Search Travel Market Report

riviera
Riviera
mainlogo
  • News
  • Tours & Packages
  • Cruise
  • Hotels & Resorts
  • Destinations
  • Retail Strategies
  • Niche & Luxury
  • Well-Being Travel
  • Training
  • Who We Are
    • Anne Marie Moebes
    • Barbara Peterson
    • Brian Israel
    • Daine Taylor
    • Dan McCarthy
    • Denise Caiazzo
    • Jessica Montevago
    • Marilee Crocker
    • Mary Gostelow
    • Paul M. Ruden
    • Steve Gillick
riviera
Great to Share with Your Clients

Here's Why You Should Use A Travel Agent Instead Of Booking Online

by Jessica Montevago / August 09, 2017
Here's Why You Should Use A Travel Agent Instead Of Booking Online

Photo: Shuttershock


Travel agents make travel less stressful.
When booking a vacation, destination wedding or honeymoon, the last thing a traveler should have to do is worry.

“It is a special memory in your lifetime that should only result in a pleasant experience all the way through. A travel agent is vital in planning these special memories as they take the worry off of you and let you focus solely on the exciting events to come and what you shall pack,” said Jamie Mussolini, founder and president of Beachfronts Travel LLC in Westchester, NY.

They save you money…
Travel professionals have access to special discount codes and promotions through suppliers. They often can save an additional amount or provide clients with a dining or spa credit that wouldn’t be available when booking through an OTA.

…and time.
In a 2016 survey of more than 1,200 consumers, nearly one-third spent in excess of four hours, over multiple days, planning their own vacations. Travel advisors create a custom itinerary, pulling together flights, transfers, accommodation, tours, visits, meals and exclusive visits based on your preferences—so you can spend your time on other things.

They don’t charge hidden fees.
In a column for Business Insider, Avery Hartmans described her experience using the Hotels Tonight app for a staycation in New York City – and noted that the prices listed did not include taxes and fees. Hartmans said she was charged an additional $121 in fees for the weekend, an expense she wasn’t expecting; “the extra fees were a bad surprise, and they put us well over budget for the trip,” she said.

Many agents don’t charge fees at all, and those who do are up-front about the cost.

They advocate on your behalf.
A Washington state family, as TMR previously reported, received an email a few weeks before its $874 vacation was cancelled due to overbooking. After hours on the phone, Holly Parsons walked away with $500 in Expedia vouchers and three nights in a Holiday Inn Express.

“I feel for this family that has suffered a horrendous experience not only were they left with no refund but also a cancelled trip,” Mussolini said. That would never have happened if they used a travel agent. “Using one of those websites is taking a risk and can be a setup for a disaster. During peak seasons to find out your trip is cancelled and have no refund is the worst news – but on top of that, trying to scramble to plan something at the last minute is even worse.”

They provide personalized attention.
OTAs provide a one-size-fits-all service, not taking into account the numerous variables that are in play. Travel advisors tailor their services to their clients’ individual needs. Have concerns? They’ll talk you through them. Need a hotel that can cater to your allergies? A travel advisor can speak to hotel managers to make sure it’s taken care of.

“Despite all the websites, clients by the truckload are desperate for a real human voice on the phone. They are clamoring for truly dedicated, genuine customer service and someone willing and eager to sell them what they want,” said Norm Payne, senior consultant at Uniglobe Premiere Travel. “People readily buy from those ready to sell. Really taking care of your clients automatically takes care of your profit margins.”

They offer insurance.
From guaranteeing your hotel is available to knowing if the excursion company is legitimate, booking through a travel agent ensures travelers will not get duped. And they provide insurance for medical emergencies and trip cancellations.

They’re there 24/7.
Travel agents are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They’re there with you throughout the booking process and follow up afterward. On the other hand, contacting an OTA’s customer service line often means wading through a chain of people. Parson said she spent six and a half hours over three days speaking with Expedia’s customer service department.

They’re specialists.
Agents have a personal understanding of your interests and insight into a specific destinations and segments of travel, like LGBT or destination weddings. A good travel agent spends time getting to know the customer and so can make recommendations tailored to what you want to do.

