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Our Misson, Vision & Values

Travelling and connecting with places and people is so important to us, it’s the cornerstone of why Welcome to Travel exists.

We believe that travelling broadens the mind and changes the way you think. The people you meet and the experiences you have give you an improved ability to empathise with different situations and people.

Travel is the best way to learn about the world and how it works. Our experiences both travelling and working in travel have led us to where we are today, and to Welcome to Travel’s Mission Statement, Vision Statement and Values.

Our Mission

Through travel, we connect people to positive experiences enabling them to see the world differently.

To create a world where everyone is encouraged to travel.

Aim for positive

Quality always wins, community is key, encourage growth, lead by example, value every relationship, back yourself, do what is right.

• [email protected]
• (03) 7065 9970
• 6b 300 King Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3000
• 812B, George Street, Sydney, NSW, 2000

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Our mission, vision and values

Our vision is the future we want to achieve. Our mission is what we do every day to bring that vision to life.

Helping people and companies travel smart and achieve more

Solve it together

Act with purpose, do what’s right, give your best, feed the future.

When we give others the tools, skills and opportunities to succeed, they flourish. When we give ourselves the same, we’re unstoppable.

Our commitment to  diversity and inclusion

A message from our global executive team.

As a travel company, we exist to bring people together. When people come together, they create opportunities for shared experience, dialogue, and growth.

Around the world, civil protests against ongoing social injustices continue to highlight the stark inequalities that prevent some people from being empowered participants in these opportunities.

As a company, we’ve traditionally stayed out of public debate on social issues; our focus has been on the work of providing a safe, respectful and inclusive work environment for all our people. However, in an atmosphere of heightened awareness and involvement, we believe it’s important to add our voices to the discussion and share our perspective with you.

We can’t all personally understand the experiences of those who are affected by social injustice—but we can all have the empathy to understand that these inequalities can’t be tolerated. We wholeheartedly support all those who press for justice, and we are saddened by those few whose violent and destructive actions distract from the importance of the issues at hand. And we stand with the individual members of our BCD family around the world who have been directly or indirectly affected by far-reaching legacies of inequality.

BCD’s commitment to diversity and inclusion is longstanding. We recognize that we must always strive to do better by our people and our communities, and that our work in this area can never be “done.” As part of that discussion, we’re challenging ourselves to further listen and strengthen our approach to a diverse and inclusive workplace. From offering our people additional training and resources to re-evaluating the impact of our initiatives, we’re committed to moving forward in the spirit of humanity and humility.

Our commitment is rooted in our core values. In tackling tough challenges as a team (Solve it together), driving change (Act with purpose), advocating for justice (Do what’s right), making things happen (Give your best) and empowering ourselves and others (Feed the future), we move toward a better tomorrow.

We truly believe that social injustice and the COVID pandemic are linked by what they represent: Both reveal an infection we have yet to overcome. We all have a role to play in fighting the infection. And it’s only by embracing that role that we—and our communities—will flourish.

About BCD Travel

BCD Travel helps companies travel smart and achieve more. We drive program adoption, cost savings and talent retention through digital experiences that simplify business travel. Our 13,000 dedicated team members service clients in 170+ countries as we shape a sustainable future for business travel. For more information, visit www.bcdtravel.com .

Travel smart. Achieve more.

Get solutions for business travel that help you save time, money and stress.

Eat, Sleep, Wander

30+ Travel Agency Vision Examples

Here you will find our unique Travel agency vision examples created just for you to copy/paste on your website. Vision and Mission statements for travel agencies are important for a quality social media presence, so you can use these as an inspiration to craft your own.

Travel agency vision examples

     1. (travel agency) is a diverse group of creative, self-motivated individuals with a passion for making travel easier, more affordable and more rewarding for our customers. With plenty of exciting twists, turns and opportunities along the way.

     2. At (travel agency) is all about the journey, helping you explore new challenges in a place where you can be your best self. We’ve always been pioneers, with a vision to shape the future of travel through cutting edge technology, to make it easier for everyone to enjoy amazing experiences wherever they go. 

     3. With (travel agency) you’ll be taking a different path and trying something new. Under a desert sky, or in the heart of a bustling city. Discovering the perfect hideaway, or the perfect paella. We’re determined to make the world of travel more sustainable, more accessible, and more inclusive, to create a positive impact on a global scale. 

     4. (travel agency) powers travel for everyone, everywhere through our global platform. We believe that travel can be a genuine force for good. That’s why we’re committed to giving back to the people and places we visit, and empowering our travelers to do the same.

     5. (travel agency) is the most rewarding way to book a place to travel. We really love travel and we know you do too. That’s why we make it really easy to book with us. With hundreds of places to travel around the world we have it all, you can be sure you will find the perfect place for you.

     6. At (travel agency), our vision is to make travel simple and fun for all, and our core values guide us in making this possible. These core values can be seen in the projects that we undertake, and the way in which we solve problems for our customers. They are a representation of OUR BEING & OUR DOING.

     7. At (travel agency) we have a new vision. Inspiring people to go further and share more. It’s a vision that encourages people to reach higher, to broaden their lives and the lives of others, and to seek experiences worth sharing. 

     8. We will achieve our new vision with a new mission. By putting people first, we’ll push boundaries and inspire the world’s most shareable experiences. We made the searching and booking process simpler and stress-free as it ought to be.

     9. (travel agency) wants to inspire you, and is dedicated to being your travel champion – a companion and instigator, wandering the world beside you while helping make your traveling experience memorable with innovative apps, competitive prices and 24/7 customer service.

     10. We understand that the more we travel, the more we enrich our lives. (travel agency) is built for people like you because we know that when it’s easy to book trips and save money, you’ll travel more often and get more out of the trips you take.

More Travel agency vision examples on the next page…

Best Mission Statements Examples [for Travel & Accommodation]

By Status.net Editorial Team on March 14, 2023 — 5 minutes to read

Travel and accommodation companies have a unique opportunity to create vision and mission statements that reflect their commitment to providing customers with exceptional service. A good mission statement should encompass the company’s values, goals, and objectives for providing quality travel and accommodation services and the company’s commitment to making sure that its customers have an enjoyable experience from start to finish.

How do you write a good mission statement?

Crafting a strong mission statement can help your organization stay focused, articulate its values, and attract the right people and resources. Writing a good mission statement requires thoughtful research, reflection and communication with stakeholders.

• 1. Clarify Your Purpose: Think about why your organization exists, its core values and objectives.
• 2. Identify Your Audience: Consider who you are trying to reach with your mission statement, such as customers, employees or the general public.
• 3. Brainstorm Descriptive Words and Phrases: Think of words and phrases that accurately describe your organization’s purpose, values and goals.
• 4. Combine the Words to Create Your Mission Statement: Combine the words and phrases you brainstormed into a concise statement that expresses your mission.
• 5. Have Others Review It: Have other people review your mission statement to ensure it accurately reflects your organization.

Learn more: How to Create a Perfect Company Mission, Vision, Values Statement? (Awesome Template) In this article you will find vision and mission statements examples for companies that fall into the following industries:

A company in the travel industry is a business that provides services related to travel and tourism. This can include anything from booking transportation and accommodations, to organizing activities and excursions. These companies work to make sure their customers have an enjoyable and stress-free experience when they travel. They may offer a range of services, including flights, cars, hotels, tours, cruises, and also they may help with visas and other paperwork required for international travel. Sometimes travel companies also help customers with packing suggestions and tips on what to expect while traveling. With the world becoming increasingly connected, more people are choosing to explore new places, and companies in the travel industry are well-positioned to meet this growing demand.

Accommodation

An accommodation company is a business that provides lodging and other services for travelers and those on vacation. Accommodation companies can be of various sizes and might provide anything from basic bed and breakfast services to luxury resorts. They usually offer a variety of services such as providing meals, arranging transportation, arranging tours, providing entertainment, and more. Accommodation companies are typically run by skilled professionals who understand the hospitality industry and are knowledgeable about the different types of accommodation available to guests. Accommodation companies may provide their own premises or may work with hotels, motels, resorts, and other lodging providers to ensure their guests receive the best services possible. Accommodation companies also have to deal with different regulations related to their offerings and must stay up-to-date with changes in the hospitality industry. This ensures that the accommodation they provide is safe, clean, and up to the standards of their guests. Accommodation companies strive to provide a pleasant experience for their clients by ensuring they are satisfied with their stay.

See also: 20+ Core Values: Examples for Travel and Accommodation Companies

Samples of Vision and Mission Statements: Travel and Accommodation Companies

Dedication to the highest quality of Customer Service delivered with a sense of warmth, friendliness, individual pride, and Company Spirit .

To provide authentic hospitality by making a difference in the lives of the people we touch every day.

TripAdvisor

To help people around the world plan and have the perfect trip .

Virgin America

Virgin America is a California-based airline that is on a mission to make flying good again , with brand new planes, attractive fares, top-notch service, and a host of fun, innovative amenities that are reinventing domestic air travel.

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts

Turning moments into memories for our guests.

Hilton Worldwide

To be the preeminent global hospitality company – the first choice of guests, team members, and owners alike .

Virgin Atlantic

To embrace the human spirit and let it fly.

To offer travelers a reliable, innovative and fun airline to travel in Central America.

MGM MIRAGE (NYSE: MGM) , one of the world’s leading and most respected hotel and gaming companies, owns and operates 24 properties located in Nevada, Mississippi and Michigan, and has investments in four other properties in Nevada, New Jersey, Illinois and the United Kingdom. MGM MIRAGE has also announced plans to develop Project CityCenter , a multi-billion dollar mixed-use urban development project in the heart of Las Vegas, and has a 50 percent interest in MGM Grand Macau, a development project in Macau S.A.R. MGM MIRAGE supports responsible gaming and has implemented the American Gaming Association’s Code of Conduct for Responsible Gaming at its properties. MGM MIRAGE also has been the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions for its industry-leading Diversity Initiative and its community philanthropy programs. For more information about MGM MIRAGE, please visit the company’s website at www.mgmmirage.com.

Workforce diversity gives us access to a world of different ideas and perspectives. Northwest Airlines is committed to maintaining a corporate culture where men and women of all ages, races, physical abilities, preferences and backgrounds are treated with dignity and respect. At Northwest Airlines we recognize that when diversity is valued and respected the results are improved service, customer satisfaction and a positive community image . We believe our employees make a world of difference and work to maintain an environment where diversity and inclusion is a critical component of our success. Our Diversity Vision To build a high performing environment where individual differences and contributions of employees, customers and business partners are respected and valued, the result of which is a business organization where fairness, trust and integrity govern relationships and the way we do business.

Ritz-Carlton

The Credo : The Ritz-Carlton Hotel is a place where the genuine care and comfort of our guests is our highest mission.

We pledge to provide the finest personal service and facilities for our guests who will always enjoy a warm, relaxed, yet refined ambience .

The Ritz-Carlton experience enlivens the senses, instills well-being, and fulfills even the unexpressed wishes and needs of our guests.

Motto : At The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C., “ We are ladies and gentlemen serving ladies and gentlemen .” This motto exemplifies the anticipatory service provided by all staff members.

