TravelBlock

http://TravelBlock.io. Vacationing through the blockchain  

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My Miserable Travel Experiences - And How TravelBlock Solves Them

Here’s an honest-to-goodness tale of woe from one traveler.

Like most travelers, I always Google to book flights and hotels through third-party sites since they claim to save time and money. While my flight deals are almost always good (thank you, airmiles), I recently realized how these hotel booking sites have been fooling me (and you!).

I did not even realize the mess I was silently dealing with until a companion introduced me to TravelBlock, which I used for the first time only last week and was quite impressed with the service. TravelBlock is a blockchain-based platform that allows you to connect directly with providers. This helps to reduce cost (30%-60%) since you don’t have to pay any hidden fees or commission to middlemen.

I was able to save a good amount of money thanks to TravelBlock’s service and I’m already online planning my next trip.

How TravelBlock removes all travel miseries

Fake Reviews

I was quite excited about my trip to Africa last year. I had booked a hotel based on great customer reviews and I was eager to get going. I paid a good amount of money for my stay as I wanted to enjoy a luxurious time in Africa, but everything went to downhill right when I landed. The hotel was nowhere close to how ‘former guests’ had explained it to be. While the photos were genuine, the service was as poor as it gets. It didn’t take me too long to realize the reviews were fake.

I called up the company I had booked through only to find no solution. I questioned them about their review verification method but got no satisfactory answer. I instantly knew I had been had, which is why I was extra cautious when using TravelBlock for the first time. I read about the company and was quite satisfied with their verification tools.

Trusting their word, I booked the hotel and it turned out exactly how it had been reviewed. 

Fear of Data Breach

Even reputable companies like Delta and Adidas have been at the receiving end of data hacks in recent times. The risk of precious information reaching unsafe hands can deter many travelers from using online platforms. In fact, I also think twice before feeding any information into the web, but not when I am on a blockchain network. The savvy among us already know that the blockchain is a secure and tamperproof system. Therefore you do not have to worry about data leaks and hacking.

Lack of Appreciation

Converting airline miles into night stays hurts me, which is why I am always on the lookout for a new and different rewards program, but most hotel booking sites do not offer such programs. This lack of appreciation can turn off even the most loyal customers, but with TravelBlock this problem has been solved.

TravelBlock has unique rewards and referral programs

And here’s how it works:

Members purchase travel inventory using TRVL tokens.

A portion of those tokens, depending on the reward rate for that item, is credited to your account as Reward TRVL tokens.

Reward TRVL tokens can only be used to make any new travel purchases on the platform. They cannot be sold or transferred.

Members receive a discount of up to 35% through TravelBlock’s Reward Program, a discount which is awarded in the form of Reward TRVL tokens that can be used to make future travel purchases on the platform. This gives you complete flexibility as to how you decide to spend your rewards.

Added bonus

Moreover, there is a referral program as well that rewards you for bringing every new member.

Up to 5% of every purchase made with TRVL tokens by the person referred is given to the referrer on every transaction on the booking platform.

My next trip

TravelBlock provided me with a great experience and I am sure my next trip is going to be equally great if not better.

If you are planning a trip, seriously consider signing up for TravelBlock. While the pre-ICO has ended, you can still purchase their TRVL tokens and start reaping the benefits for yourself. Happy travels!

Travelblock ensures that you will always get what you want, where you want, when you want it. Book your Vacation Now! Visit TravelBlock.io.

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TravelBlock’s Role in the Future Scenarios for the Travel Industry

Digitization has played an important role in the development of new platforms for different industries. TravelBlock will be  the first in the travel ecosystem to develop a platform using the Ethereum blockchain. Can you imagine the global transformations that can occur in the travel industry once the platform gains momentum in mass adoption through the blockchain?

Best Resource Persons in the IT and Travel Industries Concur

Let’s look at four scenarios described in a monumental paper which surveyed the best resource persons in the IT and travel industries to gather their views and come up with the different future scenarios. Reflecting on this paper, we came up with how TravelBlock plays an important role in the development of the travel industry amidst all these scenarios. 

Scenario 1 - Picasso

World’s prosperity would spur the demand for personalization and more capital for innovation. However, protectionist policies might be adopted by countries due to security concerns. In this type of a setting, Travelblock’s business model would play an integral part in revolutionizing the travel industry through the blockchain technology. Despite the possibility of limited access to countries due to protectionism, Travelblock’s platform would still be relevant due to its decentralized nature and enhanced security measures. Scenario 2 - Dali

Dali presents a situation wherein the world’s economy prospers and travelers are willing to pay for personalized travel packages. We can surmise that the travel industry would flourish in this scenario as global integration takes place whilst the funding increases and privacy laws become more relaxed. Travelblock would be able to reach a wider market faster if this scenario takes place as travelers can readily travel to any country they want. Scenario 3 - Bosch

There’s a bleak future for the travel industry. Slow innovation, pervasive nationalism and travelers’ inclination towards standardized offers could hurt the travel ecosystem. However, despite the unfavorable condition in this setting, TravelBlock would still be able to play its key role as a trendsetter in the the travel industry as the pricing on its platform is straightforward, stable, and very competitive.

Scenario 4 - Warhol

In the last scenario, Western economies stagnate while Asia’s wealth grows. Despite the growing economies in the Asian region, there is still a limited demand for travel personalization. Strict privacy laws and less available funding are also some of the factors that could affect the travel industry. Despite the slow down of the travel industry in the Asian region, TravelBlock should still fare well with its platform as it will be using TRVL tokens working under the Etherium blockchain other than the fiat currencies.

