When the weather outside is freezing, and the skies are gloomy, thoughts turn to warm weather destinations and that means that my phone is ringing, and my email inbox is filling up with people seeking help planning their vacations.
So how can you work better with your travel advisor? Here are my top six tips…
Tip #1: Be proactive.
Always hire a certified travel professional—someone you feel you’ll work well with and can trust to handle sensitive personal and financial information in addition to providing the services you need. For example, I’m a Certified Travel Industry Executive and Verified Travel Advisor with 14 years of experience. My clients know I have a sense of humor and easy-going personality but take my role as their advisor very seriously and will be quick to provide honest feedback on whether a particular resort and/or destination is suitable for their needs, interests, and budget. I specialize in river and expedition cruises, all-inclusive resort stays, African safaris, and customized itineraries worldwide.
Tip #2: Be patient.
Each travel agency’s response times are different but if you’ve contacted my travel agency, I’ll make every effort to get back to you on the same business day to discuss your travel needs and interests.
Tip #3: Be responsive.
If you’ve asked for travel planning assistance, respond to follow-up questions and quotes in a timely manner. After all, you’ve asked for help and expect a quick turnaround, but your travel advisor may require additional information to perform research work on your behalf. And remember, prices are always subject to change so quotes are only valid for a short time. If you constantly ghost your travel advisor, you may find yourself at the bottom of their “Priority” list when you finally do get around to responding to them.
Tip #4: Be kind.
Would you want to work with someone who is rude, obnoxious, or demanding?
Tip #5: Be realistic.
Most of the time you’ve done some research on your own and have an idea of what pricing and availability looks like for the trip you want. If you give your travel advisor a low budget to work with, don’t expect a 5-star hotel or resort accommodation when your budget will only support 3-star quality. And understand that if you’re seeking a fully customized and private experience, it will take longer to provide price quotes than if you’re seeking an off-the-shelf packaged vacation, and prices will be higher.
Tip #6: Be loyal.
If you love your travel advisor, write glowing online reviews about their service, provide testimonials and photos for their website and social media pages, and share their contact information with friends, family, and others seeking professional travel planning assistance. They should be your first call as soon as you decide you’re thinking about taking a trip!
So, there you have it. My top six tips to have a better working relationship with your favorite professional travel advisor. Hopefully, that’s me!
Ready to get started planning your next vacation? Contact me today!
Jennifer