See also: 20+ Core Values: Examples for Travel and Accommodation Companies 1500+ Best Company Vision and Mission Statements by Industry 250+ Best Inspirational Company Core Values

• 20+ Core Values: Examples for Travel and Accommodation Companies
• Best Mission Statements Examples [Energy and Chemicals]
• Best Mission Statements Examples [Construction & Production]
• Are Mission and Vision Statements Still Relevant?
• Best Mission Statements Examples [for Real Estate Companies]
• Best Mission Statements Examples [for Insurance Companies]

+1 (330) 893-1501

Missionary Travel Agency

When God’s call takes you around the world, a call to Golden Rule will take you there.

We understand the importance of being called to the mission field, and we know you need the best way to get there. Whether you’re taking a short-term mission trip or moving abroad to serve the Lord, we can help. By making your travel arrangements our top priority, we free you to direct your energies where they are most needed.

We would be honored to serve you! Contact us today for a free airfare quote!

We appreciate all the efforts you put into making travel arrangements for us! It’s nice to have someone take care of this who understands and takes an interest in our mission. God bless you!

Deborah Missionary in El Salvador

24/7 emergency customer service

In times of travel turmoil—delayed flights, denied boarding, or endless lines—our mission travel office stands by you, even if it means waking us up in the middle of the night. Have peace of mind with an expert who is on your side.

Extra free bags

Our missionary fares give up to 3 free checked bags. This can be a $500+ value and is perfect for taking supplies to the mission field.

Refundable & Changeable

Our humanitarian airfares are refundable and changeable for a reasonable penalty

Missionary Travel Department

Our Christian travel agents are honored to help travelers fulfill the Great Commission. Our team is composed of dedicated Christians, many with backgrounds in missions, church ministry, and education. As a company, we’ve provided ministry travel services for thousands of churches, missionaries, and church mission groups . Our travel agents understand your needs and want to use our experience in the travel industry to give you best travel experience possible. We specialize in international missionary flights.

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Missionary Airfare Luggage Allowance

Our missionary airfares, which are mostly available on Latin & transatlantic flights (and within Europe, Africa, and the Middle East), usually include 2-3 free checked bags. In today’s world of basic economy fares including no checked baggage at all, this can be a benefit worth more than $500!

Cheap Flights for Missionaries

If you’re looking for cheap missionary fares, you’ve come to the right place! We offer discount missionary airfare with special pricing on flights. Sometimes we can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars with discounted flights! But usually our prices are similar to online fares, but with far better terms and customer service.

Missionary Flights to Africa (including Uganda & Kenya)

Africa is our top destination. We do a lot of tickets for missionaries to Entebbe, Uganda and Nairobi, Kenya especially.

Missionary Fares to India

India is another very common destination for our non-profit and humanitarian NGO customers.

Missionary Fares to Japan

We offer a full set of missionary airfare to Japan transatlantic and a limited set of fares transpacific.

Missionary Flights to Haiti

Sadly, American Airlines has discontinued their humanitarian airfare to Haiti. We still serve dozens of Haiti NGOs who came for the extra bags, but stayed for the customer service. If you let us know how many bags you’re taking, we will advise you on the best total cost of flights including extra bags as there is a complicated mix of luggage rules and overages.

We can also refer you to private missionary flights from Port-au-Prince to other parts of Haiti, which is usually used by our missionary organizations due to the current security situation in PAP.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which airlines offers missionary fares.

The following airlines provide missionary, humanitarian, non-profit fares:

• Delta Airlines, KLM, Air France
• United Airlines, Lufthansa, Austrian, SWISS, Brussels, Air Canada
• Qatar Airways
• Kenya Airways
• Ethiopian Airlines

Sadly, American Airlines, British Airways, and Iberia have discontinued their missionary contracts.

What Consolidator sells Missionary Fares?

We are one of the foremost consolidators in the US that sells missionary fares to other travel agencies. If you are interested in applying to be a partner agency, please email [email protected] . We carefully vet and audit our travel agency partners to ensure the tickets are only being sold to non-profit organizations.

What is missionary travel?

Short-term mission trips offer a chance to volunteer internationally, working closely with local communities to offer vital support where it’s needed the most. Long-term missionaries also need to travel back and forth between their home country and their mission field on a regular basis.

How much does it cost to go on a short-term mission trip?

Typical costs range from $900 to $5000 depending on the destination. For example, one of our favorite clients is OneWorld Health who focuses on medical missions. They have trips ranging from $2300 to $5000 in cost.

Who pays for missionary trips?

Short-term mission trips are either paid out of participants’ own pockets or sometimes they fundraise from family, friends, and church to help cover part of the cost.

Long-term missionaries are typically supported by some mix of their local church and the parachurch mission organization they are under.

Why do people go on missionary trips?

Most folks testify that going on a mission trip is life-changing. The three main reasons to go on a short-term mission trip:

• To Glorify God: Putting our faith into action
• To Help Others: To make a difference, serve others, and serve those who serve
• To Change Ourselves: Hands-on experience with The Great Commission and learning about other cultures

What not to do on a mission trip?

The Baptist Missionary Association of America has this excellent list of “don’ts” for a summer mission trip :

• DON’T make promises to missionaries/people that you can’t fulfill immediately.
• DON’T go anywhere alone.
• DON’T eat uncooked vegetables and fruits that are not peeled.
• DON’T gossip.
• DON’T criticize your hosts culture or the United States.
• DON’T pursue a romantic relationship with anyone on your team or at your mission site. You can date them when you get home.
• DON’T be afraid to try local food.
• DON’T make financial commitments during your good-byes.
• DON’T complain about anything! Keep a positive attitude. (Philippians 2:14)

Read the whole list for a great set of DO’s as well!

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Travel agency mission statement examples.

When it comes to the travel industry, having a clear mission statement is essential. A mission statement is a brief statement that outlines the purpose and goals of a business. It is a guiding principle that helps a company stay focused on its objectives and values. In this article, we will explore various travel agency mission statement examples and how they play a vital role in the industry.

What Does a Travel Agency Mission Statement Mean?

A travel agency’s mission statement is a statement that defines the company’s primary purpose and its objectives. It is a declaration of the agency’s core values and what it seeks to achieve. A mission statement is an opportunity for a travel agency to differentiate itself from its competitors by stating its unique selling proposition (USP).

A mission statement is not just a tagline or a catchy phrase. It is a strategic statement that guides a company’s decision-making process. A mission statement should be concise, memorable, and easy to understand. It should inspire employees, customers, and stakeholders to align with the company’s vision and goals.

The Importance of a Travel Agency Mission Statement

A travel agency’s mission statement is crucial for several reasons. Firstly, it helps the agency to define its identity and purpose. A clear mission statement enables the agency to focus its resources and efforts on its core objectives. Secondly, a well-crafted mission statement helps to differentiate the agency from competitors in the market. It enables customers to understand what the agency stands for and what it can offer that is unique.

Thirdly, a mission statement helps to guide the agency’s decision-making process. It ensures that all business decisions align with the company’s values and objectives. Fourthly, a mission statement inspires employees to work towards a common goal. It creates a sense of purpose and fosters a positive work culture.

Examples of Travel Agency Mission Statements

Here are some examples of travel agency mission statements:

Each of these travel agencies has a unique mission statement that reflects their values and objectives. Expedia’s mission statement focuses on using technology to revolutionize the travel industry. TripAdvisor’s mission statement emphasizes helping people plan and book the perfect trip. Booking.com’s mission statement is centered on empowering people to experience the world. Travelocity’s mission statement aims to inspire and enable travel for everyone. Priceline’s mission statement highlights the importance of technology in helping people experience the world.

A mission statement is an essential component of any travel agency’s business strategy. It defines the company’s purpose and objectives, differentiates it from competitors, guides decision-making, and inspires employees to work towards a common goal. By understanding the importance of a travel agency mission statement and learning from the examples above, travel agencies can create a clear, concise, and impactful statement that will guide their business towards success.

Story and Mission

We are the world's largest association of travel professionals and the leading global advocate for travel advisors, the travel industry and the traveling public. Our members include travel advisors and the companies whose products they sell from air, tours and safaris to cruises, hotels, resorts, rental cars and more.

Our story begins in 1931 when ASTA was founded as the American Steamship & Tourist Agents Association. As modes of travel evolved, so did ASTA, widening our focus and renaming ourselves the American Society of Travel Agents in 1944. Then, reflecting the shift from booking agent to trusted advisor, in 2018, ASTA became the American Society of Travel Advisors.

Our members are bound by a shared code of ethics and the ASTA logo is recognized around the world as a symbol of professionalism and integrity. 

OUR MISSION

ASTA’s over-arching mission is to facilitate the business of selling travel through effective representation, shared knowledge and the enhancement of professionalism. We are also the leading advocate for travel advisors and the entire travel agency community, including suppliers and the traveling public. 

From the start, carrying out our mission has meant promoting professionalism and advocating with legislators and suppliers for our members, our industry and the traveling public. Because travelers depend on travel advisors and others affiliated with ASTA to guide them honestly and competently, ASTA members are required to conduct their business activities in accordance with the ASTA Code of Ethics. This promotes  professionalism in the industry and trust among the general public.

The COVID-19 crisis serves as a great example of our mission in action. Travel advisors were among the true heroes of the pandemic, working tirelessly to get stranded clients home when flights and borders were shut down and helping clients deal with pandemic-related cancelations, schedule changes and the ever-shifting rules and regulations around the world. Because of the economics of the industry, travel advisors workloads grew exponentially at the same time that their commission payments were being delayed, slashed. and too often, wiped out.

One of the reasons many agencies and advisors could survive and continue serving the traveling public was that behind the scenes, ASTA was fulfilling its advocacy role as champion of the travel agency community  Thanks to our advocacy team and the support of our member-volunteers, ASTA successfully persuaded Congress to include travel agencies in the industries covered under the CARES Act and receive Paycheck Protection (PPP) and Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) funding and to enable independent contractors to receive unemployment benefits for the first time ever. 

The pandemic also kicked our role as educators into high gear as our team produced live and taped webinars and live Q&A sessions that helped the travel agency community understand and navigate the red tape to access these funds. We also provided lists of official resources so our members could stay on top of the latest CDC guidance and other information vital to our members and their clients.

Our rich educational programing continues to help keep travel advisors at the top of their game and promotes professionalism via courses on everything from accounting and artificial intelligence to marketing and social media. Verified Travel Advisor ( VTA) certification is the pinnacle of our training, and brings added benefits to advisors and helps promote confidence among consumers. Our mission also extends to educating the travel and consumer media and the general public about the value of using a travel advisor, and we work closely with the media every day to ensure that our story is being told. The need for a travel advisor was never more apparent than during the pandemic, and our public relations team shared the stories of the many travel advisors who went above and beyond in a  "Not All Heroes Wear Capes" #TravelHero campaign.

Our outreach to the general public takes a big step with our new website, where travelers can search our directory for travel advisors who match their needs, submit a trip request which will be forwarded as leads to members, or opt to use a Verified Travel Advisor (VTA) and explore destinations and find expert travel advice featuring our members.

