An intermediary who negotiates special rates and blocks space with transportation services, cruise lines, and hotels, and packages multiple components of a vacation for resale.

• A. Tour operator
• B. Travel agent
• C. Wholesaler
• D. Windjammer

Answer: (A)

Coordinating and selling packaged vacations by negotiating special rates with multiple suppliers and blocking space across transportation, cruise lines, and hotels is the function of a tour operator. This role designs the product by pulling together flights, accommodations, and activities into a single package and then reselling that finished product to consumers or to travel agents.

A travel agent typically acts as a middleman who sells existing products from suppliers rather than creating new packages or securing inventory across several types of providers. A wholesaler buys large blocks of inventory from suppliers and resells them to travel professionals rather than directly to the end consumer, often without assembling a complete, consumer-ready package. Windjammer refers to a specific cruise line, not the general intermediary role described.