A friend of mine recently put out a Facebook request seeking a travel agent recommendation, and someone else commented: "Save yourself a ton of money and book it yourself. Takes some work on your part but you'll save lots. Or you could look up an agent in the yellow pages, call them on your rotary phone and pay with travelers checks like it was done in the 1980s…which is the last time anyone under the age of 75 actually used a travel agent."
Wow! I thought that was a pretty strong response, but perhaps they had a bad experience with a travel advisor? Or more likely, maybe they had never used one? I am leaning towards the latter because anyone can tell you that a good travel advisor does not cost you more money!
I always find the best deals for my clients and add extra value wherever I can. While I'm on the topic, I prefer the term "travel advisor," not "travel agent." An "agent" implies one who takes orders; an "advisor" adds value by offering tips, advice and using their extensive network of contacts throughout the world to make every trip as special as possible.
In my former life, I was a certified public accountant (CPA). Well, I still am actually, thanks to annual dues to the state of Texas and continuing professional education credits! But I decided to follow my passion and start a travel business, and found the skill set was easily transferable-detail-oriented, good with money, and organized. My clients sure hope that I am all of those things!
As a CPA and a graduate of one of the best collegiate accounting programs in the country, I figure that I have a pretty good head on my shoulders. So why would I choose to be a travel advisor if I didn't think it was a solid career path and I could really be of benefit to travelers?
RELATED: U.S. Travel Agencies' 2014 Air Ticket Sales Ahead of 2013 by 5.15 Percent
Travel is a relationship-based business. I work very hard to form and maintain relationships with hoteliers and travel suppliers from all over the world to the benefit of my clients. In one month alone, I attended three different hotelier events in Dallas-Relais & Chateaux, Four Seasons and Starwood Luxury Showcase-and I spoke with individual hoteliers at each event about specific upcoming client stays at their properties. When you are booking a hotel in Paris, do you call France, speak to the property about specific room requests, and get inside intelligence on where to go in the area? Or do you just Google the heck out of it and cross your fingers for a good room?
[BLURB]While you are crossing your fingers and praying for an upgrade, I am on the phone with my friends and travel partners at a five-star Caribbean resort and getting my clients double-upgraded.[/BLURB]
[/CALLOUT]
While you are Googling like mad for tour options in Europe, I am calling my friend, a local tour operator and native of the Netherlands, for some advice on a fabulous Amsterdam and Belgium itinerary. I trust his advice because other clients have raved about his services and because he is a well-vetted travel partner of mine. How do you know that Tours & More from the Internet is a valid tour operator and will still be in business when you arrive?
While you are crossing your fingers and praying for an upgrade, I am on the phone with my friends and travel partners at a five-star Caribbean resort and getting my clients double-upgraded. I'm also getting them to deliver a coral reef made of chocolate and personalized with their children's names specially designed by the executive pastry chef. There's nothing better to win over a sweet family than a resort wowing its littlest guests!
RELATED: Mark Murphy On The Power Of Choice and Travel Agents
While I have access to many different pricing options as far as hotels and resorts go, and will always search for the best prices and packages for my clients, my best work lies in the value I can add with free breakfasts, resort credits and upgrades when available-all the perks that you can't get yourself by booking online.
Are my services for everyone? Not at all! There are definitely areas where I can add more value than in others-for example, deluxe hotels and resorts, multigenerational travel, complicated itinerary planning, etc. Of course, you don't know until you ask. And I will always be honest about my abilities. In addition, a good travel advisor does not replace the Internet-we act more to supplement it. People love to research their own vacations, but how do you comb through the millions of pages online and seemingly billions of travel reviews?
How do you know that the person slamming that five-star resort you've been eyeing isn't used to staying at one-star hotels? What may seem outrageous to one person may be completely normal to others. You don't know the reviewers' mindsets, so take online reviews with a grain of salt-I do!
[BLURB]The travel advisor profession is actually growing, not shrinking! Many of my clients are first-time travel advisor users, and they love the benefit of talking to a live person and getting real advice.[/BLURB][/CALLOUT]
The travel advisor profession is actually growing, not shrinking! Many of my clients are first-time travel advisor users, and they love the benefit of talking to a live person and getting real advice. My business has grown through happy repeat clients and referrals, and I think that says a lot. There is nothing I love more than helping my dear clients-and they do become my friends-take some of the stress out of travel planning and help make their trip as amazing as I can.
So, it is totally up to you whether or not you consult with a travel advisor about your travel plans. I absolutely love what I do and I feel like the luckiest person in the world to be able to pursue my passion as a career and be successful at it. And just for the record, all of my clients are currently under the age of 75!
RELATED: Survey Says: Millennials Now Drive Leisure Travel in U.S.
Topics From This Article to Explore