Global Support

Together, we are more powerful. Just as we come together as a Society to achieve our goals, ASTA collaborates with other organizations for the greater good.

World Committee on Tourism Ethics  (WCTE)

ASTA is a signatory to the  Private Sector Commitment to the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism . In signing the commitment, companies pledge to uphold, promote and implement the values of responsible and sustainable tourism development championed by the Code. A special focus on social, cultural and economic matters is one of the main objectives of the Commitment, which draws particular attention to issues such as human rights, social inclusion, gender equality, accessibility, and the protection of vulnerable groups and host communities. The Society encourages its members to read the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism and implement these principles in their business practices.  

Wildlife Trafficking Alliance  

ASTA joined the U.S. Wildlife Trafficking Alliance  to help travelers recognize and avoid purchasing the illegal wildlife products that are decimating global populations of elephants, rhinos, tortoises, and other endangered species. This public-private partnership works together with governmental entities to raise awareness about the dangers of wildlife trafficking and to stop consumer demand for endangered species products.

Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism

ASTA supports the travel industry in the ongoing battle against child sex tourism with its adoption of the  Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism .  The Society encourages its members to support measures taken to counter the exploitation of women and children.

Proud Partners

We are grateful to our most supportive partners, ASTA Proud Partners. Recognizing how important travel advisors are to their success, these companies invest their time and resources to support ASTA’s mission and ensure a healthy and robust travel agency distribution channel.

Vilu Travel Designers

Luxury Boutique Travel Agency

Vision, Mission and Values

To ensure that our clients live memorable experiences and fulfill their dreams and goals through travel. We want our clients to remember their trips with us all their lives.

Work with our clients based on a relationship of trust, honesty and transparency, giving personalized attention and service paying attention to detail to design tailor-made trips full of unique experiences with the best value for money.

• People ARE the most important and TRUST is the basis of the relationship.
• ALWAYS do the right thing.
• We are a team that is SUCCESSFUL when our clients are happy.

Mission Travel Agencies: Your Ultimate Guide to Purposeful Journeys

Mission travel agencies specialize in assisting individuals and groups, such as missionaries, churches, and students, in planning and organizing their travel to various destinations for religious and humanitarian purposes .

These agencies understand the sensitive nature of mission trips and the unique requirements of traveling to remote locations in regions like Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America. With their expertise in handling travel logistics, mission travel agencies aim to bring ease and efficiency to the process while ensuring that the travelers’ needs and preferences are met.

As the world becomes increasingly connected, mission travel agencies play a critical role in facilitating the travels of those who wish to make a difference in the lives of others.

They provide essential services, from securing discounted airfare for mission trips to helping manage complex travel arrangements. Through their dedicated and experienced staff, many of whom have backgrounds in missions and ministry, they not only assist in travel planning but also offer valuable insights and support throughout the journey.

Mission travel agencies work closely with churches, schools, and other organizations to help them fulfill their goals and live out the Great Commission. By taking care of the logistical aspects of travel, they free up travelers to focus on the important work they are called to do.

With their unwavering commitment to service and detail, these agencies are instrumental in the success of mission trips across the globe.

Post Contents

Key Takeaways

• Mission travel agencies specialize in arranging travel for missionaries, churches, and students to various destinations.
• They offer essential services, such as discounted airfare and travel planning assistance, tailored to the unique needs of mission trips.
• Collaboration with churches, schools, and other organizations allows mission travel agencies to help travelers focus on their goals and live out the Great Commission.

Understanding Mission Travel Agencies

Missionary travel needs.

Mission travel agencies cater to the unique needs of those embarking on mission trips. These trips often involve traveling to remote or developing regions of the world where accommodations, transportation, and communication can be challenging.

Missionaries, both individuals and groups, require professional assistance in planning and executing their journeys, as they focus on their religious and humanitarian objectives.

Missionary travel agencies provide services such as booking affordable flights, arranging accommodations, and securing necessary travel documents like visas and passports.

They also assist with itinerary planning, offering guidance on the best routes, modes of transportation, and local customs, helping missionaries to make the most of their time in the field and minimize any potential obstacles.

Role in Religious Tourism

Mission travel agencies play a crucial role in religious tourism, a rapidly growing sector encompassing various forms of travel motivated by spiritual or religious purposes. In addition to traditional mission trips, religious tourism includes pilgrimages, retreats, and visits to sacred sites and shrines.

As experts in both travel management and the unique requirements of religious travel, these agencies provide valuable support to religious tourists, ensuring a smooth and enriching experience.

Services can include arranging group travel for congregations or religious organizations, organizing guided tours of religious sites, and providing destination-specific information to enhance the visitor’s understanding and appreciation of the local religious and cultural context.

By bridging the gap between general travel services and the particular needs of religious travelers, mission travel agencies play a vital role in facilitating meaningful and impactful journeys for missionaries and other religious tourists around the world.

Services Offered

Group airfare.

Mission travel agencies specialize in providing group airfare for mission trips , catering to the needs of churches, ministries, and nonprofit organizations. They work closely with major carriers to secure significant discounts, helping to make mission trips more cost-effective.

These agencies may offer exclusive baggage allowances for travelers, ensuring they can transport necessary supplies for their mission work.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is an essential service provided by mission travel agencies. They understand the specific needs of mission travelers and work with them to offer tailored policies, which may include medical coverage, evacuation, trip cancellation, and other essential benefits.

This comprehensive coverage helps protect travelers from unexpected situations during their mission trip.

Last-Minute Flights

Mission travel agencies recognize that missionary work often requires quick and flexible travel arrangements. As a result, they provide last-minute flights for medical missions, disaster relief efforts, and assistance in closed countries.

By working closely with airlines and utilizing their industry connections, they ensure travelers can reach their destinations as quickly and efficiently as possible.

In conclusion, mission travel agencies offer essential travel services to support the specialized needs of mission travelers. These services, including group airfare, travel insurance, and last-minute flights, enable mission workers to focus on their crucial work, knowing that their travel and safety are in capable hands.

Travel Planning Assistance

Destination selection.

Mission travel agencies help travelers choose the best destination for their mission work, taking into consideration the individual or group’s interests and goals. They offer a variety of trip options, ranging from short-term service trips to long-term missions.

By researching different destinations and opportunities, mission travel agencies ensure that the selected location aligns with the objectives of the mission team.

Visa Services

Navigating visa requirements can be challenging, especially for those traveling to multiple countries. Mission travel agencies offer assistance by partnering with organizations like Passport Visas Express, which provide information on specialty, rushed, and other services for visas and passports.

This partnership allows travelers to know the exact passport or visa requirements for their trip, ensuring they have the proper documentation for entry into the countries they plan to serve in.

Transportation Arrangements

Mission travel agencies excel at helping mission teams and missionaries with transportation needs. This often includes arranging flights, accommodations, and ground transportation that fits the group’s budget and schedule.

Additionally, travel agencies may have expertise in assisting with travel to closed countries, as well as last-minute flights for medical missions or disaster relief efforts.

By working closely with missionary organizations, a mission travel agency can help turn the desire to serve into life-changing action, creating a well-organized and successful mission trip.

The Importance of Detail and Care

Experiences and resources.

In mission travel agencies, the importance of detail and care cannot be overstated. Providing tailored, meaningful experiences for clients is critical to the success of the agency. By paying close attention to detail during the planning process, travel agencies can ensure that each trip aligns with the travelers’ core mission and values.

Utilizing their experience and resources, mission travel agencies can create itineraries that cater to the unique needs and preferences of their clients. This may include arranging accommodations, transportation, and activities that support the travelers’ goals.

For example, if the mission involves volunteer work, the agency can research relevant projects and coordinate with local partner organizations.

Having a strong network of resources, both local and global, allows agencies to provide comprehensive support for mission trips. This includes assisting with visa processing, travel insurance, and other logistical arrangements.

A knowledgeable travel agency can make the planning process seamless and efficient, ensuring that clients can focus on fulfilling their purpose.

Supporting Mission Goals

Attention to detail is essential in supporting the overall mission goals of travelers. By understanding the precise objectives of each trip, agencies can design experiences that promote personal growth, cultural awareness, and positive change.

A mission travel agency can play a pivotal role in shaping the outcomes of a trip by providing:

• Guidance and advice: Offering expert advice on destinations, local customs, and safety, agencies can help clients make informed decisions about their travel plans.
• Curation of activities: Aligning activities with the mission goals, agencies can maximize the impact and relevance of the trip.
• Coordination of logistics: By managing the many moving parts of a trip, from transportation to accommodations, agencies help ensure a smooth and stress-free experience.
• Ongoing support: By continually assessing the needs and expectations of travelers, agencies can provide ongoing support and make adjustments as required.

In summary, attention to detail and care are paramount when planning mission trips. Through their vast experience and resources, mission travel agencies can support the core mission of the travelers, providing curated experiences that foster understanding and positive change.

Mission Destinations

Mission travel to africa.

Africa provides numerous opportunities for mission trips, catering to various causes such as education, medical aid, orphanages, and community development.

Travel agencies like Fellowship Travel International and Ministry Travel offer discounted airfares and travel packages for mission groups traveling to African countries.

Destinations may include countries like Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Ghana, where mission groups can learn about the rich cultural heritage of the continent while providing valuable assistance in areas of need. Experienced travel agents assist in organizing meaningful and impactful trips, ensuring smooth logistics and ticketing arrangements.

Mission Travel to Asia

Asia, being the largest and most diverse continent, offers a wide range of destinations for mission trips. Popular countries for mission travel in Asia include India, Nepal, the Philippines, and Cambodia. These countries often seek assistance in areas such as education, healthcare, and community development.

Mission travel agencies like Golden Rule Travel facilitate mission trips to Asia by providing discounted airfares and logistics support tailored for humanitarian and faith-based travelers. They also offer mission-specific benefits, such as travel insurance discounts and access to a wide network of doctors and hospitals.

Mission Travel to Israel

Israel holds significant religious and historical importance for many mission travelers. Groups and individuals often embark on mission trips to Israel for spiritual growth or historical exploration.

Specialized agencies work closely with major carriers to offer the lowest possible airfares and customized travel packages, ensuring a successful and fulfilling experience for mission travelers.

The Role of the Church and Schools

Churches and schools play essential roles in organizing and supporting mission trips. These trips primarily involve two types: church-led missions and school-sponsored missions. Both types serve as opportunities for participants to impact communities positively while gaining valuable experience and personal growth.

Church Mission Trips

Church mission trips are spiritual endeavors where churches organize teams of volunteers to travel domestically or internationally. They aim to spread the gospel, provide humanitarian aid, and foster cross-cultural understanding.

Through their missions departments, churches often partner with mission travel agencies to plan and coordinate these trips.

The responsibilities of the local church during a mission trip can include:

• Equipping and training missionaries
• Providing logistical support and resources
• Creating and maintaining accountability among the mission team members
• Facilitating communication between the mission team and mission agencies

School Mission Trips

School mission trips offer opportunities for students to engage in service projects outside of their local communities, often in partnership with a church or a mission organization.

