Due Diligence Travel Agency Acquisition Process

November 1, 2022

The due diligence review (DDR) is a critical part of the travel agency acquisition process.

There are five key objectives:

1. Identify deal-breakers, which, if unresolved could preclude pursuing the transaction any further:

• Company personnel engaged with conflicting, outside interests

• Financial commitments – employment contracts, leases from previous acquisitions, liens, etc.

• Legal/Regulatory issues- lawsuits, client complaints

- Quality of work

- Questionable accounting

- Questionable expenditures

2. Verify representations received from the seller, such as key assumptions made about employees, compensation, systems, key statistics.

3. Obtain a more detailed understanding of the business:

• Types of clients

• Business mix

• Sources of revenue

4. Obtain information vital to negotiating the transaction:

• Salary and benefit information for employees

• Inventory of furniture and equipment

• Inventory of computer systems and software

5. Identify potential transition issue or areas of focus:

• Compensation and benefit issues

• Technical and workflow process issues

• Other

The DDR is designed to assist the Due Diligence Manager (DDM) in efficiently planning, executing, and reviewing the planned transaction. Following a standardized DDR is critical to the successful completion of the review and will ensure that:

• A consistent approach is used by all due diligence team (DDT),

• A standard output (format) is created for each DDR, and

• The duplication of information gathered or requested of the owners is eliminated.

The DDM is responsible for the overall planning and final review of all work and the development of the final report.

PHASE I: Meeting/conference call with Deal Owner, Acquisition Manager and DDM

Goals:

• Communicate overall vision and strategy of the DDR.

• Share information that has already been obtained to eliminate the duplication of data- gathering efforts.

• Identify DDT members.

Reporting: Recap the discussion/decisions and provide a copy to each party.

PHASE II: Meeting/conference call with Acquisition Leader, DDM and DDT Members

Goals:

• Share new information.

South African Travel Tips when traveling in the Free State Province

October 2, 2022

The Free State Province of South Africa is dry, but far from dull, the Free State with its vast open spaces and cloudless blue skies offers those who like to explore, literally and figuratively, the ideal canvas.

Here outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy birding, game viewing, trophy hunting, hiking, horse riding, biking, 4×4 off-road driving, river rafting, fly-fishing, camping, climbing, spelunking or just relaxing in its more than 80 parks and reserves, such as the scenic Golden Gate Highlands National Park.

History buffs have many significant sites to delve into and those with geological interests will marvel at the meteorite-impact site at Vredefort, the world’s oldest crater.

CLIMATE:

The Free State is hot in summer (Dec-Feb) when most of the rain falls, but can be very cold in winter (Apr-Jul) with heavy frost over most of the province. Snow is often recorded on the eastern mountains and occasionally over the rest of the region.

SHOPPING:

Traditional dress; woven baskets; silk painting; bead work; ‘mampoer’ (alcohol distilled from fruit); red meat, game and ‘biltong’ (dried meat); cherry or asparagus products; original art; beautiful handcrafted items from Phuthaditjhaba; mohair rugs and sandstone products.

TOP TEN ATTRACTIONS DESCRIPTION:

Golden Gate:

Highlands National Park In the Maluti Mountains, named after the golden sandstone cliffs; the scenery is magnificent incl. the imposing Brandwag rock and the climate invigorating; staying over is a popular option for humans and animals alike in this highlands habitat

Bloemfontein:

The ‘City of Roses’, Bloemfontein boasts cultural and political significance, featuring sandstone architecture, important museums and monuments and a busy events calendar; don’t miss the Franklin Game Reserve, only one in the world completely surrounded by a city; the Macufe Festival in Sep; the Loch Logan Waterfront; the historical township jazz performances and the War Museum.

Parys and the Vredefort Dome:

Named after Paris, Parys is situated on the Vaal River in the Vredefort Dome – a crater caused by a massive meteorite which hit earth about 250 million years ago; in Parys, don’t miss the Golf Island in the middle of the Vaal and other water activities and at Vredefort, adventure junkies can go on hiking routes, see untouched San paintings and ruins of iron age settlements, rock climb and abseil; the 200km Dome is best seen from the air.

The Battlefields:

Many historic sites related to the Anglo-Boer War are to be found in the Free State. Explore 13 battlefield sites, 8 military monuments, 2 war museums and 3 war and concentration camp cemeteries. Some of the main battles of war in 1900 are: Paardeberg, Poplar Grove, Driefontein, Sannaspos, Mostertshoek, Jammerbergdrift, Sand River, Biddulphsberg, Yeomanry Hill, Roodewal, Surrender Hill and Doornkraal.

Xhariep / Gariep:

Meaning ‘Great River’; a vast open grassland fed by the 2000km Gariep Dam offering travellers endless vistas of open blue skies, starry nights and unpolluted air; land of farms, parks and reserves ideal for hunters and eco-tourists alike.

Towns of Thabo Mofutsanyana:

Clarens is a picturesque town described as the “Jewel of the Free State”, here artists and art galleries abound and photographers find the scenery a magnet in autumn and spring; Memel is fast becoming a birding mecca with over 350 species including many ‘specials’ and 15 Red Data listed species, other attractions are the scenery and the spectacular Seekoeivlei Wetlands floodplain; Ficksburg is filled with adventure options from the usual hiking, fishing and game activities to the unusual such as altitude scuba diving (2650m above sea level) and ox-wagon adventures!

Reduce Your Business Travel Cost to Zero With Video Conferencing Solutions

September 1, 2022

Business travel cost is a nightmare for several organizations. The sales representatives are required to travel across the globe for meetings that ultimately result in more business for the organization, but regulating that cost is a serious concern for the admins and finance departments. It is primarily because the expenditure is a necessity. But what if you could just minimize that cost to nothing? What if your representatives could meet anyone around the world anytime without incurring any cost?

Technology has come a long way in the past few years and one of its fruitful offerings is Video Conferencing Solutions.

What is Video Conferencing?

Just like you carry out a conversation through your mobile devices across continents without paying a hefty amount, video conferencing is the technology that allows you to have a face to face conversation instead. Like any other technology, it has come a long way ever since the origin of its capabilities in the 1970s. Earlier, no standard protocols existed on which video conferencing could rely upon. It was an extremely expensive affair. However, with cloud technology coming in, we have extremely affordable networks. Interoperability of video teleconferencing systems is virtually guaranteed now that standards and protocols have been clearly established. This is the reason why many firms are now investing in video conferencing devices and replacing the way conferences and meetings were held traditionally. It allows the company officials to meet their clients anytime, without actually traveling to their location. In addition, they can also collaborate among themselves even when they are not present in the organization.

Which video conferencing solutions are right for your business?

Yes, it is extremely convenient and allows any organization to save a major expenditure on travel. But there are several providers in the market today which has opened up a stiff competition among them. This is partially beneficial for the customers but has also given rise to several queries:

  • What solution will be the right one for my business?
  • How is video conferencing different from remote desktop support or web meetings?
  • Is video conferencing secure to discuss sensitive information?
  • Which video conferencing solutions are available in the market for different room sizes including executive room, small meeting room, big conference room and auditoriums?
  • Is there an instance where I can use video device over Wi-Fi?
  • Can I replace my IP phone with video endpoint but still retain the same extension?
  • I have no budget to buy a license for the multiparty feature but I need the service. Is there any other option I can explore?
  • Can I use my Skype for business with Telepresence?
  • Can I call my US and UK sales persons on their mobile devices via video device?
  • How secure is video conferencing as a means of communication?
  • If my video device went down, what will I use as the SLA and backup for my device?
  • I’m having a problem connecting branch offices and meeting rooms within a single video call. How can I be helped?

Travel Safety Tips

July 31, 2022

Traveling to unfamiliar destinations can bring to you the sort of troubles you do not want to experience while on the road namely: robbery, rape, or murder. Tourists often fall prey to perpetrators because they do not prepare properly before embarking on a trip. Let’s examine some things you should do to prevent your travels from becoming a tragedy:

1. Never list your home address on the luggage tag. If on business, put the company’s address on the tag; if visiting friends you can list their address. Use covered luggage tags as well.

2. Stay with your luggage until the luggage is checked. If you must put your bag down, keep one foot on the handle.

3. Carry important papers with you; NEVER check anything that you simply cannot afford to lose. Photocopy your passport, driver’s license and credit cards.

4. Bring a small flashlight. You never know when you’ll suddenly be “in the dark” and find yourself in unfamiliar surroundings. At night, keep your flashlight by your bed.

5. Make sure that your prescription medicines are filled properly and labeled accurately. In some countries certain prescription medicines are forbidden.

6. Never wear anything that projects affluence. No gold chains, expensive watches and rings, luggage, or other paraphernalia should be in easy view. Better yet: leave your jewelry at home.

7. If possible travel with only one or two credit cards.

8. Women particularly should never accept a drink from a stranger. Keep an eye on your drink at all times.

9. Vary your schedule; try not to come and go at the same time everyday.

10. Only stay in a hotel that uses cards to open room doors and make sure your room has a peephole and a deadbolt lock. Secure the chain and secure the door by pushing a rubber stop under it.

11. Stay in a room near a stairwell. Never take the elevator if a fire or smoke is detected. Always stay in a hotel where the doors enter the hallway and not directly from the outside.

12. Do not wear name tags in public.

13. Do not use unmarked taxi cabs.

14. Sit behind the driver so you can see him, but he cannot see you.

15. Pay the driver upon arriving at your destination and while you are still sitting in the vehicle.