What is a Travel Agent?

Having just completed ANOTHER training seminar, the thought crossed my mind, that the public has no idea what a travel agent is or does or doesn’t do.  So here is a list for starters:

• I have advanced degrees in accounting, public relations, marketing, business building, computer science, civil engineering and all languages of the world.
• Of course I remember the reservation you booked 6 years ago, even though you don’t have a confirmation number and you think it was made under a last name that begins with a T.
• It is no problem for me to give you 7 connecting non-smoking poolside suites with 2 king beds and 4 rollaways in each.  And yes, it is my fault the hotel does not have a helicopter pad.
• I speak all languages and have visited every destination
• It is obvious to me when you book your reservation for Friday, you really mean Saturday.
• I have been entrusted with your financial information and yet I can’t tell you why your hotel bill for March had a 50 cent phone call because, of course, you shouldn’t have to pay for calls.
• I do understand that Joe Blow, Inc is a vast empire and will make or break my agency
• Yes, I am lying when I say there are no seats left on the airplane at the lowest price.
• No, it is not a problem for me to quickly construct several more gueest rooms at the hotel you want and this time I will not forget the helicopter landing pad.
• I am capable of checking fares for 3 people, taking 5 reservations and answering 15 calls simultaneously.
• I do know exactly what to do in all cities without spending money.
• I take full responsibility for airline food (or lack thereof), traffic jams, rental car flat tires, weather, hotel locations and the national economy.
• Of course I can fit you into the hotel at the special corporate rate because you are affiliated with the Blackburn North Lawn Bowling Club.
• I am never offended when I spend 10 hours researching a 12 day European itinerary only to hear you say you “booked it yourself over the internet and saved $30!!”  I also never gloat when you call back to say the rate was sold out or that you are stuck in the middle of Nowhere since they cancelled your flight and you cannot “call” your internet company to be reprotected on another flight.
• I love when people walk up to me at parties and out of the blue expect me to know the latest airfares from Melbourne to Ibiza via Bryon Bay, the Maldives and Nairobi off the top of my head.
• I love that everyone assumes I get to travel everywhere for free and when I do get to take advance of a perk, people act like it is a sin.  If you ask me to get you the rate at my “travel agent discount”, you would not be able to afford to go.
• Don’t bother telling me any dates or cities since I am a mind reader and already have the reservation in my crystal ball before me.
• I smiles, empathize, sympathize, console, cajole, up-sell, down-sell, cross-sell, perform, sing, dance, make coffee and fix the printer.
• In addition, I do not get any breaks during the day, start early, work late, stay awake all night worrying about your trip when you booked it yourself online.
• Sitting in hard chairs for hours learning about what hotels are remodeled, what new cruise ships are coming and old ones are going, and what each new destination in the world is offering visitors is my idea of a great day!  But I do it for YOU.

But, not to worry.  I love my business, I love my clients, I love to travel, and I love to teach about the best way to see the world before you leave it.  Please take a moment visit my web site and listen to my video.  It is an inexpensive way to travel.  www.cruiseandtourplanners.com

Price Competition with the “Big Boys”

Can a Home-Based Travel Professional compete with the big agencies or the Internet?

I recently received a magazine that comes regularly from a very large organization who does travel as well as other things.  The front 2 pages are always cruise and tour specials.  So, I thought I will check to see how their pricing compares to what I can get.  To my surprise, I beat every single special by at least $100.  A home-based agent beat goliath!!

 

In the travel industry there are consortiums.  These are organizations of travel agents coming together to buy travel packages, tour, and cruises in bulk and allow travel agents to book into the block.  There are scores of these consortiums.  The biggest of all is Vacation.com.  In order to become a member, an agency has to meet many criteria.  This is very hard for some home-based agencies.  But if they can get in, the special pricing is extremely competitive and will beat the internet and the giant travel companies.  So, yes, we can be competitive.

 

Although price competition is important, there are other factors that make the home-based travel agent special:

• The personal service that home-based travel agents offer is just as important, and maybe more important, than the priced..  Home-based agents are service driven.  They will go to your home, office, club or wherever you need to meet with them.  They may even fly to your city to meet you at your convenience.  The hours they work are not 8-5 5 days a week, but from morning till late at night any day of the week. 
• They also form a personal relationship with their clients.  They have been known to take people to the airports, baby sit children and animals, be at their client’s homes with meals and a multitude of other services you never find from a brick and mortar agency who has “store hours”.  Bottom line, home-based agents care about their clients and they become friends.  This goes way beyond the small saving you “may” find on the internet.

As travel agencies build volume with their preferred suppliers, the special pricing and other offers increase.  A relationship builds with that supplier and as the agent is faithful to them, they in turn are there for the agent when an emergency or need arises.  So many times a client is handed their documents with a smile and told to “have a wonderful trip” and behind the scenes the agent has been working day and into the night or nights to fix a problem that occurred.  The client will never know the sweat and tears that went into putting that trip together.  Fortunately, most travel is without incident.  But there are many times we are up late at night or early in the morning trying to hold a dream trip together.  There are times we think a job at McD would be great.  But we love what we do and that crises passes. 

 

To build a great relationship between a client and agent, communication is the key, the same as any relationship.  Let the agent know your likes, dislikes, dreams and wishes.  Most agents keep files on their clients and can begin to watch for special travel that might be of interest.  The travel industry is huge and probably has some interesting facets that you never knew about before.  Let us share them with you.  The world is a fascinating place and we know how to explore it.

 

 

 

The Internet vs. A Travel Professional

Why do I need help?  I can do this MYSELF!!

How many times I have heard that.  After come the tears.  “I should have listened to you”.  “I spent all this money and didn’t see anything”.  “I spent all my time trying to find a bus or train or whatever”. 

The value I bring to you is worth every penny you “think” you are saving.  The internet is a great research tool.  Dig in there and see what you can find.  But there are many things it won’t tell you.

• Why would you give your credit card to someone you can’t talk to in person? 
• Everyone can make a web site.  How do you know this one is legitimate?   A relative of a client called having booked a Mexico trip.  It was a week away and she had received no documents!!!  What can I say- I am so sorry!!!
• The airlines go bankrupt and you are left with tickets you got “cheap”.  Now you have to buy more and will never get your money back and this is your honeymoon.
• The “cheap” hotel you just booked in Hawaii is under renovation and the pool is closed.
• The location for the car you rented has closed
• A hurricane came to town and the cruise ship you booked online isn’t coming into the port.  Where is it going?  My question, did you know it was hurricane season when you booked?
• Your cabin on the cruise ship was right over the disco that went on all night – it seemed.  Either go join them or sleep by the pool on the deck.
• I am a member of XYC group and I didn’t know there would be 40 motorcoaches on this trip.  I couldn’t hear the tour guide

Check out my web site www.cruiseandtourplanners.com.  On that you can book consolidated air, hotels and car rentals.  There are hundreds of specials for all kinds of travel all over the world.  In addition, there are sites with information about destinations, weather, what to see and do where you want to go.  If you like more adventurous travel, look at the “Adventure Travel” section on the home page.  There are all kinds of travel adventures all kinds of places.  Something should fit you.  So dig, dig, dig and then call me to gook your travel that fits you.

Some of you have gotten stung and are now coming back.  Good for you.  I am here to give you the personal service you deserve.  I am NOT an order taker for a huge unpersonal company.  You will talk to me from beginning to end.  I will watch your documents to be sure everything is in order.  You can talk to me about any questions you have as the process goes along.  I am your “Personal Travel Planner”.  Use me.

Sharon@cruiseandtourplanners.com