These trips may include activities such as teaching English, providing healthcare services, or participating in construction projects.

Schools play a crucial role in these mission trips:

• Encouraging hands-on learning and personal development
• Facilitating interaction with diverse cultures and environments
• Coordinating logistics and safety measures with travel agencies and partners
• Mentoring and supporting students throughout the mission trip process

In both types of mission trips, churches and schools contribute significantly to making mission travel a meaningful, safe, and gratifying experience for all participants.

By working closely with mission agencies and travel providers, they ensure that mission trips create a lasting impact on the communities served and the lives of those who serve them.

Behind the Agency

Behind every successful mission travel agency is a dedicated team of professionals. The agency usually consists of leaders and founders who bring together a diverse group of experienced travel agents sharing a common passion for making mission trips possible.

The team members leverage their expertise in the travel industry and their connections with various carriers and suppliers to secure the best mission-focused travel products and services.

Mission and Vision

A vital part of any mission travel agency is its mission and vision. These agencies have a clear purpose: to make mission travel accessible and affordable for groups and individuals supporting humanitarian causes.

They embrace change and foster innovation to ensure that the agency stays relevant and can cater to the evolving needs of their clients. Moreover, the agency’s values often emphasize transparency and integrity, setting them apart from their competitors in the industry.

Travel Industry Compliance

To ensure the utmost safety, security, and reliability for their mission travel participants, leading agencies comply with stringent travel industry standards. These agencies are typically bonded and have secured requisite licenses and permits to operate.

Additionally, mission travel agencies often maintain affiliations with recognized industry organizations like the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA).

By adhering to these regulations, mission travel agencies can provide the best possible services to their clients, while also instilling confidence in their operations.

In turn, this allows them to focus on achieving their core objective: enabling successful and impactful mission trips for the various groups and individuals they serve.

Living the Great Commission

Delivering the gospel.

In accordance with Jesus’ command in the Great Commission, many mission travel agencies focus on spreading the Gospel to areas in need of faith and hope.

Missionaries embark on trips, both short-term and long-term, to share their faith and provide spiritual guidance to communities around the world. Through Bible study programs, evangelism, and discipleship training, these individuals and groups help fulfill the mission entrusted to them by Jesus.

Mission travel agencies, such as Golden Rule Travel, play a crucial role in supporting this aspect of the Great Commission. They provide comprehensive travel arrangements for churches, missionaries, and mission teams, ensuring safe and efficient transportation to their destinations.

Medical and Humanitarian Missions

Beyond sharing the message of faith, many Christians believe in demonstrating the love of Jesus through actions. This often includes offering medical and humanitarian assistance to those in need. Mission travel agencies facilitate these efforts by arranging for specialized trips to serve people in impoverished or disaster-affected regions.

Medical missions seek to provide essential healthcare services, such as surgeries, dental care, and vaccinations, to populations that may not have access to these services otherwise. Christian medical professionals volunteer their time and expertise to deliver hope and healing in these difficult environments.

Humanitarian travel focuses on various aspects of community-building, such as clean water initiatives, educational programs, and infrastructure improvements. Individuals participating in these humanitarian efforts work hand in hand with local communities to create a lasting impact and demonstrate the love and care that underlies their faith.

By coordinating the logistics for both medical and humanitarian missions, mission travel agencies enable dedicated Christians to live out the Great Commission in tangible ways, touching lives and bringing hope to those in need.

Quotes and Requests

When planning a mission trip, obtaining a travel quote from a mission travel agency can be a crucial step in the process. These specially negotiated quotes are designed to cater to the unique needs of humanitarian and faith-based travelers, often offering significant discounts and additional benefits.

To request a travel quote, simply contact the mission travel agency of your choice and provide the necessary information, such as your destination, travel dates, number of travelers, and any preferences or special requirements your group may have.

Mission travel agencies, such as Golden Rule Travel, have access to humanitarian contracts with major airlines. This allows them to offer discounted rates and added perks, such as free checked bags or advanced booking options. For added peace of mind, dedicated travel agents are often on standby to assist with any travel-related issues that may arise before or during your trip.

Additionally, mission travel agencies may offer specialized travel insurance plans tailored to the needs of faith-based and humanitarian travelers. These plans can include access to a large database of doctors and hospitals, 24/7 customer service in multiple languages, and deeply discounted rates.

In summary, requesting a travel quote from a mission travel agency can save your group time and money while ensuring that your travel needs are met. By working with an agency that understands the unique requirements of mission travel, you can be confident that you are in good hands throughout your journey.

Frequently Asked Questions

What services do mission travel agencies provide.

Mission travel agencies specialize in organizing and managing travel arrangements for humanitarian, religious, and volunteer groups. They provide services such as booking group flights, accommodation, ground transportation, travel insurance, and assistance with visas or any necessary documentation.

Additionally, they may offer specialized services tailored to the unique needs of mission and humanitarian trips, such as working with specific airlines for discounted fares or coordinating with local partners on the ground.

How can I find a reputable humanitarian travel agency?

To find a reputable humanitarian travel agency, consider researching their credentials and experience, as well as seeking recommendations from friends, colleagues, or relevant organizations . Online reviews and testimonies from clients can also provide helpful insights.

Ensure that the travel agency has a proven track record, expertise in your area of interest, and a physical office or reliable contact information.

Moreover, by asking questions like how long they have been in business, their areas of specialization, and their emergency service procedures, you can gauge the suitability of the agency for your needs.

What is the typical cost of a mission trip?

The cost of a mission trip varies widely depending on factors such as destination, trip duration, and the nature of the mission work. Costs may include airfare, accommodations, meals, ground transportation, travel insurance, visas, and project expenses.

Some travel agencies may provide discounted fares for mission trips or package deals that include multiple services. Always inquire about the cost structure and any additional fees that may apply when evaluating potential mission travel agencies.

Are there specific travel agencies for Christian missions?

Yes, there are travel agencies that focus specifically on organizing Christian mission trips. These agencies cater primarily to churches, religious organizations, and individuals engaged in Christian-based humanitarian work.

They may offer special pricing, resources, and support tailored to these groups, making it easier to plan and execute a successful mission trip.

What factors should I consider when choosing a mission travel agency?

When selecting a mission travel agency, consider their experience, credentials, and specialization in the type of mission trip you are planning. Evaluate their services, pricing, and any discounts they may offer, as well as their knowledge of your destination and any related travel requirements.

Check for reliable customer service, emergency assistance, and a strong reputation for meeting the unique needs of mission travelers.

How do travel agencies support mission trips financially?

Travel agencies can support mission trips financially by offering discounted fares, group pricing, or package deals that encompass multiple services, lowering overall costs for travelers.

Some agencies may also tailor their services for mission trips, negotiating with partners such as airlines or hotels to secure the best possible rates on behalf of their clients.

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Travel by Beth

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Our Mission Statement

Our agency’s goal is to exceed your expectations and create memories more powerful than any gift.

We believe that the travel experience provides an incredible opportunity to connect with your spouse, your family, and your friends.

In our own personal travel we have created so many lasting memories. At Travel by Beth our mission is to create the same for you through your travel experiences.

Travel by Beth was established to provide a higher level of personalized and customized service for our clients. We care about our clients and work hard to provide you a level of service that you won’t find with other agencies or with an online booking engine. We believe in the values of honesty, integrity, respect, and loyalty.

The staff at Travel by Beth pride themselves on being your preferred travel agency! We are licensed with CLIA and currently hold preferred or master agency status with several major resort brands. We tailor every trip to meet the expectations of our clients. Destinations are endless and options plentiful!

At Travel by Beth providing the best value for your money is important to us. We price match all major travel sites (Orbitz, Travelocity, etc) and don’t charge any agency fees! If you find an agency or site that offers a lower price on your vacation, we’ll match it without question.

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Mission Flights

Flights for mission travel.

We're proud to serve those who serve others, including: individual missionaries, short-term mission groups, medical missions teams & anyone participating in global missions.

Mission Trip Expertise

Our travel agents understand the sensitive nature of this type of travel. Our travel agents have extensive knowledge of remote destinations within Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe & Latin America. So, no matter where your world missions take you, we can offer mission teams & missionaries assistance with travel in closed countries, last-minute flights for medical missions/disaster relief travel, as well as additional services that may be required. Your agent will work hard to save you time & money on your mission travel arrangements, so you can focus your resources on your ministry.

Missionary Flight Contracts

Fellowship Travel works with hundreds of mission groups, therefore we have been able to negotiate special contract rates for non-profit & mission travel with a variety of major international carriers, including:

• Discounted mission flights worldwide
• Advanced booking to lock in low rates (up to 11 months in advance of travel)
• Minimal deposits to hold group space
• Increased flexibility with name & date changes
• Flights from the US or originating overseas
• Reduced rates on one-way, round-trip & open-jaw tickets
• Plane tickets are valid up to a year

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CTM provides local service solutions to customers around the world. Please select your local region, and start experiencing the CTM difference!

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Our commitment to customers, employees, partners and shareholders

Ctm is committed to delivering on the company’s vision and customer value proposition. our board, leadership team and employees are all invested in creating and sustaining a workplace culture that supports equality of opportunity, empowerment, collaboration and recognition..

As a result, we continue to develop a highly engaged workforce and strategic thinking across every member of our team for the long-term benefit of our customers, partners and investors.

To be recognized as the global leader in travel management solutions – an entrepreneurial, innovative and inspiring company of choice for employees, customers, partners and shareholders.

We take time to listen, understand and utilize what makes us different and how we set ourselves apart.

• We go above and beyond in delivering benefit to all our stakeholders
• We live by our corporate values – both internally and externally
• We are developing a highly motivated and empowered workforce
• We are developing ground breaking technologies which will define the future of travel

Our Mission

To be travel management leaders in all regions in which we operate, using innovative technology to improve the customer experience and bring positive change to the market..

At all times, we will demonstrate a return on investment to our customers and suppliers. We will empower our teams to make the best decisions for our customers. Our  shareholders will be at the forefront of our business growth strategy.

Our Customer Value Proposition

Our commitment to our customers is:.

• To deliver personalized and flexible service solutions
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Our Company Values

• Exceed to Service: Excellence is a habit not an act.
• Trust to Succeed: Belief is what makes a person, team, company and community stronger.
• Innovate to Generate: Innovation in thinking and doing what nobody else does.
• Collaborate to Perform: Through teamwork wonderful things will be achieved.
• Play to Win: People are successful when they have fun in what they do.
• Empowered to Achieve: The power to make the right decision to achieve great results.
• Recognize to Reward: Celebrate and acknowledge when we have accomplished something special.

THE BEST FARES & THE RIGHT ADVICE

Discount airfare for mission trips & humanitarian travel.

Ministry Travel delivers the lowest possible airfare for your mission trip through our significant mission and humanitarian travel discounts with major carriers. You have peace of mind because, throughout your journey, passionate and dependable people are behind the travel plans of your group.

How Ministry Travel Makes Your Mission Trip a Success

Our process.

