RE: "Only partially true. Don't forget the commission paid to the hotel by the operator, which can be as much as 1/3 of the total you pay."

I don't entirely agree. I think most hotel/resort owners WANT guests' vacations to be a good experience. It wouldn't matter to us if someone paid us 50% commission on a tour. If we don't think the guests will have a positive experience, that it will be a trip or tour that the want to recommend to the next guest, we would not send them with that company. Marketing, a good customer base, and word of mouth recommendations don't come because people go out on tours and have a bad time. Most hotel and resort owners know that. Those that don't, will eventually learn that.

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