Mobile Access Will Replace Systems Rolled out More than 20 years ago

In the next few years, we may expect to see massive changes in the global travel industry with “companies that create excellent mobile experience will soon dominate the travel ecosystem and replace the systems that were rolled out more than 20 years ago.”

TravelBlock will always play a very important role in the transformation of the travel industry. With a blockchain-based platform and its ERC20 standardized token TRVL, travelers are now empowered to choose what’s best for them whenever they book for their travels.

So what are you waiting for? Sign up today and start browsing and booking your next dream holiday!

Travelblock ensures that you will always get what you want, where you want, when you want it. Book your Vacation Now! Visit TravelBlock.io.

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Implications of A Blockchain-Enabled Booking System for the Global Travel Ecosystem

What can travelers and travel industry stakeholders expect from blockchain technology combined with skills of more than 50 years of travel and hospitality experience?

Travel providers like hotels, airlines, and cruises, as well as consumers are increasingly frustrated with the high commissions and travel costs that are collected by the monopolistic intermediaries: online travel agencies (OTA) and global distribution systems (GDS).

The $7.6 trillion (USD) travel and hospitality industry offers a great opportunity for technological disruption to benefit everyone with the right combination of connections, insight, experience, and technical expertise. Through utilizing disruptive blockchain technology and a set of industry specialists with more than 50 years of travel and hospitality experience, TravelBlock is blazing a trail towards a new era of travel.

Implications for the global travel industry

The mass adoption of blockchain in travel will compel the OTAs and GDSs to lower their fees and commissions to remain competitive. When this happens, the travel industry will become accessible to all, from billionaires and celebrities to blue and white collar workers, and from those with wanderlust to those with limited budgets, time and options.

With its superior pricing and genuine security offering, TravelBlock aims to quench the thirst of the millions of aspirational travelers and travel providers for real change and disrupt the status quo. TravelBlock is gradually gaining a solid foothold in the industry by offering a more attractive deal to both providers and customers by leveraging their innovative and state-of-the-art ecosystem.

A Revolution is Ripe for the Picking

The travel industry has been lorded over by OTAs and GDSs for over a decade, whose fees and commissions have steadily increased to staggering levels while continuously using antiquated systems. The advent of new technologies like cryptocurrencies and blockchain presents an opportunity to disrupt this status quo for the better. Blockchain has already been proven in various industries like shipping, financial services, and banking to be effective in streamlining transactions in real time in a secure and transparent manner.

As a pioneering user of blockchain in the travel industry, TravelBlock aims to leverage the technology to directly connect travelers to providers within their holiday booking platform. This will result in 30% to 60% savings on travel purchases, as well as a significant increase in the transparency, reliability, and security of transactions. Because of the irreversibility, anonymity, and immutability of blockchain-based transactions, TravelBlock avoids the security nightmares experienced by OTAs and GDSs, which still use the old Personal Name Record (PNR) data ecosystem.

Enhanced security with blockchain

Blockchain’s decentralized nature ensures the stability and security of booking transactions as information can never be lost through malicious malware attack or accidental deletion, thus, all transactions are secure and traceable on the blockchain. As holiday makers depend upon different parties passing information between one another, storing and accessing the data could pose problems for them. With blockchain, this will become a non-issue because the responsibility for storing them is shared across the whole network.

Adopt Change Now

This is now a golden opportunity for travel companies and vendors that are not yet TravelBlock partners, as well as travelers who are not yet members of the company’s closed consumer group, to experience the first real change within the travel & tourism industry since the advent of online bookings in the early 2000s.

So what are you waiting for? Register now at TravelBlock and be one of the first to experience a worry and hassle-free first class holiday experience!

Travelblock ensures that you will always get what you want, where you want, when you want it. Book your Vacation Now! Visit TravelBlock.io.

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Can TravelBlock be a Transformative Factor for the Travel Industry?

The travel industry continues to experience issues like the high cost of online bookings due to high commissions paid to online travel agencies (OTA). Because of these, travelers have been longing for a solution to these problems. The advent of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology offers a glimmer of hope as these new technologies continue to disrupt how companies in various industries operate.

In travel, one company is trying to introduce a new booking model through the use of these technologies: TravelBlock.

The state of the industry

OTAs charge their commissions based on the page views their sites generate. Higher page views means higher commissions. For example, an agency’s commission begins at 15%, and a few months later the website page view rate rises to 19%. This results in an increase in the commission to 17.4%. With global digital travel sales projected to surpass $800bn by 2020, the commissions of the OTAs are set to reach new highs.

How TravelBlock is transforming the travel industry

As the first blockchain platform in the travel sector, TravelBlock introduces a new booking system to stop the sustained increase in OTA commissions. Through the use of blockchain and cryptocurrency, the company eliminates third-party systems like OTAs in the booking process by directly partnering with hotels, resorts, airlines, cruises, and others. Blockchain’s ability to conduct a single, irreversible, and transparent transaction in a seamless manner ensures the security and transparency of the booking process. Because of this, TravelBlock offers more affordable and hassle-free travel to customers around the world anytime, anywhere and wherever they want it.

Holiday bookings with industry leaders and additional savings on top

TravelBlock has partnership agreements with the finest resorts and hotels, as well as the biggest cruise operators around the world, to make sure that their customers have the opportunity to make all their vacation dreams a reality, even at heavily discounted costs.

Travel Block achieves significant 30-60% price reductions when compared to other leading online travel agencies. For example, a five-night stay at a luxury Las Vegas hotel will make your wallet $1,600 lighter when booked through a major online travel agent. But when booked through TravelBlock, the grand total is as low as $640.

With such substantial cut in costs, vacations will no longer be a luxury of the rich and famous. It will already be affordable to all, including the blue and white collar employees who love to travel and those with limited time, budgets, and choices.

The Future of Travel is Here

With its pioneering blockchain platform, TravelBlock is set to disrupt the travel industry in a big way. Want to have the convenience of booking flights, car hire, accommodation, and excursions in a one-stop shop, knowing know that the price is not manipulated by tracking algorithms or inflated by industry monopolies, fake reviews, and exorbitant commissions? Register with TravelBlock and experience the future of travel today!

Travelblock ensures that you will always get what you want, where you want, when you want it. Book your Vacation Now! Visit TravelBlock.io.

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How Does TravelBlock Affect the Future of the Travel Industry?

Can TravelBlock address the issues posed by the duopoly between GDS’s and OTA’s? This is not a farfetched scenario but currently happening with the BETA platform. But wait - let’s look at the background of this monumental event.

Through harnessing the power of distributed ledger technology on the blockchain, TravelBlock is set to make a huge impact on the future of the travel industry. In the current dynamic, the Global Distribution Systems or GDS is the computerized reservation system network used by travel service providers which includes Amadeus, Sabre and Travelport. On the other side, Online Travel Agencies or OTAs are the ones who sells travel packages to the consumers and the popular ones are Priceline and Expedia in the US and CTrip in China, controlling the biggest chunk of the online travel and tourism market. However, this is set to change with the advent of Travel Block.

Revolutionizing the Travel Industry through Blockchain

With the current state of the travel industry, travelers do not have a choice but to go through travel intermediaries for booking. Since the industry is controlled by OTA’s, many of the issues faced by travelers are left unresolved. One of the problems is the OTA cost where customers are charged 2% to 4% on airline bookings and 20% to 30% commission for hotel reservations.

Using blockchain technology, TravelBlock is disrupting the travel industry’s current process with their secure platform. It eliminates hidden fees and costs by purchasing inventory direct from holiday vendors.

The Cost-Plus Model

In order to address the issues posed by the duopoly between GDS’s and OTA’s, TravelBlock has come up with an innovative business model as the solution. One great feature of the platform is its straightforward price generation scheme called Cost-Plus. This eliminates commissions, hidden fees, overbooking, preferential listing and dynamic pricing that have been charged to the traveler for using GDS’s and OTA’s services.

Closed Consumer Group

TravelBlock’s platform operates as a member-only system and it has effectively worked its way around “rate integrity” agreements, allowing them to offer travel packages at much lower cost to its members. This feature also guarantees that prices will not be adjusted based on member’s spending and web browsing patterns.

Online Distribution

With the vast marketing resources of Online Travel Agencies, holiday companies are not able to compete with their online presence. TravelBlock leverages the market by employing an effective online distribution model. The result of this is that TravelBlock is a one-stop holiday shop delivering competitive deals to both travelers and travel providers alike.

Start planning your next big adventure today!

From July 28 to September, pre-sale token holders are automatically given access to the beta platform and discount travel search engine. People who missed the pre-sale can give the beta a test drive by getting an invitation from a friend who joined the pre-sale, or through one of their beta launch token offerings. You must be a TRVL token holder to access the beta.

Sign up now on the TravelBlock platform and discover how you can save as much as 60% on your travels. TravelBlock assures holiday makers that wherever their travels lead them, they'll always get to where they want, when they want at significantly lower cost, and - most importantly -  hassle-free!

Travelblock ensures that you will always get what you want, where you want, when you want it. Book your Vacation Now! Visit TravelBlock.io.

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What Ails The Travel Agent Industry - And the Cure from TravelBlock

The travel industry has continued to grow over the last few decades but that has not meant that it has been all smooth-sailing for holiday makers and those in the industry. Some common problems plague the industry especially on the part of credibility of agents, pricing, and value for money. TravelBlock however, applies blockchain technology to offer travelers cheaper and more reliable travel.

3 Common Headaches you will Find with Online Travel Agencies

1. Unverified reviews are deal breakers

When doing online travel booking, interested travelers are usually spoilt for choice but they have very little information about the travel services available. Credibility issues are rife as not all these travel agents can actually provide transparent and verifiable information about the service providers or the hotels. The value that they promise is questionable since - in many cases - travelers are left to rely on unverified reviews and falsified testimonials. In some cases, some highly-praised agents are not fully registered.  

2. Pricing regulations keep costs high

In many holiday packages, travelers get a raw deal thanks to the agents, service providers and other middlemen. OTA pricing regulations, hidden costs and commissions get a good piece of the pie, to the detriment of holiday makers with little in terms of value for money. This unfair bargaining power pushes many travelers to unexpectedly spend more money while on holiday.

3. Poor planning of travel arrangements

Travel agents are sometimes negligent when it comes to customer care. Cases of stranded passengers are common due to poor itinerary planning and execution by the travel agent. In May 2018, a travel company left passengers sleeping on Manchester airport floors and still had them pay £400 more for a flight reschedule to their Turkish holiday destination. Poor planning is more likely when the travel agent is disorganized, incompetent and has little information about the holiday destination.

How TravelBlock remedies these holiday headaches

1. TravelBlock only uses verified reviews

TravelBlock genuinely protects travelers from fake reviews like those that usually appear in other OTAs websites. Only the reviews from TravelBlock members who have travelled to a certain destination are taken into account. Furthermore, blockchain technology ensures that TravelBlock members have a tamper proof record of previous trips so that future holiday goers can check review authenticity for themselves.   