• Complete the Mission Trip Details on our website telling us about your mission trip
• We shop the airlines using our special ministry air contracts and provide you with a guaranteed low-price proposal
• You’ll receive a link to schedule a call at your convenience so we can discuss the proposal, answer any questions, and advise you on everything from visas to vaccinations. At this time, we’ll make any necessary revisions and then finalize the proposal.
• Once you’re ready, approve the proposal and make your deposit – that’s it, your mission group airfare is reserved.

As Your Trip Approaches

We’ll make arrangements for final payments and provide your group with the required documents and flight information.

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MISSIONARY TRAVEL BRINGS FAITH AND HOPE

Mission trips provide members of your faith the opportunity to bring help and hope to the less fortunate through real, hands-on experience. Our mission is to provide assistance — we want to help you plan your group’s international mission travel and determine the most effective solutions for your transportation needs. As a mission travel agency, we’ll help turn your organization’s desire to serve into life-changing action by planning the best mission trip for you.

CV Humanitarian Travel is more than a mission travel agency — we work to make your trip as effective and economical as possible. We provide you with group or individual flight discounts and benefits, as well as exclusive baggage allowances and other benefits.

• The best airfares
• Exclusive baggage allowances
• More fundraising time
• 50-60% off one-way fares
• Group arrival and departure manifest organization
• 24/7 customer support

We also provide mission travel insurance discounts and benefits that are only available to humanitarian and faith-based travelers. These include deeply discounted rates, access to a huge database of doctors and hospitals, 24/7 customer service in nearly 20 languages, mission-traveler-specific travel insurance plans, and more.

• Insurance discounts & benefits
• Huge database of doctors & hospitals
• 24/7 customer service
• Humanitarian-specific travel insurance plans
• Supplemental health, trip cancellation, and evacuation insurance

We will carefully consider your organization’s specific demographics and create a custom itinerary for your mission trip. Whatever the project — from building a school to teaching a hygiene workshop — we can help you provide an experience that will unite your church, change lives, and put faith into action. Contact us today for all of your mission travel questions.

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5 Secrets For Finding The Perfect Travel Agent To Plan Your Trip

T here are many things that go into planning a trip. You'll need to decide where you want to go, how to get there, where you'll stay, and many more. The number of details to take care of can be overwhelming and so it's no wonder why some people hire the services of a travel agent .

A travel agent can make these and other travel arrangements for you. But, their most important role is that of a matchmaker between your needs and the myriad of businesses that offer travel-related services, such as airlines, hotels, restaurants, and tour providers. And, they make your travel seamless within your budget and preferences.

However, finding a good travel agent — or travel advisor, as they like to be called nowadays — can be difficult. With hundreds or even thousands of travel agents in a state, how do you choose which travel agent to work with? Read on to discover the secrets of how to find a good travel agent.

Ask About Affiliations And Certifications

The first thing you should look for in a travel agent is their affiliation. Being a member of the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA), which is the largest association of travel professionals in the world, means your travel agent has been vetted and mandated to abide by strict rules and modes of conduct. Another good indication is if they're a member of the Association of Retail Travel Agents (ARTA), the biggest travel agent organization in North America. Or, if you're looking to book a cruise , a travel agent that's affiliated with the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) is your best bet.

Membership in a professional network matters because it's how travel agents can provide you with special perks, such as free breakfasts and upgrades. Virtuoso, the premier luxury network in the travel industry, told Forbes that the hotel benefits that affiliated travel agents provide their clients can average over $500 per stay. In addition, you can reach out to these professional networks should you have any complaints about your travel agent.

In addition to membership in professional networks, it's also a good sign if your travel agent is certified by The Travel Institute, a leader in travel industry education and certification in the world. This certification might mean that your travel agent has undergone training on specific destinations or specialties as well as industry best practices.

Look For Local Travel Agents Or Ask For Referrals

When it comes to travel agents, local is the way to go. It's easier for you to determine if a travel agent might be the one if you meet them face to face. If they work in an office, you'll be able to observe how they interact with other customers. And, if in-person meetups are not possible, talking to a travel agent on the phone or via Zoom can help you determine if they're the one for you.

Another great way to find the perfect travel agent to plan your trip is to ask for referrals from friends and families. This is especially helpful if you're having a hard time finding a good travel agent locally. However, just note that your family member or friend might have a different travel style than you, so their travel agent may or may not be a match, but it's a great place to start your search. You can also check ASTA's directory, Virtuoso, or do an online search for travel agents near you — as well as for those who specialize in your preferred destination or travel style.

Search For Specializations

Working with a travel agent who specializes in the destination or travel type you have in mind is essential. You'll be tapping into their unique knowledge of the place or travel style as well as their network of travel suppliers. This takes the hassle out of having to research and vet a hotel, tour company, etc. on your own. Plus, they'll be able to offer you a great deal and add on some special perks too, thanks to their already established relationships with local connections and contacts.

ASTA and Virtuoso's directories also allow you to search for travel agents based on their specializations. On Google, simply type "[specialization] travel agent" or a variation of this search term. If you're interested in landing the perfect cruise, you can search for a travel agent who specializes in this area in CLIA's directory.

Interview Or Ask Questions

In your search for the perfect travel agent, you'll find a number who may be a good fit for your needs. However, don't jump the gun before you've interviewed your top choices. You don't have to pick the first one you find.

Once you've found a travel agent you can potentially work with, it's critical that you ask them a lot of questions — and they should do the same in order to understand your travel style and needs. Inquire about their business, and fees and charges. Ask them about previous trips that are similar to what you're looking for and be upfront with your budget. You could also question them about their favorite destinations and personal travel preferences. You can — and should — ask for referrals too.

Bottom line: Look for an agent who listens and accommodates your requests instead of trying to sell you something. Someone who's proactive and offers alternatives is a great find. It's ideal to talk to your agent in person, but as already mentioned, if that's not possible, talking on the phone or via Zoom will do.

Pick The Good Ones, Avoid The Bad Ones

Here's a tip you might not have heard yet: Research your travel agent's name + "complaints." The results should tell you a lot and help with your decision to work with this travel agent or not. Other telltale signs of a bad travel agent include having no real certifications or qualifications, doesn't explain clearly their fees and charges, asking you to pay only in cash, and pushing for items that don't add value or enjoyment to your trip, i.e., looking to make a commission.

On the other hand, a good travel agent understands what you want from your vacation. Asking you a lot of questions is a good indication of this. A prompt response, like replying within 24 hours, is also a sign of a good travel agent. They should also be transparent about fees and charges, and be able to explain clearly the terms and conditions of your trip. In short, a good travel agent is great at communicating. But, they should also be good at finding the best deals as well as be flexible and creative with the options they provide you.

Read this next: It's Time To Ditch These 10 Outdated Travel Tips

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Mission Tour Travels – International Family Tour Packages to Explore the Most Astonishing Destinations

Get the Best Holiday Planned by the Experts and Engage with History on a Deeper Level Are you looking for help in planning your international trip? Mission Travel Tours, the leading travel agent online, has got you covered! Wouldn’t it be amazing waking up to serene surroundings and spending quality time with your family, escaping from the hustles and bustles of your daily life? We fulfill this dream of yours and take you on a joyous sojourn to witness the charming glory of nature and enthralled by refreshing landscapes. From cultural/sightseeing excursions to faith tours, we will help you plan a variety of family tour packages international to different regions, including Europe, The Middle East, Australia/Pacific, Asia, Africa, the USA/Canada, and Latin America. What are the Difficulties Faced by Visitors Planning International Travels? Some of the difficulties often faced by the visitors while planning tour packages international are, Language barrier Many signs and menus are usually in the local language of the country, and the visitors will not get the full context Difficulties in advanced bookings and reservations Most establishments do not accept credit cards, and they require to carry cash Difficulties in navigation between train lines and bus stations Limitations with public transportation as most of the streets do not have names, buses and train services are stopped within a certain time, and more. Why Mission Travel Tours is Your Preferred Travel Agent Online? As a top-rated travel agent online, we specialize in creating family tour packages and provide detailed Itineraries for a truly local and memorable experience. Our experts will take you through stunning International holiday locations and help our visitors explore the country without any difficulties that are common with traveling to culturally deep International destinations. What Can a Travel Agent Online Provide? At Mission Travel Tours, the leading travel agent online, we provide the best family tour packages international that include great sightseeing tours, safaris, adventure tours, honeymoon tours, faith tours, and more. We cover the best travel destinations, including Europe, Middle East, Australia/Pacific, Asia, Africa, the USA/Canada, and Latin America, to provide you a new experience altogether. Our services include Pre-Arranged Group Tours, Private Guided Tours, Guided as Needed Tours, along with Tailor-Made Tours according to clients’ specifications. How Can You Choose Family Tour Packages International? Life is a beautiful journey, and creating new memories along the way binds your life together. No matter where you go, planning family tour packages international creates the perfect opportunity to make memories with your kids that they will cherish forever. From beach vacations to guided adventures, there are different tour packages from which you can choose an ideal getaway for your family. When selecting a tour package for your crew, make sure the itinerary suits the vision of your travel, the package includes different activities that match the taste of everyone in the crew and fit your budget. Dreaming of exploring the pyramids of Egypt? Planning a holy trip to Israel? Embarking on an adventure-filled vacation in Europe? Or do you want to enjoy some well-deserved downtime along the coastlines of Australia? We have got what you are looking for! At Mission Travel Tours, the leading travel agent online, our tour packages are tailored to meet your unique needs and budget. Start planning your vacation today! We’ve hundreds of detailed itineraries to choose from.

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Welcome to Mission Travel Tours With us you travel only with your party. We work within your tour budget. We customize itineraries. We take care of everything including; Private guides, transportation, lodging and airfare. Less headaches and better experiences! -->

Why travel with us.

Our Travelers do not want to stress about the details while they travel, they want us to do all that for them and still get the best prices.

We will help you with:

• Language Barrier - We pick you up at the airport and provide you with a guide that speaks your language every step of the way.
• Not getting full context of Country Culture - Our guides will help answer questions you have along the way regarding culture differences.
• Best Hotel Locations - We know which hotels will work best for your tour, you do not want to pick the wrong hotel in the wrong location.
• Different Cultural Customs - We make sure you understand what is expected and not expected.
• Best Tour experience - We offer off the beaten path locations, we know the best locations. We will not send you to a tourist trap, this trip is about you and not big Corporate.
• Driver - Transportation problems are one of the biggest headaches in a foreign country. Why risk it? We will make sure you are chauffeured to each location and experience.
• Guide - There are many bad guides out there and to not have the right one will not give you a good experience! Our guides are thoroughly vetted with great reviews, you will have a better experience with us.
• Customize your trip - Custom trips are hard to find. We will always put your needs first and customize every trip that best fits your likes and dislikes.

Mission Travel Tours, the Leading Travel Agent Online specializes in providing a truly local and memorable experience with the best Itineraries throughout each country that we operate in. Mission Travel Tours will guide visitors and help them explore each country without the difficulties that usually come with traveling to a foreign country that is culturally deep and unique.

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You have the ability to tailor your itinerary according to your preferences.

Most prices listed on website are approximate and are based on two individuals traveling together in a private party.

