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01.05.2021
4 things you should know to choose your Travel Agency (New York Times April 27, 2021)
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Even the most DIY-inclined travelers are considering working with a professional advisor these days. We tell you how. Click here to see the original text in English. We present a translated extract.
So, are you thinking of traveling again? You're not alone. The pandemic may not be over, but the expansion of vaccines in the United States plus the news that the European Union will open up to vaccinated travelers is inspiring many to plan a real summer vacation.
However, traveling is not easy. The virus is finding new footholds around the world, leaving an ever-changing set of rules and restrictions in its wake. It's a reality that has inspired many DIY-inclined travelers to consider working with a travel agent or travel advisor. , for the first time, hoping to avoid the stress of travel planning and focus on relaxing on vacation.
Most travel consultants provide their services for free to clients (although some do charge a booking fee, which can range from $25 to $100 depending on how complicated the trip you're looking for) and, in Instead, they make money through commissions from hotels, tour operators, cruise lines, airlines, and other travel companies.
Finding the right adviser is "like finding a hairdresser," said Erika Richter, senior director of communications for ASTA, the American Society of Travel Advisors. "You want someone who understands your personal style."
Ms. Richter, along with Misty Belles, General Manager of Global Public Relations for Virtuoso, an international travel agency network specializing in luxury travel, shared their tips on finding an advisor who understands you and the trip. Of your dreams.
Start by asking trusted family and friends for recommendations.
"The same goes for any professional service in your life," Belles said. "If you know someone who is working with a travel advisor and is happy with the experience, that's a great place to start."
If that's not possible (or if your friends and family, though loved ones, don't have the same travel style as you), Ms. Richter strongly suggested looking for local businesses where you live.
“Supporting small businesses in our communities is more important than ever right now,” he said. ASTA has a directory that allows you to search for advisors near you; A quick Google search will probably work too, Richter said.
Think where you want to go
Another way to find a travel advisor is to search for one based on a destination or destinations that they may specialize in. Are you interested in going to a specific Caribbean island nation? You will likely want to work with an advisor who has booked several trips in that country and has connections and contacts there. Some advisors specialize in trips to Disney resort properties; others focus on cruise ships.
If you're interested in planning a trip outside of your purview, advisors can refer you to someone else within their network or do extensive research themselves.
“Choosing someone who specializes in a destination is a good first foray into working with a travel advisor,” Belles said. "But when you work with the same advisor for a while, they become specialists in you."
Consider your professional networks
Speaking of what you want, it can be helpful to understand the organization or organizations an advisor is associated with. Whether they work alone, with a partner in a small shop, or as part of a large agency, they are likely connected to a professional consortium or network, such as Virtuoso, which is made up of more than 1,000 agencies in 50 countries around the world. the world, or ASTA itself.
"Obviously I represent ASTA, but I think it's important to consider an advisor's professional affiliations," Richter said. Affiliations can serve as a vote of confidence that the advisor has been vetted; it also gives you the opportunity to appeal if you are unhappy with your relationship (ASTA, for example, can handle consumer complaints and be part of the resolution process). Some consortiums specialize in a certain type of travel: Virtuoso agencies focus on luxury travel, for example, while others may emphasize adventure travel, family travel, etc.
An advisor's affiliations also act as a conduit for one of their main selling points: traveler benefits.
“Ask them what kind of benefits they get from their professional networks,” Richter said. " Upgrades, free breakfasts, late checkouts when available, who doesn't want some of those freebies?"
Make sure your advisor understands your travel style.
Do you like leisurely and slow trips? Itineraries packed with sights and attractions? Do you like to travel alone or are you planning multigenerational trips with children and grandparents? Making sure your advisor understands what you want, and perhaps even establishing that they have a similar travel style themselves, can go a long way in building rapport (and allowing you to plan an even better trip).
Some important questions to ask yourself: Do you charge a planning fee? What are some examples of trips you have planned in the past? “ Be really upfront about your budget for a trip and make sure it's something they can help you make the most of,” Richter said. Mrs. Belles suggested asking the counselor how they personally like to travel and some of their favorite destinations.
“Interview them a bit! You can see if there are any similarities there,” he said. But make sure you get the same number of questions. "If not, that should be a red flag," Ms. Belles said. "A consultant should seek to get to the heart of exactly what you want as a traveler."
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