New York Tabloid Gets in on Travel Agent Discussion

The New York Post, best known for its provocative front-page photos and headlines, and salacious gossip, put in a good word for travel agents this week.

In a Mar. 13 article entitled, “A travel designer is like a travel agent — but only better,” the Post’s Hannah Rose-Yee talked about why consumers shouldn’t go it alone when booking their next vacation.

In one of the best job descriptions from the string of positive articles in the last year, the Post said: “Crafting the perfect itinerary for your next holiday is a full-time job. Seriously, it is. Finding the hotels, seeking out the best activities, learning about all the under-the-radar restaurants tucked away on side streets that serve the most mouthwatering local cuisine … This is the kind of thing that requires a professional’s touch.”

Rose-Yee went on to describe the difference between a “travel designer” and a “travel agent,” describing the former as a person “with even more of a laser-sharp focus on one individual’s personal tastes,” and working “outside of shopfront hours online and in the evenings or on weekends.”

The article quoted Marie Sulda, founder of Kaleidoscope Travel, as saying, “A travel designer has the time to get to know you as a person. It’s about building a relationship with you and understanding your preferences for future trips, rather than taking an order and processing it.”

Sulda also pointed out how consumers get overwhelmed researching the voluminous options they could find online on their own. “Having someone to be able to cut through all of the online noise and provide you with curated options that suit your preferences and budget is why a travel designer is so valuable,” she told the Post.

Finally, Sulda suggested consumers seek out experts by destination, “a mode of transport, or a vibe, like an adventure holiday or a solo travel trip.”