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U.S. Visa: Reciprocity and Civil Documents by Country

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Transit Visa

Visas for Diplomats and Foreign Government Officials

Visas for Employees of International Organizations and NATO

Renewing A, G, and NATO Visas in the United States

Visas for Foreign Government, International Organization, and NATO Officials and Employees - FAQs

Change of Status

DS-1648: Online Application for A, G, and NATO Visas

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Online DS-1648 for A, G, and NATO

Renewing Visas for Foreign Military Stationed in the United States

Temporary Religious Worker Visa

Crewmember Visa

Follow-to-Join Refugees and Asylees

Visas for Victims of Criminal Activity

Visas for Victims of Human Trafficking

Safety & Security of U.S. Borders: Biometrics

Generally, a citizen of a foreign country who wishes to enter the United States must first obtain a visa, either a nonimmigrant visa for temporary stay, or an immigrant visa for permanent residence.  Temporary religious worker (R-1) visas are for persons who want to enter the United States to work temporarily in religious capacities.

As a Temporary Religious Worker, You Must:

• be a member of the same religious denomination as the religious organization you plan to work for in the United States for at least two years before that organization files a petition on your behalf;
• be coming to work as a minister or in a religious vocation or occupation in the United States;
• be employed by a non-profit religious organization in the United States (or an organization affiliated with the religious denomination in the United States); and
• work at least part time, an average of at least 20 hours per week.

For Some Temporary Religious Activity, a Visitor (B) Visa Can Be Used

Certain religious related activities can be undertaken using a  visitor (B) visa , such as private worship, prayer, meditation, informal religious study, and attendance at religious services or conferences in the United States. Also, a visitor visa is generally appropriate for ministers of religion seeking to come to the United States temporarily, whose wages and reimbursement will be paid by their own religious group outside the United States, and when coming for:

• An evangelical tour, without taking an appointment with any one church; or   
• Exchanging pulpits temporarily with U.S. counterparts; or
• Members performing missionary or voluntary service for a denomination, such as to aid the elderly or needy.

When you have a religious vocation or profession, or are a religious worker coming temporarily to be employed, with your salary paid by a non-profit religious organization in the United States, the visitor visa is not permitted, and you must have a religious worker (R) visa or other work visa.

Petition Approval

Before you can apply for a temporary religious worker visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate, a  Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, Form I-129 , must be filed on your behalf by a prospective employer and approved by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). For more information about the petition process and eligibility requirements, see  Working in the U.S. ,  Temporary (Nonimmigrant) Workers , and  R-1 Temporary Nonimmigrant Religious Workers  on the USCIS website. USCIS will notify your prospective employer about the petition approval or denial, by sending a Notice of Action, Form I-797.

Important Notice:  USCIS recently published revised Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker. The revised Form I-129 is labeled with an Oct. 23, 2014, edition date. You can download the revised form and details about who may file Form I-129 from the  USCIS forms website . Starting on May 1, 2015, USCIS will accept only the Oct. 23, 2014, edition of Form I-129. USCIS will not accept previous editions of Forms I-129 (edition dates: Oct. 7, 2011, Jan. 19, 2011, and Nov. 23, 2010) on or after May 1, 2015.

Important Notice: Same-sex Marriage

Effective immediately, U.S. Embassies and Consulates will adjudicate visa applications that are based on a same-sex marriage in the same way that we adjudicate applications for opposite gender spouses. Please reference the specific guidance on the visa category for which you are applying for more details on documentation required for derivative spouses. For further information, please see our  FAQ’s .

How to Apply

There are several steps to apply for a visa. The order of these steps and how you complete them may vary at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where you apply. Please consult the instructions available on the  embassy or consulate website  where you will apply. 

Complete the Online Visa Application

• Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application,  Form DS-160  -  Learn more  about completing the  DS-160 . You must: 1) complete the online visa application and 2) print the application form confirmation page to bring to your interview.
• Photo  - You will upload your photo while completing the online Form DS-160. Your photo must be in the format explained in the  Photograph Requirements .

Schedule an Interview

While interviews are generally not required for applicants of certain ages outlined below, consular officers have the discretion to require an interview of any applicant, regardless of age.

You must schedule an appointment for your visa interview, generally, at the  U.S. Embassy or Consulate  in the country where you live. You may schedule your interview at any U.S. Embassy or Consulate, but be aware that it may be difficult to qualify for a visa outside of your place of permanent residence. 

Wait times for interview appointments vary by location, season, and visa category, so you should apply for your visa early. Review the interview wait time for the location where you will apply:

Appointment Wait Time

Check the estimated wait time for a nonimmigrant visa interview appointment at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

Note: Please check the individual Embassy or Consulate website to determine if your case is eligible for a waiver of the in-person interview.

Applicants scheduling visa appointments in a location different from their place of residence should check post websites for nonresident wait times.

Select a U.S. Embassy or Consulate:

You must provide the receipt number printed on your approved Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, Form I-129, or Notice of Action, Form I-797, to schedule an interview.

Prepare for Your Interview

• Fees - Pay the non-refundable visa application fee,  if you are required to pay it before your interview.  When your visa is approved, you may also pay a visa issuance fee, if applicable to your nationality.  Fee information is provided below: 

Application Fee

Select your nationality to see your Issuance Fee

• Review the instructions available on the website of the  embassy or consulate  where you will apply to learn more about fee payment.

Gather Required Documentation

Gather and prepare the following required documents before your visa interview:

• Passport  valid for travel to the United States - Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your period of stay in the United States (unless exempt by  country-specific agreements ). If more than one person is included in your passport, each person who needs a visa must submit a separate application.
• Nonimmigrant Visa Application,  Form DS-160  confirmation page
• Application fee payment receipt , if you are required to pay before your interview
• Photo  - You will upload your photo while completing the online Form DS-160. If the  photo upload fails,  you must bring one printed photo in the format explained in the  Photograph Requirements . 
• Receipt Number  for your approved petition as it appears on your Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, Form I-129, or Notice of Action, Form I-797, from USCIS.

Additional Documentation May Be Required

Review the instructions for how to apply for a visa on the website of the  embassy or consulate  where you will apply. Additional documents may be requested to establish if you are qualified.

Attend Your Visa Interview

During your visa interview, a consular officer will determine whether you are qualified to receive a visa, and if so, which visa category is appropriate based on your purpose of travel. You will need to establish that you meet the requirements under U.S. law to receive the category of visa for which you are applying. 

Ink-free, digital fingerprint scans will be taken as part of your application process. They are usually taken during your interview, but this varies based on location.

After your visa interview, your application may require further  administrative processing . You will be informed by the consular officer if further processing is necessary for your application.

When the visa is approved, you may pay a visa issuance fee if applicable to your nationality, and will be informed how your passport with visa will be returned to you. Review the  visa processing time , to learn how soon your passport with visa will generally be ready for pick-up or delivery by the courier.

Additional Information

• Petition approval by USCIS does not guarantee visa issuance. Do not make final travel plans or buy tickets until you have a visa.
• Unless canceled or revoked, a visa is valid until its expiration date.  Therefore, a valid U.S. visa in an expired passport is still valid. If you have a valid visa in your expired passport, do not remove it from your expired passport. You may use your valid visa in your expired passport along with a new valid passport for travel and admission to the United States.
• Your spouse and unmarried children under age 21 may apply for R-2 visas to accompany or join you to reside temporarily. You must demonstrate that you will be able to financially support your family in the United States. They are permitted to study while in the United States, but are not authorized to accept employment. 
• For information about employment or study while in the United States, review  Religious (R) Workers  and  Employment Authorization  on the USCIS website.

Visa Denial and Ineligibility

Review  Visa Denials  for detailed information about visa ineligibilities, denials, and waivers.

Visa Renewal

Whether you are applying for the first time or renewing your visa, you will use the same application process (please review  How to Apply , above). Some applicants seeking to renew their visas in certain visa classes may be eligible for the Interview Waiver Program (IWP) which allows qualified individuals to apply for visa renewals without being interviewed in person by a U.S. consular officer. Review the instructions on the website of the  U.S. Embassy or Consulate  where you will apply to determine if the IWP is available and if you qualify.

I was refused a visa under section 214(b). May I reapply?

Yes, if you feel circumstances have changed regarding your application. Review  Visa Denials  to learn more.

Misrepresentation or Fraud

Attempting to obtain a visa by the willful misrepresentation of a material fact, or fraud, may result in the permanent refusal of a visa application or denial of entry into the United States.

Review  Ineligibilities and Waivers: Laws .

Citizens of Canada and Bermuda

Citizens of Canada and Bermuda do not require visas to enter the United States as temporary religious workers; however, a temporary worker petition approved by USCIS is required.  For more information, see  U.S. Embassy Ottawa website ,  U.S. Consulate Hamilton website , and  CBP website .

Additional resources for Canadian temporary religious workers can be found on the  U.S. embassy and consulate websites in Canada .

Further Questions

• Case-Specific Questions  - Contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate handling your visa application for status information. Select  U.S. Embassy or Consulate  for contact information.
• General Questions  - review  Contact Us .

More Information

A-Z Index Lost/Stolen Travel Documents Denials Temporary Workers-USCIS Fraud Warning Border Security/Safety Visa Expiration Date Automatic Revalidation Nonimmigrants in the United States–Applying for Visas in Canada or Mexico Visa Applicants - State Sponsors of Terrorism Find a U.S. Embassy or Consulate Customer Service Statement

External Link

You are about to leave travel.state.gov for an external website that is not maintained by the U.S. Department of State.

Links to external websites are provided as a convenience and should not be construed as an endorsement by the U.S. Department of State of the views or products contained therein. If you wish to remain on travel.state.gov, click the "cancel" message.

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5 Differences Between Travel Nurse Recruiting and Permanent Staff Recruiting

Recruiting is a cornerstone of the travel nursing industry. It’s also a big part of staffing permanent nursing jobs. However, while both are engaged in recruiting healthcare professionals, they couldn’t be more different. Some of the differences are obvious and some are subtle or even hidden. Either way, all the differences have an impact on travel nurses. So in this article, we’ll take a look at 5 differences between recruiting for permanent staff jobs and recruiting for travel nursing jobs.

The Role of the Recruiter In Travel Nursing

The role of the recruiter is one of the most obvious differences between travel nurse recruiting and permanent staff recruiting. Every major healthcare employer and/or hospital has a team of recruiters to help them fill their permanent staff positions. However, you may not even encounter a recruiter when you’re looking for a staff position. If you do encounter a recruiter, then your contact with them will most likely be limited.

Much of a perm-staff recruiter’s time is spent communicating with teams within the organization to determine staffing needs and managing the sourcing process. In other words, they are engaged in finding potential candidates and forwarding them to hiring managers.

In some cases, a nurse may not have any contact at all with a perm-staff recruiter. When you do encounter a perm-staff recruiter it’s often nothing more than a quick phone call to answer a few standard questions and schedule an appointment for an interview. And once you land a permanent job, there’s very little chance that you’ll communicate with the recruiter ever again.