2. TravelBlock removes hidden and extra charges

Thanks to blockchain technology, Travel Block members enjoy 30%–60% discounts on bookings without being subject to OTA pricing regulations. For example, booking a double standard room at a luxury spa resort in Cancun costs $340 per night while the same booking is 30% cheaper through Travel Block at around $230.

3. TravelBlock only lists reputable providers

TravelBlock only deals with a network of service providers who have high reputations and can plan your trips well to prevent any mishaps. TravelBlock offers all members their premier concierge service to ensure quality itinerary planning, secure ticket booking and smooth transfers.

What are you waiting for? Register today and begin planning your dream holiday!

Knowing the ideal holiday locations and getting you there at very competitive prices is Travel Block’s guarantee. Register for Travelblock membership and start using their platform to plan and book your dream holiday, all stress and hassle free!

Travelblock ensures that you will always get what you want, where you want, when you want it. Book your Vacation Now! Visit TravelBlock.io.

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How to Make Your Travel Dreams a Reality with TravelBlock

Do you wish to go places but could only dream about them due to prohibitive travel expenses? Dreams can come true when you access this platform.

TravelBlock ensures that everyone’s vacation is a dream-come-true through its TRVL tokens, Closed Consumer Group, and its carefully-selected vetting processes.  The platform’s unbeatable rates and one-stop-shopping features ensure members keep coming back. TravelBlock offers tourists prices of up to 60% less than other agencies - the only requirement is that they become a member of TravelBlock.

How Does TravelBlock Optimize Your Travel Experience?

Every vacation should be the vacation of your dreams; that said they can easily go wrong. That’s why TravelBlock has done the hard work to ensure vacations are hassle-free and relaxing.

The one-stop shop experience

TravelBlock is a one-stop-shop. On the website, you’re able to book everything you need during your vacation. Your flights, room, cruises, restaurants, and more - all available to make travelling as convenient as possible. TravelBlock takes care of the details - all you have to do is show up!

Significant savings

Not only this, but you can expect to pay significantly less with TravelBlock than other providers on the market. This is because the company provides direct access to service providers that lead to significant price reductions. Further, since there aren’t any middlemen, and all data is encrypted, you remain safe from would-be scammers and hackers.

Many travel providers include hidden fees during your purchase, which might cause you to pay more for cancellation and processing of your flight. TravelBlock is also able to provide you with prices between 30% and 60% less than other companies, thanks to its Closed Consumer Group.

A closed group

The Closed Consumer Group allows the prices and services TravelBlock offers to remain private ie they aren’t available unless you’re a member. This allows them to offer preferential rates to customers that competitors aren’t able to access.

So for example...

We’ve all heard stories about travellers who spend thousands of dollars for short vacations. For instance: two-person, all-inclusive trip to Jamaica will cost upwards of $2000 for three days for the average US citizen. With TravelBlock, the same trip costs between $1400 and $800: significant savings plus a greater proportion of your total booking goes straight to your chosen holiday vendors as well!

Sign up and try it out for yourself

For those who love to travel, TravelBlock is a dream come true. It provides you with a one-stop-shop to book your vacation with added discounts so that you start saving right off the bat! All you have to do is sign up here and get started planning and booking your next perfect trip!

Travelblock ensures that you will always get what you want, where you want, when you want it. Book your Vacation Now! Visit TravelBlock.io.

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Biggest Online Travel Agencies — Why they will always run the online travel industry, unless we use Blockchain Technology

In the early 2000s, online travel agencies were hailed as better alternatives to traditional travel agents because their price offerings were significantly cheaper. Their popularity has continuously increased and now they dominate the market and their pricing has soared even though they still use the conventional methods used in the old days. Clearly, there is a need to disrupt this status quo for the better.

Leveraging a new technology that is already making waves in various industries, TravelBlock is set to challenge the dominance of the OTAs. Through blockchain-based technology, the company is offering a direct peer-to-peer (P2P) decentralized platform and trustless booking system that will reduce prices by as much as 30-60%!

It’s time to make change happen

The effectiveness of blockchain technology as a tool to streamline, secure and ensure the transparency of operations and transactions is increasingly being proven in various industries from financial services to logistics. The travel and hospitality industry should not be left out by adopting this promising new technology. TravelBlock offers exactly this and thousands of industry players including airlines, hotels and cruises are already listed on its platform.

TravelBlock has developed an indelible and secure ledger for its members’ transactions, protecting their data from attack and creating a reliable record that can be consulted in case of issues or disputes. Blockchain technology is a cryptographically secured, decentralized, distributed ledger that allows sets of entries to be recorded in blocks that are linked together in a chain. New entries on the blockchain can only be made if all network validators agree that the integrity of the chain is preserved. This irreversibility of the process makes blockchain a safe, secure, transparent and trustless system.

TravelBlock’s blockchain-based system

TravelBlock offers a cost-plus model that directly connects travelers to providers. Cost-plus means the elimination of commissions charged by OTAs and global distribution systems (GDS): overbooking, preferential listing, dynamic pricing, and hidden fees (eg toll surcharges, extra baggage, and currency exchanges). TravelBlock buys inventory from reputable travel providers. It then sells inventory directly to its members via the platform, offering them a price significantly lower than the prices mandated by OTA rate integrity agreements.

