR booking site - http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...ok-online.html
FSPP / signature booking site - http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxur...hotel-com.html
virtuoso booking site - http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxur...-virtuoso.html
FSPP / virtuoso on this forum (in FSPP thread) - http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/11707310-post55.html
FSPP specials http://www.fourseasons.com/co_op/pp_exclusive_offers/
FSPP / signature booking site - http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxur...hotel-com.html
virtuoso booking site - http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxur...-virtuoso.html
FSPP / virtuoso on this forum (in FSPP thread) - http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/11707310-post55.html
FSPP specials http://www.fourseasons.com/co_op/pp_exclusive_offers/
#3
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: NYC, LON
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Posts: 2,740
Hi there,
I just came across this website:
http://www.classictravel.com
They claim to be "the only Virtuoso Travel Agency to offer Virtuoso Rates that can be booked online".
They also have a blog:
http://virtuosohotels.blogspot.com/
Does anyone have any experience booking on their website?
Im not very familiar with booking through Virtuoso travel agencies, so is there any disadvantage in booking through this site vs. other Virtuoso TA?
I just came across this website:
http://www.classictravel.com
They claim to be "the only Virtuoso Travel Agency to offer Virtuoso Rates that can be booked online".
They also have a blog:
http://virtuosohotels.blogspot.com/
Does anyone have any experience booking on their website?
Im not very familiar with booking through Virtuoso travel agencies, so is there any disadvantage in booking through this site vs. other Virtuoso TA?
#4
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Palo Alto, California,USA
Posts: 17,833
They don't list any Virtuoso hotels in Japan on their site, is it really true that there aren't any? Hard to believe.
They do list a hotel called the Park Hotel in Shiodome as one of their "city" hotels but illustrate it with a picture of the Park Hyatt building instead!
They do list a hotel called the Park Hotel in Shiodome as one of their "city" hotels but illustrate it with a picture of the Park Hyatt building instead!
#6
They don't list any Virtuoso hotels in Japan on their site, is it really true that there aren't any? Hard to believe.
They do list a hotel called the Park Hotel in Shiodome as one of their "city" hotels but illustrate it with a picture of the Park Hyatt building instead!
They do list a hotel called the Park Hotel in Shiodome as one of their "city" hotels but illustrate it with a picture of the Park Hyatt building instead!
The Hyatt Regency in Kyoto and Hakone and the Hoshinoya Karuizawa are the other Virtuoso properties as per the Virtuoso website.
#7
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Asheville, NC
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I met the owner of Classic Travel when we were both staying at Mollies in Auckland, NZ. He explained some of the factors he had to deal with in setting up an online booking engine - pretty interesting stuff. You're not allowed to "post" Virtuoso rates on a website. So his website is set up to pull the Virtuoso rates from the hotels' own booking engines when you browse for those rates.
This is also why Classic Travel lists only 266 properties (out of more than 800) when you search for Virtuoso hotels. They can only sell those properties who have booking engines that interface with their own.
This is how Lorraine Travel (whatahotel.com) got in trouble with Virtuoso and lost its membership (it's now Signature). They were loading the Virtuoso rates onto their own website.
OP asked if there's any disadvantage using a booking engine over using a live Virtuoso TA. Their website can't follow up with a personal phone call or email to the hotel's Sales Manager with a request to VIP a guest, upgrade a client, or pass along any special requests. I don't know how you cancel a reservation from their website ... it must be possible!
This is also why Classic Travel lists only 266 properties (out of more than 800) when you search for Virtuoso hotels. They can only sell those properties who have booking engines that interface with their own.
This is how Lorraine Travel (whatahotel.com) got in trouble with Virtuoso and lost its membership (it's now Signature). They were loading the Virtuoso rates onto their own website.
OP asked if there's any disadvantage using a booking engine over using a live Virtuoso TA. Their website can't follow up with a personal phone call or email to the hotel's Sales Manager with a request to VIP a guest, upgrade a client, or pass along any special requests. I don't know how you cancel a reservation from their website ... it must be possible!
Last edited by DavidO; Feb 21, 2010 at 8:25 am
#8
I would think having a complete online Virtuoso resource would be helpful in saving the agents a lot of time. Of course, the actual booking should still be required through the agent.... Maybe something like this could be password protected for previous Virtuoso customers.
#9
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I met the owner of Classic Travel when we were both staying at Mollies in Auckland, NZ. He explained some of the factors he had to deal with in setting up an online booking engine - pretty interesting stuff. You're not allowed to "post" Virtuoso rates on a website. So his website is set up to pull the Virtuoso rates from the hotels' own booking engines when you browse for those rates.
This is also why Classic Travel lists only 266 properties (out of more than 800) when you search for Virtuoso hotels. They can only sell those properties who have booking engines that interface with their own.
This is how Lorraine Travel (whatahotel.com) got in trouble with Virtuoso and lost its membership (it's now Signature). They were loading the Virtuoso rates onto their own website.
This is also why Classic Travel lists only 266 properties (out of more than 800) when you search for Virtuoso hotels. They can only sell those properties who have booking engines that interface with their own.
This is how Lorraine Travel (whatahotel.com) got in trouble with Virtuoso and lost its membership (it's now Signature). They were loading the Virtuoso rates onto their own website.
Ericka's idea is also good. a 'rate/benefits check' password for certain clients.
Last edited by Kagehitokiri; Apr 8, 2015 at 10:26 pm
#10
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: USA
Posts: 3,945
I am the same way. Just hate to waste somebodies valuable time for few basic questions, especially if I am not sure I will book a property.
#12
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confirmed upgrades 2010 >
http://virtuosohotels.blogspot.com/2...t-time-of.html
hmm, never saw these (last summer) >
http://lstamps.blogspot.com/2009/07/...rence-and.html
2 nt min @ both FS florence and FS milan and get daily €75 credit
http://lstamps.blogspot.com/2009/06/...-offer-at.html
3 nt min @ plaza athenee paris and get confirmed upgrade
http://virtuosohotels.blogspot.com/2...t-time-of.html
hmm, never saw these (last summer) >
http://lstamps.blogspot.com/2009/07/...rence-and.html
2 nt min @ both FS florence and FS milan and get daily €75 credit
http://lstamps.blogspot.com/2009/06/...-offer-at.html
3 nt min @ plaza athenee paris and get confirmed upgrade
Last edited by Kagehitokiri; Feb 21, 2010 at 10:14 am
#13
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Fantastic find, Jasper2009. I have been trying to make a case to Virtuoso to have rates (or at least benefits) available to view on-line. Even if they had a booking engine that lacked a final 'Reserve Now' button, people could at least check rates & availability, and then contact their agent to book.
It's really interesting to see which hotels are available to book on the site. Given that they can only sell those properties who have booking engines that will interface with their own (thanks for the insight DavidO ^), I would have expected to see more (or perhaps just different) properties.
It's really interesting to see which hotels are available to book on the site. Given that they can only sell those properties who have booking engines that will interface with their own (thanks for the insight DavidO ^), I would have expected to see more (or perhaps just different) properties.
#14
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#15
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