By contrast, travel nursing recruiters play a key role from beginning to end. In the early stages, travel nursing recruiters typically offer detailed explanations about the general aspects of travel nursing. They answer questions about pay packages, housing, taxes, jobs, contracts and more. And if they’re doing their job right, they also get to know the traveler on a personal level and find out precisely what the traveler is looking for in an assignment.  These initial conversations can sometimes last hours.

Once a job is secured, the travel nurse recruiter will likely be involved in the credentialing and onboarding process. They might even be involved in establishing payroll and benefits behind the scenes. Once the traveler starts the assignment, the recruiter will most likely continue to be the traveler’s point of contact for all service related issues. And the recruiter will certainly be involved in future contract searches.

The scope of a travel nurse recruiter’s role often depends on the size of the company. Recruiters at small and mid-sized companies are often responsible for everything. Recruiters at larger companies often have support teams responsible for handling much of the process. But either way, the travel nurse recruiter maintains a much more prominent role than the perm-staff recruiter. In fact, many travel nurses say recruiters will make or break your travel nursing experience.

How to Find and Evaluate Travel Nursing Recruiters

Travel Nurse Recruitment Approaches

One of the more subtle differences between travel nurse recruiting and perm-staff recruiting has to do with the range of recruitment approaches available to the recruiter. The perm-staff recruiter is most often engaged in a job-centered approach to recruitment. This means they are engaged in selling candidates on the merits of a particular job. Therefore, they are only interested in candidates who possess the qualifications for that particular job.

That said, it’s true that perm-staff recruiters often have multiple jobs to fill. However, the number of jobs that a perm-staff recruiter has available is relatively small and it doesn’t fluctuate that much. As a result, the perm-staff recruiter is focused on filling jobs that are open now.

By contrast, travel nursing companies typically have a much larger pool of jobs open at any given time because they work with hundreds or even thousands of healthcare employers. Moreover, the agency’s job orders are in constant flux with jobs opening and closing frequently. Travel nursing recruiters can certainly take a job-centered approach to recruiting and search only for candidates that meet the qualifications of a specific job. However, travel nurse recruiters are able to use other approaches as well.

For example, a travel nurse recruiter can take an advocate-approach on behalf of the traveler. In this scenario, the recruiter will find out what the traveler is looking for and then go about finding it. The difference is that the recruiter is not calling to pitch the traveler on a specific job. Instead, the recruiter is offering their services to help find the ideal position.

Travel nursing recruiters can also take a service-based recruitment approach. In this scenario, the recruiter attempts to sell candidates on the merits of working with their agency. The difference seems subtle on the surface, but this is a very popular approach among small and boutique agencies. Essentially, these agencies have access to far fewer jobs than their larger competitors, but they are able to offer more personalized service and potentially much higher pay.

The recruiter’s goal with this approach is twofold. First, become the traveler’s top choice should the stars align on the right assignment. Second, potentially convince the traveler to take an assignment that the traveler otherwise wouldn’t in order to receive a premium level of service.

Why does this matter for travel nurses? Well, it answers a few common questions regarding recruitment tactics in the travel nursing industry. Many travelers wonder why recruiters contact them without a specific job opportunity, or why they get so many calls from travel recruiters in general. After all, you’re phone isn’t ringing off the hook with perm-staff recruiters. The reason is that travel nursing recruiters must utilize all the recruitment approaches in order to build the large pool of candidates required for success.

How to evaluate pay packages

Competition Between Travel Nursing Agencies for the Same Job

One of the main reasons travel nursing recruiters need a large pool of candidates to succeed is that they are competing with recruiters from other agencies to fill the same jobs. Hospitals have always worked with multiple agencies to get their jobs filled. However, in recent years, the proliferation of Vendor Management Services has enabled hospitals to conveniently work with more agencies than ever before.

Meanwhile, perm-staff recruiters have exclusive access to the jobs they are recruiting for. Even if the hospital hires outside help to fill the permanent positions, it typically doesn’t make a difference to the perm-staff recruiter. As long as the jobs get filled, the perm-staff recruiter wins.

Of course, the increased competition in travel nurse recruiting has an impact on the recruiting process. Perhaps most notably, travel nursing jobs get filled much quicker on average than permanent jobs. There are often hundreds of companies with thousands of recruiters attempting to fill travel nursing jobs.

Moreover, the temporary nature of travel contracts simplifies the decision-making process for both candidates and hiring managers. Neither party needs to worry about long-term ramifications if something doesn’t work out. As a result, the vetting process tends to take far less time.

This high level of competition among agencies can sometimes result in travelers being submitted without their permission. The competition creates a race to submit candidates. It’s not always the best candidate that lands the job, often it’s the first qualified candidate to be submitted. So while recruiters know it’s wrong to submit a traveler’s profile without permission, they are sometimes unable to resist the urge.

Recruiters and agencies might also recruit for “ghost-jobs”. A ghost-job is a job that isn’t actually open. Agencies might post them to job boards or via social media. Similarly, recruiters might tell candidates they have a job opening that matches the candidate’s needs even though no such job is open.

Agencies and recruiters use these tactics for two reasons. First, they may have a high level of confidence the job will exist in the near future. By recruiting for it in advance, they’ll have everything ready to go so they can beat their competition to the punch. Second, recruiters may think they can convince a candidate to take a different assignment once the candidate has completed all of the agency’s paperwork.

Travelers rightly despise these tactics and there is no acceptable justification. And of course, these things rarely if ever happen when looking for a permanent staff job.

14 Ways Recruiters Betray The Trust of Travel Nurses

Access to Information About the Hiring Process

Travel nursing recruiters and agencies might be less likely to rely on these tactics if they had access to all the information about the hiring process. This is another difference between perm-staff and travel recruiting. Perm-staff recruiters have easy access to the number of candidates who have been submitted for a job opening, the viability of those candidates, where they are in the process, and all the other pertinent information.

However, travel recruiters don’t have access to all this information. Of course, they have access to the number of candidates that their own agency has submitted for a particular job, but they most likely don’t have access to the candidates submitted by their competitors. Moreover, agencies typically don’t have access to hiring managers. As a result, they have no way of knowing where the hiring managers are with the interview/offer process. And sometimes, travel recruiters don’t even know if a particular job is still open or not. This is why travelers sometimes find that a job is filled immediately after applying for it.

Travel Nursing Companies and the Hiring Decision

Of course, travel nursing recruiters don’t always know when a job is filled because travel nursing companies don’t actually make the hiring decisions. This is another key difference between perm-staff and travel recruiting. If it were up to the travel agency, every one of their qualified candidates would get hired for a job. The more people the agency has working, the more money the agency makes.

Instead, the agency’s role is to submit all their qualified candidates and let the hospital decide on the best fit. As a result, travelers should not be surprised to find that their agency has submitted multiple candidates for the same assignment. You may even find that your own recruiter has submitted multiple candidates to the same assignment.

Given the central role that recruiting plays in travel nursing, it’s important for travel nurses to have a solid understanding of the terrain in which recruiters operate. We hope this information helps in that regard. As always, we’d love to hear about your experiences with this issue. Please post them on BluePipes Forums to discuss with the community!

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Middle East latest: Iran threatens 'much larger' attack on Israel if it retaliates against missile and drone attacks

Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said aircraft are still patrolling the skies. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden said the US military helped Israel "take down nearly all of the drones and missiles" fired by Iran.

Sunday 14 April 2024 09:36, UK

• Israel-Hamas war

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• More than 300 drones and missiles fired on Israel by Iran, says IDF
• Iran threatens US bases and larger attack on Israel if it retaliates
• Danger in miscalculation 'setting whole region on fire', says expert
• Watch : Alistair Bunkall explains what this could mean for Middle East
• Alex Rossi analysis : An extraordinarily dangerous moment
• Iran seizes Israeli-linked cargo ship with 25 crew on board
• Watch: Revolutionary Guards board vessel by helicopter
• Live reporting by Brad Young and (earlier) Lauren Russell

The UK is a close supporter of Israel but has taken an "interesting stance" in the way it has described its role last night, says security and defence editor Deborah Haynes.

It said it had deployed additional jets and refuelling aircraft to an airbase in Cyprus, where the UK already has a deployment operating against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

Ostensibly, the increase in jets was part of the same mission, but the aircraft that were deployed were "clearly because of this know attack that was coming from Iran".

"They were given permission to shoot down any Iranian missiles or drones as part of that mission," said Haynes.

That would not relate to Israeli airspace, but Syrian or Iraqi airspace.

The UK said its jets were filling in for US planes that would otherwise have been taking part in the Iraq/Syria mission, so that American aircraft were freed up to focus on the Israeli mission.

"The UK has deliberately, it seems, chosen to be a little bit distant".

It is unclear if they did shoot anything down, Haynes added.

The UK Foreign Office has updated its Israel travel advice page in light of yesterday's attacks.

"On 13 April 2024 Iran launched an attack against Israel, using UAVs, ballistic and cruise missiles fired from Iran into Israel," it reads.

Here is the UK advice as it stands, which advises against all travel to areas of Israel close to the borders with Gaza or Lebanon, and against all but essential travel to the rest of the country.

"We recognise this a fast-moving situation that poses significant risks," the Foreign Office website reads.

"The situation has potential to deteriorate quickly and without warning. 

"This could disrupt air and road links out of the country. 

"If your reason to remain in Israel and the OPTs is not essential you should consider leaving if it is safe to do so."

After an extremely worrying night, the onus is now on diplomats to calm things down, says   international affairs editor Dominic Waghorn.

"We've seen a shadow war between Israel and Iran for years, but this is the first direct attack by Iran on Israel.

"The pressure now is on Israel to show restraint."

Waghorn said Western diplomats will be "saying to the Israelis that 'we've got your back diplomatically and you don't need to take this further'".

"It is kind of a question of who has the last word here. It is down to the Israeli war cabinet - will they be reassured by the diplomatic activity or feel they have to do something now?"

Footage shows projectiles launched from Iran lighting up the sky over Israel last night.

What may be either drones or missiles - or attempts to intercept them - could be seen from Tel Aviv.

More than 300 weapons were fired, according to the IDF, including 170 drones, 120 ballistic missiles and 30 cruise missiles.

Several ballistic missiles reached Israeli territory, causing minor damage to an air base. 

The G7 will hold a meeting over telephone mid-afternoon, Sky News understands.

The leaders of the Group of Seven major economies are expected to discuss Iran's attack.

The G7 is made up of the United States, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan, with representatives from the European Union also attending.

Italy currently holds the rotating presidency.

The group was originally set up in 1973 to discuss potential solutions to global economic and financial problems, such as oil crises, before being expanded to include political issues in the 1980s.

Hamas has defended Iran's attack on Israel.

The group called Iran's firing of hundreds of missiles and drones overnight a "natural right and a deserved response".

Iran's military action came after a suspected Israeli airstrike on its embassy compound in Damascus on 1 April that killed officers of the elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

"We in Hamas regard the military operation conducted by the Islamic Republic of Iran a natural right and a deserved response on the crime of targeting the Iranian consulate in Damascus and the assassination of several leaders of the Revolutionary Guards," said Hamas in a statement.