When a new user becomes a member of the TravelBlock Closed Consumer Group they can begin building their ideal holiday and purchase it with Travel Block’s in-house currency: TRVL tokens. To better serve its members who are not crypto-savvy, the company has partnered with Processing.com to facilitate the seamless conversion of fiat currencies to TRVL tokens directly on their website.

Added perks when you sign up today

Aside from the above benefits, TravelBlock also offers other incentives to ensure holiday goer satisfaction and to keep its customers returning for new adventures.These are:

TravelBlock Rewards Program – this incentive offers a discount of up to 35% on purchases and is rewarded in the form of TRVL tokens to spend on whatever users want.

Referral Program – this incentive provides the referrer up to 5% of the total purchase made by the referred customer in TRVL tokens.

Concierge Service – this service guarantees its members to have a perfect trip and come back again for new holidays and experiences.

So what are you waiting for, register now at TravelBlock and discover more about the future of travel today.

Travelblock ensures that you will always get what you want, where you want, when you want it. Book your Vacation Now! Visit TravelBlock.io.

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How to Identify Fake Hotel Reviews  and Why Travelers Rely on TravelBlock

Reviews are of huge importance. In fact, 90% of people prefer to read reviews before they make a purchase. Reviews are considered reliable with 84% trusting them as much as friends.

The hotel industry is not any different. Most people go through reviews and testimonials to judge a hotel, but do you know how misleading such reviews can often be?

The hotel industry is full of fake and paid reviews that are written only to deceive customers. About 15% of all reviews are fake. Moreover, the stats change from industry to industry and the number seems to be higher in the hotel and restaurant niche with 16% of all hotel and restaurant reviews being fake.

Businesses do it to gain more customers, but fake reviews can ruin your trip. Imagine booking a hotel expecting it to be great but only to land at the property to be greeted unprofessionally. It has happened to many people and you can be a victim, too. The best option is to be able to identify fake hotel reviews:

1. Have fake names

Fake reviews have fake names. Most names will appear similar such as Will, Willie, and William. Some may even be an amalgamation of names of some known personalities,

If you see such strange names then it’s most probably a fake review.

2. Are copy-pasted (plagiarism test)

Many companies get one review written and get it published on different platforms under different names. You can catch such reviews easily by running a plagiarism test for free.

If you’re not sure of a review being genuine, just go to a platform like DupliCheckerto see if the review is copy-pasted or not.

3. Do not have real information

A fake review is usually just fluff and reads like ‘it’s a good hotel with good service, etc.’. It does not contain facts or real information. However, a genuine review paints a true picture. It would look more like ‘The rooms are comfortable and the bed is big for two people. We loved the staff, especially the receptionist, Mr. Phillips, who answered all our queries and even helped us plan our trip.”

4. Are too positive and not balanced

About 95% of users suspect fake reviews when they see little to no bad reviews. Hotels - in an attempt to appear positive - often end up publishing too many positive reviews, a mistake that can get them busted.

It is easy to identify fake hotel reviews, but why go through the trouble when you can use TravelBlock where all reviews are 100% genuine and verified by the platform? TravelBlock approves reviews from real clients who have stayed at the hotel to make sure reviews are genuine and informative. Moreover, they are regularly updated so you can check the latest feedback without any issue.

TravelBlock is a blockchain based platform that can help you pick a hotel at affordable rates in a safe and secure manner. Sign up today to know more about what it has to offer.

Travelblock ensures that you will always get what you want, where you want, when you want it. Book your Vacation Now! Visit TravelBlock.io.

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The $1.6 Trillion Annual Travel Booking Industry Is Being Disrupted with Crypto

An innovative and pioneering blockchain ecosystem starts the revolution...

The travel and tourism industries continue to grow and now accounts for over one-tenth of global gross domestic product (GDP). As one of the fastest-growing sectors in the world, travel and tourism posted nearly $1.6 trillion (USD) in total bookingsin 2017. What’s more exciting is that a new player has entered the market with the potential to change the way the industry books: Travel Block. This trendsetter makes your vacations a reality with steeply discounted prices thanks to their innovative and pioneering blockchain ecosystem.

Current state of the Travel industry

TravelBlock is pioneering the use of blockchain and cryptocurrencies in its bid to disrupt the status quo in the industry, which is currently being dominated by the global distribution systems (GDSs) and online travel agencies (OTAs). The traditional GDS is primarily a B2B computerized reservation network that is used as a single access point for making and tracking airline, hotel, and rental car reservations by travel agents, OTAs, and consortiums like American Express. Major GDS companies like Sabre, Galileo, Amadeus, and Travelport extract substantial fees to use these networks – for example, the average added cost of an airline ticketbooked utilizing GDS is $12, and the average hotel booking commission is 20%.

Meanwhile, the OTAs are mainly run by two business monopolies. Because of their dominant positions, these companies are able to impose “rate integrity” agreements on hotels, cruises, and airlines to make sure that the prices they offer cannot be listed for less on the market. This is to ensure that they will continue to own access to the bulk of the proceeds from online travel booking revenues.

Change is coming

TravelBlock replaces this “dark web” of hidden fees and artificial pricing with a straightforward cost-plus model, powered by the blockchain. By using blockchain and enabling payments for travel using crypto, the TravelBlock platform ensures a single, transparent, and secure processing of transactions that can be monitored in real-time. This effectively resolves the security issues in GDS and OTA platforms including unsecured personal information, weak authentication, and lack of transparency.

