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.

 

 

 

I’m Dreaming Part II

I HAVE A DREAM VACATION.  HOW DO I MAKE IT HAPPEN?  Part 2

 

 

WHERE??

 

Get a nice big map of the world.  Try to visualize the distances you are considering.  If this is a new destination for you, make a plan to take small bites, thinking you may not come back again.  Then do a thorough tour of the area.  Or do you just want “notches in your belt” for having stopped in a city or destination and the sites are not important, in which case you can go as far as your time and money permits.

 

v     Family trip?  Consider the ages and how much information they can handle.  A vacation at a beach is easier on younger people than a tour of a country.

v     Group trip?  Church, organization or club trip needing a tour bus and guide.

v     Couple trip?  Sun, sand and surf or skiing.

v     Heritage research?  Where are your ancestors from and how did they come to your country?

 

HOW??

 

Whether you think so or not, you DO need some professional assistance.  Even the simplest of trips need someone who knows and understands the travel process.  Without a travel professional, you are on your own and that can be very expensive and uncomfortable.  When you reach a destination, how do you plan to tour it?  Have you read up on the history and know what you will be looking at?  Going to a foreign place gives you a chance to learn about this history of the people and places.  A tour guide for a day or for the whole trip is worth every penny.  You can find them at Information Offices all over the world.  Some cities/countries require special documentation for visiting. 

 

v     Are you backpacking?  You probably need an airline ticket and perhaps a hotel for the first and last night.  Maybe you need a train ticket and some tips on the countries or cities you want to visit. 

v     Group tour?  This is so comfortable and a great way to learn a lot.  No worries about what hotel or what restaurant.  Someone to hold your hand from start to finish

v     On Your Own?  You may need a car rental, train ticket, a tour guide for 1 hour or 1 day.  Maybe knowledge about driving in certain areas and what kind of license or insurance is needed.

 

Your own research is part of the adventure.  A travel professional may have been there, done that, but that person doesn’t have the very same likes and dislikes you do.  Give us some ideas and we can fill in the blanks.