We, of course, spend our days boarding private jets and dining in 5 star restaurants all over the globe all while hanging our hats and passport bags in private villas that would made a sheik green with envy, making a King's ransom in pay.
Don't we????
While we wish we were doing that, the truth is much less glamorous.
*Now, I can only speak for myself in this piece, and what I do for my clients, which was all learned from my amazing manager. All of us in the travel biz each share a love of travel and sending people around the world - and while some healthy competition is fun, ultimately, this is a tough industry to make a living in and we all need to stick together and support each other. We each do things a little differently so I'm not saying my way is the only way...but maybe it is the best way... ;0) *
Once upon a time, a travel agent needed a storefront. You would walk in and see a wall filled with travel brochures, you dealt face-to-face with your agent, she issued you paper tickets for your travel that she filled out by hand. She (or he), was paid very well by both the airlines and the resorts for her time and expertise. And you, as the client, were more than happy and willing to put your travel arrangements in this very capable person's hands. What choice did you have? The internet was not even heard of yet!
Fast forward 30 years and now we have a very different scenario...the airlines and resorts have cut back drastically - and I mean DRASTICALLY on their compensation to their partners in travel. Anyone with an internet connection seems to think they are qualified to sell - and book - their own travel, and they have all but forgotten that there are those of us who are actually schooled and trained - with ongoing training - to provide that service for them!!
So what is it that we do, anyways....Well, every day I check my emails and Facebook messages for any news on resorts, flights, deals - which add up to close to 100 a day or more. Then I pick and choose which ones to promote to my clients and draft up a post for my travel Facebook page...as a page manager, I have the option to pay to promote my page - which may, or may not, get me bookings. Excellent!! Someone has contacted me looking for a trip. More times than not our clients do not know where they want to go, have a general time frame, and almost always have a magic budget in mind - usually $1500 per person. LOL My fellow travel professionals that are reading this will know exactly what I'm saying here! So here is where our leg work - sometimes days and many emails worth, starts....I qualify my clients asking about their past travel experiences, their expectations, priorities...and based on those answers I then start researching places and accommodations that I think will fit their travel profile. In doing this, I personally research each resort or hotel individually, reading reviews, checking maps, contacting the resort itself, so that I know whether or not this will fit my client's needs. I coordinate flights and times, and private transfers, if needed. I then present no less than three options to my clients and wait to hear back from them. At this point, I am usually at anywhere from 4-8 hours, depending on the request. My clients then come back to me with any questions they may have regarding the options I have presented them with. More time for me to answer and/or research some more. Bear in mind that all the while I am drafting Facebook posts still, answering and reading emails and/or phone calls and perhaps even driving an hour and a half each way into the city for some product training.
Thankfully, most times, my clients will end up booking with me. Is that where my work with them ends? No! Once I get them booked, I then process their travel insurance purchase for them, contact my private transfer providers and book and confirm that, contact the resort they are staying at with any special requests for my clients, and watch for any changes in flight times, etc. Then, for every one of my clients, I do a custom itinerary for them - this alone usually takes close to two hours for me to do up, depending on their trip - how long, first time travelling, type of trip, etc. We are now looking at around anywhere from 10-30 working hours spent on one trip for one client. Hours that we do not get paid for - we get a lump sum payment at the time of our clients' travel...usually a small percentage of their total amount for their trip. Usually less than minimum wage if you break it down.
Now because of the large number of online travel sites, I do get emails from clients saying that they saw the "same" trip online for X amount cheaper than theirs. When this happens, I then go to the same site they were on, look up their "same" trip, and begin to note all of the differences and things that are not included in the package they purchased through me. This usually starts with flights with more connections than those I have booked, no transfers, lower room category...it is great because this gives me the opportunity to outline the traps involved with booking your own travel online, but it is more working hours for me. It pays off in the long run though, because my clients can then see for themselves the true value and trust that they can have with me.
Why do I do this? Why do I put so much time into each client? I don't get paid by the hour. I don't get free travel, and rarely get "cheap" travel, as most of you like to think. Sometimes I will spend all of that time on a client - and more - and they will go off and book on their own online, so I make nothing for all of my time in those cases. It is simple...I do this because I love it. I love sharing my own travel excitement and experiences with others. I love introducing someone to a whole new country and culture. I love knowing that I am so good at my job that my clients come home happy and will book with me again, because they "get" that I know their travel styles and tastes. I make a point to get to know my clients - no we aren't all besties, but I treasure every single one of them. I may not know their dog's name, or their parents' anniversary, but I do know where they like to sit on the plane, what room location they like best, and what they will and won't spend their time and hard-earned money on.
THIS is something that you will never get from booking online. You just won't. You will likely not even save a buck doing it online yourself either. Most do not even know this. By all means, do your homework, research some destinations and prices and then come back to me with your findings! I'd be happy to compare my knowledge with what you have found - I love an informed client! In this age of Do-It-Yourself, don't let something as special and personal as travel, fall into that category. You simply don't need to. There are qualified, passionate professionals out there waiting to do it for you.
So, that is what I do, as a Travel Agent. I work hard at it. I only get paid if I make the bookings, but I love it and I keep on keeping-on. I hope this has shed some light on this industry for you travellers out there!! To my valued clients reading this - you make my job never feel like a j-o-b, and I thank you for that. To my future clients - I can't wait to work with you!
Our website is www.somebeach.ca, my Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/jodiveesomebeach and my Twitter handle is