How TravelBlock operates

Travel inventory is purchased by TravelBlock at a bulk discount from elite travel providers, and listed on a secure platform, known as a Closed Consumer Group (CCG). Members (anyone who has purchased or holds at least one TRVL token) can make airline, hotel, cruise, and car rental reservations via the platform at prices that are lower than the official prices that the travel monopolies allow to be advertised publicly. The transactions are executed immediately and recorded securely on the blockchain.

By registering on the site and purchasing TRVL tokens using your Ether wallet, anyone can become a member of TravelBlock’s closed consumer group. Their members have access to 30% to 60% savings on your travel costs through the company’s private consumer platform. What’s more, because TravelBlock is designed to function as a one-stop shop platform for all travel needs, travelers can  be sure that their entire holiday is organized, booked, and managed in the same place.

Since TravelBlock’s platform is a closed group and members undergo verification checks, it is effectively private, allowing TravelBlock to offer their customers considerably lower prices, by circumventing rate-integrity agreements and bloated margins of the traditional travel booking sites..

TravelBlock has just completed its pre-token sale and is readily awaiting customers to register on its site for more rewards.  Members are able to book hotels, flights, and more during the beta The company is also offering perks and freebies like a free 7-night stay at any of the company’s 9,300 private resort partners around the world to customers who purchase 7 ETH or more worth of TRVL tokens!

So what are you waiting for, register now at TravelBlock and experience hassle-free travel to your dream destination today!

Travelblock ensures that you will always get what you want, where you want, when you want it. Book your Vacation Now! Visit TravelBlock.io.

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How to Use the first Decentralized Online Booking Platform

Ready to go on an Adventure? Last minute jitters because of hidden costs waiting along the way? This secure platform on the blockchain can put all your worries to rest...

Say goodbye to high travel costs charged by travel intermediaries, as TravelBlock will be rolling out the platform that connects travelers directly to travel service providers. Using the same technology that underpins cryptocurrencies and other digital assets: blockchain,  TravelBlock has developed the first decentralized online booking platform that will disrupt the travel ecosystem for the better. The platform aims to deliver numerous benefits to travelers that cannot be provided by traditional booking systems.

The TravelBlock Platform

The TravelBlock platform is the first of its kind to utilize the power of blockchain technology to deliver a seamless booking reservation system without the need to go through Global Distribution Systems and Online Travel Agencies. Over the years, these traditional travel intermediaries have controlled the travel industry worldwide.

Using the TravelBlock Platform

TravelBlock’s platform was designed for hassle-free navigation and a seamless booking experience even for the not so tech savvy travelers. Once you log into the website, you will discover how easy it is to find the most suitable arrangements for your travel.

Just by clicking the tabs on the upper part of the page, you will be routed to the platform’s sleek  search page where you can simply put in the details of your travel such as your destination, the number of persons and your dates.

Then once you hit ‘search’, you will see the list of partner providers and the exciting offers to choose from. The website allows you to refine your search to fit your preferences.

The website highlights the ongoing deals which provide great savings and value.

Right below the search bars, you’ll see an array of offers that you can grab fast. On the same page you can see other benefits for signing up like the 4000+ partner hotels and resorts worldwide. TravelBlock also offers a price guarantee where you get credited 110% if you find any cheaper offer on hotel rates. Lastly, you can make an offer or bid at your preferred rates for weekly stay vacations.

TRVL Tokens

Using ERC20 standardized TRVL tokens, members are able to purchase travel inventory directly on the booking website. They can save up to 60% on travel purchases as TravelBlock secures partnerships with leading travel providers to get the best price. In collaboration with Processing.com, the platform can facilitate conversion of fiat to TRVL tokens.

Advanced Security

Security is also another advantage on the TravelBlock platform. Blockchain forges every transaction on its secured ledger to store data and protect the information of its members. One of the unique qualities of the blockchain technology which makes digital transactions safer is distribution of its ledgers instead of storing the information on a central system. This way, transactions cannot be altered once the agreement has been sealed.

Rewards

And lastly, TravelBlock offers a reward system to its members wherein they can get up to 35% discount in TravelBlock’s Reward Program. This incentive is awarded as Reward TRVL Tokens which can be spent on the platform for their future travel purchases.

Referral Program

In support of its marketing strategy, TravelBlock will also be implementing a referral program to reward members of up to 5% of the total purchases made on the platform by the person they referred. This is a simple reward system that greatly benefits its members.

New opportunities

Blockchain technology has indeed changed the business landscape in the travel industry. Its development has opened up an enormous opportunity that is set to disrupt the travel ecosystem.

As we usher into the age of cryptocurrencies and smart contracts, TravelBlock has found a solution to help travelers minimize the booking costs.

Now is the best time to save on your travel booking. Sign up on the world’s first decentralized booking platform to enjoy the numerous benefits and advantages of using this platform.

Travelblock ensures that you will always get what you want, where you want, when you want it. Book your Vacation Now! Visit TravelBlock.io.

[trvlblock-blog]

5 Things to Consider when Picking a Hotel and How TravelBlock Rises to the Challenge

Picking one to stay in when traveling can be a challenge, so what are some surefire tips?

If you travel often, you must already be aware of how difficult it can get to find the right hotel. There are a number of options to choose from – from resorts to hotels to apartments – and picking one can often be a challenge, especially because they are not all very good.

To help you in this regard, given below are five things to consider when picking a hotel

1. Check Facilities

The hotel alone can make or break your trip. Make sure to pick one based on the facilities that you require. Some of the most sought after facilities include late check in and early checkout, indoor and outdoor pools, sauna, shuttle services and on-site restaurants.