  70
  8
Riviera
Related Articles
How Personal Can an Online Agency Be? Aussie’s Luxury Escapes Counts the Ways
Three Online Booking Horror Stories That Show Why You Should Always Use a Travel Agent
Look-a-Like Travel Booking Websites Could Cost Consumers
Three Online Booking Horror Stories That Show the Value of a Good Travel Agent
When Travel Plans Changed, Industry Veteran’s Knowledge Saved Him Money
How Travel Agents Can Avoid Becoming a Victim of Fraud
How Travel Agents Can Stay Relevant When the World Thinks They're Not
What to Consider When Launching Your Website
How Might Health Insurance Change for Travel Agents in 2018?
Orbitz and Comfort Inn Play Ping Pong with Traveler’s Money

MOST VIEWED

Brought To You By
  1. CDC: Fully Vaccinated People Can Skip Mandatory Quarantines After Being Exposed
  2. Everything You Need to Know About Getting a Passport in 2021
  3. Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson Passes Away
  4. Five Things Advisors Can Do Now to Prepare for the Travel Rebound
  5. The CDC Won’t Force Americans to Get a COVID-19 Test for Domestic Travel—Yet
  6. Alaska Updates: State Lifts COVID-19 Testing Requirement, Cruise Lines Stop Bookings

MOST EMAILED

Brought To You By
  1. Everything You Need to Know About Getting a Passport in 2021
  2. Hawaii Partners With Clear to Allow Travelers with Negative COVID-19 Tests to Skip Quarantine
  3. Globus to Require COVID-19 Vaccine, Negative Test Result or Virus Immunity for All Tours
  4. CDC: Fully Vaccinated People Can Skip Mandatory Quarantines After Being Exposed
  5. Cruise Lines Hope to Hold on to Alaska Season After Canada’s Ban
  6. Private Equity Firm Najafi Companies Acquires Classic Vacations from Expedia
Tip of the Day

I think being in contact with [my clients] gave them more confidence in me and the suggestions I offer.

Linda Kinsey, Custom Travel & Cruise

 Share...
Daily Top List
Brought To You By

5 Things Every Travel Agency Should Do To Boost Business

1. Specialize
2. Give a personal touch
3. Find your niche and sell an experience
4. Maintain a high standard of quality
5. Become a salesman…but inspire trust

Source: Azavista.com

 Share...
Previous Daily Top List
Riviera
TMR Recommendations
Daniel Zim
Zim Travel Law, PLLC. Demystifying Complexity with Down to Earth Advice. Attorney Advertising.
hbar
Rodney Gould
Rodney E. Gould concentrates in travel and tour-operator litigation and regularly counsels travel-related entities worldwide.
hbar
Tom Carpenter
Carpenter Law Office - Representing clients in the travel and tourism industries. Attorney Advertising.
hbar
Top Stories
Video: What You Need to Know About Selling Travel Insurance
Video: What You Need to Know About Selling Travel Insurance

What is the best strategy for selling travel insurance?

Read...
Video: What Should Travel Agents Call their Fees?
Video: What Should Travel Agents Call their Fees?

What is the best terminology to use when talking to clients about service fees?

Read...
How to Become a Travel Agent in 2021
How to Become a Travel Agent in 2021

Travelers are more likely to book through a travel agent now than before the COVID-19 crisis. 

Read...
6 Ways Advisors Are Re-Tooling for Post-Pandemic Success
6 Ways Advisors Are Re-Tooling for Post-Pandemic Success

The pandemic has caused travel advisors to be smarter and more creative, reassess their priorities, and rethink how they do business. “We’ve all learned so much,” said one.

Read...
Video: Why Adobe Spark Post is a Great App for Travel Advisors
Video: Why Adobe Spark Post is a Great App for Travel Advisors

'What I love about this app is that you can create, literally 30 images, in ten minutes.' 

Read...
Everything You Need to Know About Getting a Passport in 2021
Everything You Need to Know About Getting a Passport in 2021

A friendly reminder that now is probably a good time to check your passport’s expiration date.

Read...
News Briefs
  • World Travel Holdings Offering Up to $1 Million in Loans to Dream Vacations and CruiseOne Owners
  • Consumers Deterred by COVID-19 Are Banking on Traveling in Early 2021
  • ASTA Asks Advisors to Fill Out Survey on COVID Impact
  • Travel Edge Completes Two-Day Virtual Event
  • World Travel and Tourism Council to Host COVID-19 Summit
  • Travelport Launches COVID-19 Response Microsite
TMR Outlooks
Expedition 2020
Wellness Outlook
Distribution Outlook
View All
Advertiser's Voice
https://img.youtube.com/vi/5vA47bCkea4/0.jpg
Master Advisor 26: What You Need to Know About Selling Travel Insurance
About Travel Market Report Mission Editorial Staff Advisory Board Advertise
TMR Resources Webinars Calendar of Events
Subscribe to TMR
Select Language
Do You Have an Idea Email
editor@travelmarketreport.com
Give Us a Call
1-(516) 730-3097
Drop Us a Note
Travel Market Report
243 South Street, OysterBay, NY, 11771
News|Leisure Travel|Land Vacations|Cruise|Canada Retail Strategies|Well-Being|Luxury|Training
© 2005 - 2021 Travel Market Report, an American Marketing Group Inc. Company All Rights Reserved | 243 South Street, Oyster Bay, NY, 11771 USA | Telephone (516) 730-3097| Terms and Conditions
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy