There has been a lot of talk in recent weeks (years even!) about the value of using a travel advisor. The perception is why would you need one, when you have access to hundreds (actually, thousands) of online booking sites. Planning your own travel is easy. Right?
Well, I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately. From both my perspective (as a travel agent) and also yours, and I understand that you as a client have so many choices when it comes to booking your travel. I also understand that not all travellers need or want a travel professional to assist with their arrangements, and that’s ok!… I don’t necessarily want to work with every client either. What I do want to do is utilise my strengths, experience and travel industry connections to work with clients I like and who understand where I’m coming from, to create truly memorable experiences…. not just book the cheapest hotel.
When I am given an opportunity to work with clients who value my expertise, my industry connections and my time, I will not only make the planning process much more enjoyable, but you will see where the real value lies, and here is a hint…..It’s not always the price.
So, for those of you who may be a little sceptical about using a travel advisor, or wonder how agent like myself still exist in this digital age, I thought i would highlight 5 key areas that set me apart.
1) Time IS money (and the only luxury we have that actually means anything)
Planning a detailed trip and piecing it all together (well) can take hours and hours. It’s not uncommon for me to spend 2-3 hours on one short itinerary, and sometimes days of planning for larger more complex itineraries for my clients. But that is my job and I know what I am looking for.
If you’re an every day traveller, browsing the internet for ‘Best Hotels in Rome’, then going through EACH . AND. EVERY. ONE you are going to be there for hours. Not to mention all of the other smaller details. Who really has that kind of time?
By allowing a travel specialist to put together an itinerary for you, you’ll be able to have someone else to the leg work (using their expertise) and you’ll be able to get on with your day.
But it doesn’t end there…. You’re not only going to save time in the planning process, but it will also ensure that you’re getting an itinerary that is going to make the most of your time whilst you’re on the ground as well.
As I’m planning an itinerary, I’m looking at the big picture and taking the time to look at every aspect of the trip for you. From your journey to your departure airport, to your flight, connections, transfers, excursions, sightseeing, dining….. the whole big picture.
The more that we plan prior to your departure, the less you’ll need to plan as you go, and trust me… you’ll be SO thankful that you don’t have to sit there whilst on your holiday, planning your holiday. It’s done, and you just need to live it, breathe it and be in the moment.
But, if time is Money, won’t it cost more?
Like other professional services, some advisors charge planning fees for their time. Some don’t.
At this stage in my business I don’t charge a planning fee, but I may request an upfront deposit (particularly for new clients), which will be debited from your final invoice. This is so that I can know that you’re valuing my time and expertise, and that you aren’t just picking my brain for my recommendations and then trying to price match me against an online site. That is not a good use of my time or yours.
Time is money, but value is something very different, and that is not the style of business that will allow me to add value and offer you a point of difference or an exceptional journey.
So, if you take a chance and value an advisers time, they will value yours, and ensure that they are not only saving you time, but adding value as well.
2) I know the industry (and I know that not all booking methods are created equally).
Did you know that hotels rank their daily check in’s based on the method that they were booked? Well, most do, so the way you book that hotel or particular room type really does make a difference.
To give you an idea, hotels will prioritise room categories and upgrades for guests a little something like this….
- Guests who have been booked through their preferred programs and agent partners (like ME!)
- Then it will generally be bookings that were made directly with the hotel.
- Next up are bookings that were made through travel industry third party wholesalers.
- Then lastly they’ll list the guests and bookings made through online booking sites.
So, if there are upgrades to be had you can almost forget it if you’ve booked online through an online booking site.
But, the room categories are all the same right? No.
You might have booked a ‘Superior Room’ but they aren’t all equal. Often you’ll have rooms within a particular category, with different features. i.e. Over looking a car park, or on lower floors with no views, or near loud elevators etc, and based on how you book, you’ll find that you may not be given the more desired option.
I even did a little test of this myself, and I recently booked 2 rooms at a particular hotel for our family (through two different channels), and despite booking the same room category, the room that was booked using the online travel website was considerably smaller and in a terrible location compared to that which was booked direct…. Interesting.