However, the facilities that you need largely depend on the purpose of your trip. For example, if you are on a business tour, you might need a hotel that offers a meeting room as well. If you want luxury, you might need a golf course and other such activities.

While some of these trips are available for free, you might have to pay extra for some

2. Check the Price

Hotels can cost anywhere between $40 to $800 based on the location and facilities offered. According to 2016 figures, room prices in the US were $137 per night on an average, but you can find some more affordable options as well if you know how to.

Plus, there are often extra charges as well. For example, you will have to pay about $5 tourism fee/night if you stay in a hotel in Dubai. Other than this, there might be additional fees and taxes as well. Such charges may not always reflect in the original quote so make sure to enquire

3. Staff Behavior

Tired and unhappy faces can make people feel bored and uncomfortable. Pick a hotel that has friendly staff who are always ready to help you

4. Check Food

Ideally, pick a restaurant that offers you amazing food delivered to your room. You may also opt for a half-board or full-board option but only if you are sure of the food quality.

5. Room and Hotel Policies

Rooms often come with certain facilities such as bathtubs, minibars, etc. Inquire about all such facilities and policies, i.e: guests are allowed or not, extra beds can be rented or not, etc., and then make your decision.

How to Verify Such Things:

An easy option is to visit the official site and look at pictures and descriptions. You can make a judgment based on this information, but they might not always be reliable.

This is why you need to turn to reviews like those found on TravelBlock, a hotel booking platform that provides travelers with reviews from real customers so you can get the true picture.

The platform is based on the blockchain and offers a wide variety of hotels to choose from. It lets you search for properties by applying different filters so that you can easily find one that’s suitable for you. Plus, it also offers hotels at discounted rates.

We suggest that you put all your worries to rest and try TravelBlock for a tension-free experience. Remember these tips when picking a hotel.

Travelblock ensures that you will always get what you want, where you want, when you want it. Book your Vacation Now! Visit TravelBlock.io.

[trvlblock-blog]

Awesome Destination Homes To Rest In - Secure through TravelBlock

Maintaining your work life balance is the key to healthy living (and that’s no secret). When it comes to vacationing, a destination home to rest away from your routine is an awesome option.

Booking a location in this day and age is easy with various online and quick reservations options available. But have you considered the security flaws you expose your private information to while using the conventional booking streams?

To put cautious holiday makers at ease, TravelBlock offers an end to end solution. You can book airline tickets, rent a car and ensure your booking at a destination home all through one portal using their secure blockchain network.

Choose top of the line destinations, from the far corner of the Pacific Ocean to the medieval beauty of south-western France for you to rest and relax in style: made available on TravelBlock!

Channers On Norfolk, Norfolk Island Australia

Norfolk is a tucked away island, some 1,600km from Sydney out in the Pacific, and Channers on Norfolk is among the main attractions. Channers offers a relaxing two-bedroom house to relax in and enjoy life with loved ones. The holiday house offers a spacious lounge and state-of-the-art fine dining area for those who love to cook and entertain.

Last but not the least, it offers scrumptious views into the serenity of the island, just the relaxing sight you need!

Kerri and Steve Brooks, the couple behind Channers happen to be customer services professional. They have opted to sign on to TravelBlock’s blockchain platform to stay ahead of the competition in the changing tides.

Cromer Country Club, Norfolk, England - United Kingdom

Yes, back to Norfolk, but this time in the U.K at the Cromer Country Club. The club offers an exclusive range of destination home apartments in a variety of sizes; from studios to multi bedroom suites.

It offers a wide range of indoors and outdoor activities including a swimming pool for a leisurely dip, a coastal golf course that is an absolute delight, and even a fitness centre.

An elegant bar and restaurant is also on the premises should you wish to take a break from living space kitchen. You can also visit the Cromer pier, beach and a number of other attractions.

Cromer Country Club signed up with TravelBlock thanks to its decentralized model that slashes commissions and puts customers directly in touch with them.

Domaine De Gavaudun Gavaudun, Aquitaine - France

Viva La France at the Domaine De Gavaudun! For the fun lovers who love spending  time in quaint villages full of interesting cultural attractions and fun activities. The village and the surrounding area have a rich cultural background and beauty that dates back to prehistory. There are self-managed cottages right at the feet of a millennia-old castle surrounded by medieval beauty.

Cottages vary from 42 square meters for couples to 200 square meters for groups. Of course, there are house rules to keep guests happy and comfortable.

How to Securely Book Through TravelBlock

Travel Block is leading travel into a new era through a secure decentralized travel booking platform using blockchain and cryptocurrency solutions. This enables them to cut costs for you by connecting directly with the holiday vendors like those mentioned above. Securing a vacation spot through Travel Block is extremely easy.

The beauty is, you don’t pay a commission, you don’t face dynamic pricing or any hidden fees on top of a strict no overbooking policy. Finally, it provides a decentralized cryptographically secured ledger solution that protects members from the risk of having their transaction data stolen. Head here to book your spot through Travel Block.

Happy vacationing!

Travelblock ensures that you will always get what you want, where you want, when you want it. Book your Vacation Now! Visit TravelBlock.io.

[trvlblock-blog]

Family Trips to the Safest Countries in the World

It’s always a struggle for parents to know which countries are safest for their children. Not only this, but it’s a struggle when choosing the right child-friendly companies to book flights with. TravelBlock ensures your family’s safety by using enhanced security when selecting and vetting holiday vendors, and to protect your personal information.

The Safest Countries: from Iceland to New Zealand with Travel Block

If you’re thinking about booking a vacation soon, you should consider some of the following countries. Iceland, Switzerland, and New Zealand are considered among the safest and they get even safer for holiday goers with the stringent TravelBlock vetting process.

Iceland is a travel destination that’s desired by many because of its many tourist attractions. The country ranked highly on the World Peace Index and the World Economic Forum. For an 11th consecutive year, the tiny northern European nation of Iceland was ranked as the world's safest place. Home to around 300,000 people, Iceland's crime rate is minuscule, with just 1.8 murders per 100,000 people annually. That's around one-third the murder rate in the USA.

When you go with TravelBlock, you don’t have to deal with any third-party intermediaries, making travelling to world renowned destinations like Iceland much easier than with other holiday agencies.

Both Switzerland and New Zealand have ranked on the Global Peace Index. At these destinations, you can visit sets from popular movies like Moana and Lord of the Rings. Switzerland and New Zealand are highly in-demand travel destinations, which can cause overbooking with other agencies. TravelBlock prevents this by having members purchase from affiliates directly.

How Does TravelBlock Make Your Vacation Safer?

Travelling can prove unsafe when a traveller’s personal information is sold or when third-parties are used to purchase tickets and inventory. TravelBlock isn’t a mediator, which means members get their tickets right from the source! In doing so, TravelBlock limits exposure to security risks like hackers.

TravelBlock is a one-stop-shop; therefore, you don’t have as many variables to depend on. The online platform scheduler tells you where you need to be and when so you don’t have to figure out the details: just relax and enjoy your holiday!

TravelBlock uses blockchain to securely report various logs, like your travel flights. With their platform, your information is encrypted to ensure that your information remains safe. This ecosystem prevents scammers and hackers from being able to access your files and credit card information.

Not only this, but TravelBlock uses a Closed Consumer Group to prevent information from becoming public and to keep prices and discounts between members.

The combination of these security measures and security clearance ensures that any vacation is safe for your family. During busy holidays, you don’t have to worry about overbooked flights or hotels. Simply book and you’re good to go!

Finally, we can say this, traveling is the best way to add culture into your life and the lives of your family and taking this to heart, Travelblock ensures your safety through their strict vetting process which takes into consideration all data available on your choice destinations, with the World Peace Index and the Global Peace Index among their resources.

TravelBlock partners with the best in the industry to ensure that there are no trip delays and that you all stay at a venue which meets their high standards. Learn more and get started by signing up here!

Travelblock ensures that you will always get what you want, where you want, when you want it. Book your Vacation Now! Visit TravelBlock.io.

[trvlblock-blog]

Why Online Travel Agencies Charge High Fees and How to Stop It

What’s wrong with the travel industry? Take a look at the source of the “ailment”.

Online travel agencies (OTA) are charging high fees or commissions because they dominate the booking industry. Holiday makers rely on them for travel arrangements and hotels count on them for most of their revenues. They set up their commissions based on page views, meaning, as page view rates increase, so does their commission. For example, an online booking company’s commission was just 15% in December 2017, but when its page view rate had risen to 19% a few months later, the commission also increased to 17.4%. However, a new blockchain-based booking platform is designed to change this situation and reduce travel booking costs to affordable levels: TravelBlock.

A Proposed Cure -  immutable, secure, and irreversible

TravelBlock is a blockchain-based travel booking system that is designed to directly connect travelers to providers. Through its direct peer-to-peer (P2P) system, TravelBlock can reduce travel costs by as much as 60%. Imagine a $1,600 (USD) offer by a major OTA website for a five-night stay at a luxury Las Vegas hotel, inclusive of two round-trip tickets, taxes, and fees, reduced by 60% to just 640 dollars? Great savings!

Furthermore, blockchain’s immutable, secure, and irreversible transaction processing significantly increases the reliability, transparency, and security of the booking process. This effectively resolves the security issues like compromised personal data and hacking threats faced by OTAs and global distribution systems (GDS).

High fees charged by OTAs will make their prices no longer competitive

TravelBlock’s success in effectively reducing the high fees of travel will hinge on its mass adoption and commercialization. Existing consumer-focused brands should take the initiative to engage developers and experts, and incorporate blockchain technology into their own businesses while promoting it for mass adoption to end users.

How can this be done? By partnering with TravelBlock, hotels, airlines, cruises and transportation companies can facilitate the mass adoption of blockchain into the mainstream travel booking ecosystem. When this is achieved, the high fees charged by OTAs will make their prices no longer competitive, forcing them to rethink their marketing strategy.

Also, TravelBlock’s system eliminates all the hidden fees and external taxes from its final pricing as all components will be accessible through the blockchain. This will result in 30% to 60% reduction in final costs to the travelers and complete transparency of transactions. TravelBlock’s platform also eliminates travel agent and online service commissions to guarantee that its price offerings are the lowest marketwide.

Become a Partner of TravelBlock’s amazing system

With the growing adoption of blockchain technology in various industries, TravelBlock’s system is expected to continue this path. In fact, the company’s partner hotels has grown to more than 350,000, a sign of its effectiveness. Other travel brands and travelers alike can take advantage of TravelBlock’s amazing system by becoming a partner, as well as by purchasing its TRVL tokens and becoming a member of its private consumer group. To facilitate the processing of transactions by members unfamiliar with crypto, TravelBlock has partnered withProcessing.com to provide seamless conversion between fiat currencies and TRVL tokens directly on their platform.

Travelblock ensures that you will always get what you want, where you want, when you want it. Book your Vacation Now! Visit TravelBlock.io.