Jordan has said it intercepted flying objects that entered its airspace last night.

It carried out the interceptions to ensure the safety of citizens, a cabinet statement read.

Shrapnel fell in multiple places without causing "significant damage or any injuries".

An Israeli military spokesperson has said France was among the countries involved in defending against Iran's overnight attack. 

"France has very good technology, jets, radar - and I know they were contributing in patrolling airspace," he said.

He added he did not have exact details on whether French jets had shot down any of the missiles launched by Iran.

The Iranian chief of staff of its armed forces has said any Israeli retaliation will be met with a larger attack than last night, according to state media.

Tasnim reported General Mohammad Bagheri also warned the US its bases will be targeted if Washington backs Israel in any kind of retaliation.

"Our response will be much larger than tonight's military action if Israel retaliates against Iran," he said.

The commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hossein Salami, also warned Tehran would retaliate against any Israeli attack on its interests, officials or citizens. 

While launching 120 ballistic missiles was a "serious assault", it could have been "so much worse", says military analyst Sean Bell.

He said this was a "measured attack" and the defence was testament to the West's technology.

In normal circumstances, most of those missiles would break through air defences, as has been seen in Ukraine, said Bell.

"It is pretty clear that the attack by Israel on 1 April on the Iranian consulate - that destroyed the building, killed 13 people and also a senior commander - left Iran with no option. It was effectively an attack on its own soil.

He continued: "This could have been so much worse. As a result all the diplomatic language from Iran is: 'Pause. We have had our effect. We've saved face.'"

"The challenge of course is Benjamin Netanyahu at times seems to turn a Nelsonian eye to any advice that's given from America."

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• International

April 12, 2024 - Israel-Hamas war

By Chris Lau, Sana Noor Haq, Adrienne Vogt , Matt Meyer and Tori B. Powell , CNN

Our live coverage of Israel's war on Hamas in Gaza has moved  here .

USAID worker killed in Israel, agency says

From CNN's Jennifer Hansler

A staff member with United States Agency for International Development (USAID) died Friday in the Israeli port city of Jaffa, the agency announced.

The male staffer was with USAID’s West Bank and Gaza mission, the agency said in a brief statement.

USAID did not provide details on the circumstances around his death or his identity or citizenship.

“He was a dedicated member of our team for more than two decades, and our thoughts are with his family, friends, and colleagues,” USAID said.

USAID is working with the US Embassy to work out details about the fatal incident and its follow-up investigation, it said.

US expects Iran to carry out direct strikes against targets inside Israel, sources say

From CNN's MJ Lee and Natasha Bertrand

The United States currently expects Iran will carry out strikes against multiple targets inside Israel and that Iranian proxies could also be involved in carrying out the attacks, according to a senior administration official and a source familiar with the intelligence.  

The targets would likely be both inside Israel and around the region.

The beginning of a state-on-state conflict between Iran and Israel would mark a serious escalation in the region that the US has hoped to avoid.

US sees Iran moving military assets including drones and cruise missiles, sources say

From Natasha Bertrand and Oren Liebermann

The US observed Iran moving military assets around internally, including drones and cruise missiles, signaling that it is possibly preparing to attack Israeli targets from inside its own territory, according to two people familiar with US intelligence. 

It is not clear whether Iran is preparing to strike from its soil as part of an initial attack, or if it is posturing to try to deter Israel or the US from conducting a possible counter strike on its territory. 

One of the people said the US had observed Iran readying as many as 100 cruise missiles.

Some context: The Iranians want their retaliatory strike on Israel — a response to the Israeli strike on an Iranian consulate last week in Damascus — to be "significant," one of the people familiar with the intelligence said. But they also want to avoid getting embroiled in a direct war with Israel and the US, CNN has reported, which is why US intelligence has assessed that Iran may use its proxy forces to launch the first attack.

Israeli settlers storm village in West Bank and kill at least 1 Palestinian. Here's what you should know

From CNN staff

Hundreds of armed Israeli settlers stormed a village in the occupied West Bank on Friday, setting fire to several homes and cars — and leaving at least one Palestinian dead — in one of the largest attacks by settlers this year, according to Palestinian officials. 

The settlers attacked Al-Mughayyir village, east of Ramallah, raided homes and fired gunshots at residents, according to Amin Abu-Alia, the head of the village council. Videos obtained by CNN show parts of the village burning, with smoke billowing over several buildings and settlers lobbing rocks. Houses and cars are seen completely burnt up, with sounds of gunfire and clashes heard in the background.

Here are other headlines you should know:

• More Israeli attacks: An Israeli airstrike early Friday killed at least 29 people and injured dozens more after troops targeted a house belonging to the well-known Al-Tabatibi family in eastern Gaza City, according to a local health official. Israeli forces also surrounded and attacked the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, wounding several journalists and at least one other person. And in the occupied West Bank, troops killed two Hamas members in a raid on the city of Tubas, according to Israeli and Palestinian officials.
• Hezbollah-Israel clashes: Around 40 rockets were fired from Lebanon on Friday evening, according to the Israeli military. Some were intercepted and the rest fell in open areas, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement. Israeli warplanes also carried out several airstrikes on Friday, targeting "military buildings" used by Hezbollah fighters in parts of southern Lebanon, the IDF said.
• Iranian threats: US President Joe Biden told reporters Friday he expects an attack from Iran will happen “sooner than later," with the White House adding that there is a "very credible" threat of Iranian retaliatory strikes against Israel. Additionally, the US Defense Department is moving additional assets to the Middle East region, a defense official told CNN, as the US and Israel brace for the potential attack . Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and US Central Command Commander Gen. Erik Kurilla on Friday discussed preparations for the  potential attack .
• Warnings amid Iranian threats: France , Germany, Canada and the United States are among countries that are warning their citizens not to travel to the region due to the threat of an Iranian attack against Israel.
• Humanitarian aid: The Israeli military does not understand how humanitarian operations work, a top United Nations official said Friday, maintaining there is a "degree of mistrust" that needs to be resolved between the IDF and nongovernmental organizations on the ground in Gaza.
• Sanctions: The European Council has  adopted sanctions  against three Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad entities , in light of "their responsibilities in the brutal and indiscriminate terrorist attacks" that occurred across Israel on October 7. The US is also sanctioning four leaders of Hamas’ cyber and drone operations based in Gaza and Lebanon, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller announced on Friday. 

US will attempt to intercept launches at Israel if feasible, US officials say

From CNN's Oren Liebermann and Natasha Bertrand

The US will attempt to intercept any weapons launched at Israel if it’s feasible to do so, two US officials told CNN, in an indication of the level of ongoing cooperation between the two militaries before an anticipated Iranian attack .

US Navy forces in the Red Sea have previously intercepted long-range missiles launched from the Houthis in Yemen toward Israel. US forces in Iraq and Syria could also potentially intercept drones and rockets targeting northern Israel, depending on the location from which they’re launched.

Gen. Erik Kurilla, the commander of US Central Command, has been in Israel meeting with the country’s security leadership. On Friday, the Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, met with Kurilla.

There have been a number of conversations where US officials have urged Israel not to escalate the situation in retaliating against Iran, according to one of the US officials. 

Remember: An Iranian attack is expected in response to Israel’s deadly strike of Tehran's consulate in Damascus, Syria, last week.

The Damascus attack was the latest incident to stoke fears of a wider regional conflict breaking out in the Middle East during Israel's campaign in Gaza.

Diplomatic efforts: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has held a slew of calls to foreign counterparts aimed at pressuring Iran not to attack Israel.

The top US diplomat spoke with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Friday, according to a readout from State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.

Blinken also spoke with the Turkish, Chinese and Saudi foreign ministers in recent days, Miller said.

Israeli settlers kill at least 1 Palestinian while storming West Bank village

From CNN’s Kareem Khadder and Zeena Saifi in Jerusalem and CNN’s Benjamin Brown in London

Hundreds of armed Israeli settlers stormed a village in the occupied West Bank on Friday, setting fire to several homes and cars in one of the largest attacks by settlers this year, according to Palestinian officials. 

At least one Palestinian man was killed when shots were fired by Israeli settlers in the village of Al-Mughayyir, east of Ramallah, according to the head of the village council Amin Abu-Alia. He said he identified the killed Palestinian as his 26-year-old relative named Jihad Abu-Alia, who was meant to get married this summer.

At least 25 others were injured in the rampage, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Ramallah, the scale of which has not been seen since hundreds of settlers stormed through the villages of  Turmusayya  and  Huwara  in two separate incidents last year. 

Between 1,000 and 1,200 settlers surrounded the village, and around 500 stormed it just after midday local time on Friday, blocking all the roads in the area, Abu-Alia told CNN.

He added that Israeli security forces informed Palestinian officials that the settlers were looking for a 14-year-old Israeli boy who had gone missing earlier in the day.

They attacked the village, raided homes and fired gunshots at residents, Abu-Alia said. Videos obtained by CNN show parts of the village burning, with smoke billowing over several buildings and settlers lobbing rocks. Houses and cars are seen completely burnt up, with sounds of gunfire and clashes heard in the background.

According to Abu-Alia, the Israeli military arrived at the scene at around 3 p.m. and didn’t stop the settlers from attacking the village. Israeli soldiers allowed them to raid homes, prevented Palestinian residents from moving around and blocked ambulances from reaching the injured, he added.  

Abu-Alia told CNN settlers stole approximately 70 sheep from the Palestinian village.

In response to a question by CNN, the IDF said “violent riots were instigated in multiple locations in the area” following the search for the boy.

Israel says airstrikes targeted Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon

Israeli warplanes carried out several airstrikes on Friday, targeting "military buildings" used by Hezbollah fighters in parts of southern Lebanon, according to the Israel Defense Forces.

The areas include the Aita al-Shaab and the Taybeh in southern Lebanon, said Avichay Adraee, I DF spokesperson for Arab media,  in a post on X.

"During the day, several shells were fired from Lebanon towards the Upper Galilee region, without causing any casualties. IDF forces attacked the sources of fire," Adraee added. 

The Israeli airstrikes were before the 40 rockets that were launched from Lebanon toward northern Israel Friday evening and claimed by Hezbollah.

Biden expects an attack from Iran will happen "sooner than later"

From CNN's Samantha Waldenberg

US President Joe Biden expects an attack from Iran will happen “sooner than later," he told reporters at the White House Friday.

“I don’t want to get into secure information but my expectation is sooner than later,” Biden said when asked how imminent an attack on Israel was.

Asked what his message to Tehran is right now, the president said “Don’t.”

In response to more shouted questions from reporters asking if American troops were at risk, Biden returned to the podium and said that the United States is "devoted” to the defense of Israel. 

“We will support Israel. We will help defend Israel and Iran will not succeed,” Biden said.

Remember: The United States says it is on high alert for a significant Iranian retaliatory attack following Israel's deadly strike on Tehran's consulate in Damascus last week, raising fears of a wider regional war. There remains a “real,” “credible” and “viable” threat of Iran launching strikes, the White House said earlier Friday, following Israel’s attack on  a diplomatic compound in Syria that killed three Iranian generals.

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