Search Travel Market Report

mainlogo
www.travelmarketreport.com
  • News
  • Tours & Packages
  • Cruise
  • Hotels & Resorts
  • Destinations
  • Retail Strategies
  • Niche & Luxury
  • Well-Being Travel
  • Training & Events
  • Who We Are
    • Anne Marie Moebes
    • Brian Israel
    • Dan McCarthy
    • Denise Caiazzo
    • Marilee Crocker
    • Paul M. Ruden
    • Dori Saltzman
    • Kelly Fontenelle
Allianz

Forbes, Washington Post Guide Consumers to Find Smart Travel Advisors

by Jessica Montevago / October 16, 2019
Forbes, Washington Post Guide Consumers to Find Smart Travel Advisors

A new article on Forbes describes why travelers should seek out the expertise and personalized service of a travel advisor. Photo: charnsitr/Shutterstock.com


Forbes contributor Mary Ann Anderson used to own a small travel agency, so she knows a thing or two about what advisors bring to the table.

In her article, “A World of Knowledge: Reasons Why Smart Travelers Need Smart Travel Agents,” Anderson shares why travelers should seek out the expertise and personalized service of a travel advisor.

While some travelers might be lured into using an online booking engine for its convenience, “not a single one can replace your neighborhood travel agent when it comes to friendliness, familiarity and, perhaps the most important of all, the ability to troubleshoot in case issues arise before or during and even sometimes after your trip,” she writes.

Their knowledge eclipses those sites when you factor in the exclusive money-saving deals, great travel tips, and time-saving research they do on the consumers behalf. And that’s not to mention the passion they have for their jobs.

Travel advisors also eliminate the element of surprise. They are aware of how much hidden resort fees cost and which hotels have them. They know which countries require two full blank pages in your passport and which ones require visas.

Their value extends beyond the planning process. “Travel agents are skilled problem-solvers and they know whom to call when hiccups occur,” Anderson writes. Travelers can feel reassured during their trip that, if something does go awry, they can contact a real person (and not an automated phone line) who will listen and act on their behalf.

“The travel industry is ever-growing and ever-changing. You want someone who keeps updated on all of its trends, as well as its travails, and can offer you handcrafted, personalized and professional service all the way from the moment of a trip’s inspiration to the journey’s end,” Anderson writes.

An article in The Washington Post by Christopher Elliot goes one step further, advising consumers how to find a reputable travel agent. 

First, says the article, look for certifications and association memberships. The Travel Institute’s Certified Travel Associate (CTA) and Certified Travel Counselor (CTC) designations mean an agent has taken the time to study and understand travel. In 2017, ASTA created a Verified Travel Advisor program, which indicates that an adviser has met “a higher level of verifiable professional knowledge.”

Consumers can also look to agencies affiliated with well-known franchises, such as American Express or Carlson Wagonlit Travel; or with an agency network such as Travel Leaders, Signature, or Virtuoso. “These affiliations offer peace of mind and, sometimes, lower prices,” writes Elliot.

The article also quotes Matthew Upchurch, the CEO of Virtuoso, a network of luxury travel advisers, saying: “Reputation, experience and professionalism certainly come into play. But then you have to count on the X-factor, which really comes down to chemistry.”

  3
  0
Allianz
Related Articles
Travel Agent Magazine Publisher John McMahon Moves From Media To Agency
USA Today Champions Travel Agents as Advocates
Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan Is the Top Hotel in the World
U.S. News Names Paris World’s Best Place to Visit
ABC Reporter Asks, ‘Is it Cheaper to Book on Your Own or Hire a Travel Agent?’
Travel + Leisure A-List Controversy Is a Slippery Slope for Travel Media
Travel + Leisure Will Require Member Dues for A-List Travel Agents
New York Tabloid Gets in on Travel Agent Discussion
Forbes Travel Guide Announces Prestigious 2018 Five-Star Hotel Rating List
River Cruises Go Mainstream in Print and on Television

MOST VIEWED

Brought To You By
  1. A&K Purchases Crystal Ships, Revives Crystal Cruises Brand
  2. CDC Adds Three Caribbean Destinations to “High-Risk” COVID-19 List
  3. Travel to Italy Is Officially Back to Normal
  4. Viking Drops Onboard & Pre-Cruise COVID-19 Testing
  5. Three Cruise Lines Bring Masks Back in Alaska
  6. How Travel Advisors Can Cope With Chaos in Air Travel

MOST EMAILED

Brought To You By
  1. Travel to Italy Is Officially Back to Normal
  2. Report: U.S. to End COVID-19 Air Travel Testing Requirement
  3. A&K Purchases Crystal Ships, Revives Crystal Cruises Brand
  4. Japan Could Boot Tourists Who Disobey COVID-19 Rules
  5. Viking Drops Onboard & Pre-Cruise COVID-19 Testing
  6. Bahamas Eliminates Travel Health Visa, But COVID Test Requirement Remains
Allianz
TMR Subscription

Subscribe today to receive daily in-depth coverage, analysis of industry news, trends and issues that affect how you do business. Subscribe now for free.

Subscribe to TMR

Top Stories
Collette Promotes Vice President of U.S. Sales
Collette Promotes Vice President of U.S. Sales

David Cook is Collette's new VP of U.S. sales, effective immediately. 

Read...
TMR TV: Apple Leisure Group Vacations Executive Roundtable Discussion from Cancun

Travel Market Report hosted an exclusive ALGV Executive Roundtable Discussion from Cancun Mexico on Wednesday, February 24th.

Read...
When You’re Ready, We’re Ready

Here's to traveling at your own speed. When you're ready, we're ready with clean, sanitized vehicles and a low-touch rental process.

Read...
ALG Vacations | Ready. Set. Go.
Read...
Valerie Wilson Travel Adds Vagabond Travel as New Affiliate Agency
Valerie Wilson Travel Adds Vagabond Travel as New Affiliate Agency

The New Jersey-based Virtuoso agency is the latest to become affiliates of Valerie Wilson Travel. 

Read...
Allianz Partners USA Promotes Elena Edwards to CEO
Allianz Partners USA Promotes Elena Edwards to CEO

Edwards succeeds Michael Nelson, who has left the company in order to accept another opportunity.

Read...
TMR OUTLOOKS & WHITE PAPERS
CP White Paper
Multi-Gen Outlook
Distribution Outlook (1)
New to Cruise Outlook
Expedition 2020
River Cruise Outlook 2019
View All
Advertiser's Voice
https://img.youtube.com/vi/QTPIinGDcIY/0.jpg
Video: Can Booking Bachelor and Bachelorette Party Groups Be Profitable for Advisors?
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
71 Audrey Ave, Oyster Bay, NY 11771
News|Leisure Travel|Land Vacations|Cruise|Canada Retail Strategies|Well-Being|Luxury|Training
© 2005 - 2022 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