So, using a travel advisor who is a member of the best hotel preferred partner programs in the business, ensures that you aren’t going to be stuck in the worst room at the hotel, AND you’ll generally increase your chances of getting bonus perks like upgrades too!
3) It’s all about relationships, and I know people, who know people.
Ultimately, this could be the only point that I need to make. It’s all about RELATIONSHIPS!
The importance of relationships filters from my relationship with you (my client), to the relationships I have with the suppliers and hoteliers who are going to be there on the ground looking after you.
To me, you aren’t a client. You’re a friend. I would plan your journey as If I were planning it for myself. With care and detail, and I will take the time to know you, know your preferences, know your budget and make the overall experience one to remember.
To me, the suppliers and hoteliers that I choose to work with are an extension of myself, so ensuring that they have my back, means that they will have yours.
This is why I travel to industry trade shows throughout the year to make sure that I’m meeting the hoteliers and the ground operators personally. It’s easier for me to reach out to them, and request your upgrade, flag your VIP status, arrange your special amenities and make sure you’re in the BEST of hands, if i know them and they know me.
I feel very privileged to be a part of SmartFlyer as I know that throughout the travel industry we are highly respected for nurturing these relationships and for understanding their importance. Ultimately it’s you, our clients who benefit.
You can’t VIP yourself, and for true value, you need to feel the difference that an experienced agent, with great relationships can do for you.
4) I know because I go (and make it my business to know)
Yep, you’ve probably seen my social media posts as I travel the world, and you’ll see that I travel a lot. This isn’t just because I love to travel (though, it is a great perk!). It’s so that I can continually update my knowledge of a destination, a particular hotel, or a local ground operator, and this is priceless for my clients.
The thing with travel is it’s constantly evolving. Great destinations turn bad, perfect hotels drop the ball, run down suburbs become ‘hip’, and I need to stay on top of it. The more I can educate myself by either getting out there or by working with the fabulous network of independent agents that I’m a part of, the better it is for my clients.
I’ve proven time and time again in my own business that by knowing and experiencing a destination myself, I am able to ensure that I’m matching the right hotels and products with the right clients. So, when I recommend a hotel, service or destination, it’s usually because I’ve been and have experienced it or know someone who has. That means that I have FIRST HAND knowledge on most of the worlds destinations, at my fingertips.
Yeah, yeah. You may be thinking ‘Isn’t that GOOGLE?’ (Spoiler alert…. nope!)
Did you know that ‘trusted’ review sites have been proven to contain FAKE REVIEWS! Yep, companies around the globe have been fined millions of dollars for interfering with reviews (by either tampering with negative reviews, or by using external companies to write fake positive reviews). So you could have spent hours pouring over online reviews and comparing them with the online web prices, only to be booking your trip based off a bogus ranking!
Using a trusted advisor will ensure that you aren’t being fooled by dodgy reviews, and they will be able to get to know you, and suggest something perfect based on your preferences. It’s a match made in heaven.
5) I am human (and I truly care).
Yes, I’m human and I truly care. I am not an online algorithm or an advertiser or an ‘influencer’ with third party sponsorships….
I am a human who has spent 15 years working in travel, learning to understand your needs and learning how to not only meet but exceed your expectations (and know the difference between the two).
I am a human who is truly grateful that so many wonderful people trust their hard earned money and their precious time with me, to create them the perfect travel experience, and I would never take advantage of that or take it for granted. This is why I am the human who will plan a journey as if it were for myself, and create an experience that I would want to have.
I am the human who will check and double check that every component of your journey is booked correctly, and make sure that you haven’t been left with unanswered questions.
I am the human who will answer my phone at 2am if you need a last minute change, when you’re on the other side of the world.
I know (as a human) that there is more to life than a dollar figure, and that true value doesn’t come from price. (Really!)
As a human, I know that I can’t tell you that you will get more value when you use a good travel advisor, but I can tell you that you will feel it when you get it, and if you’re wise, you will never look back.
In the very very wise words of Simon Sinek…..
‘Value is a perception not a calculation. Value is something people feel, not something we tell them they get’
So, have a think about it. Hopefully this may inspire you to think about how you book your travel and potentially reach out to a trusted advisor the next time you travel. You may just be surprised.
Kate xx
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