Why Travelers Need a Travel Advisor in 2020
In the age of the internet, consumers have access to more products and services than was previously thought possible. Travelers in particular have hundreds of booking sites at the tips of their fingers, yet they still rely on the assistance of travel advisors when planning their vacations. While other professions have fallen by the wayside in the wake of the internet, travel advisors are more relevant than ever before. There are many reasons why your position as a travel advisor is so important to today’s luxury travelers. Here are just a few:
Travel Industry Experiences Constantly Change
As you know, the travel industry is constantly changing. Cruise lines, hotels, airlines, and countless other companies are evolving in order to stay relevant. As a travel advisor, your job is dependent on your ability to adapt to change. Travelers today find this ability useful, as they themselves may not be able to keep up with the ever-changing industry.
Lack of Time
Luxury travelers don’t have time to worry about the small details of their trip. From work to kids to everything in between, today’s travelers have less time to plan every minute of the trip. A travel advisor like you can provide a detailed itinerary for your client so they don’t waste their vacation. More and more, travelers are finding that travel advisors save them valuable time and give them a trip much better than one they could have planned on their own.
Increased Industry Offerings
The number of travel industry offerings can be overwhelming to even seasoned travelers. There are hundreds of options when it comes to flights, hotels, excursions, and other experiences. For many luxury travelers, finding the right combination of flights, hotels, and excursions for a perfect trip is frustrating and time consuming. Travel advisors are essential for narrowing down the options into something manageable for their clients.
Additionally, many travelers aren’t aware of the newest and most exciting attractions in their area. Travel advisors like you know the best options available and can recommend them to clients.
Scam Avoidance
One of the worst parts of increased industry offerings is the possibility of deception. You’ve probably seen it before. Travelers become so overwhelmed and misinformed by the number of options that they end up booking something illegitimate and may lose hundreds or thousands of dollars. Choosing a travel advisor is the best way for vacationers to avoid any chance of falling into a scam.
Personal Touch Holds Weight
There are some things you just can’t get from Google. Personal touch is one of them. Luxury travelers are finding now more than ever that online booking sites don’t provide the same experience as a travel advisor. This is particularly because an advisor is there through every step of the process. From planning to handling cancelled flights, advisors like you are there to make sure the vacation goes smoothly. Travelers understand that there’s no do-over for a terrible trip, which is why travel advisors are so heavily relied upon. Having your client’s back is invaluable to any traveler and can’t be found on a booking site.
The personal touch of a travel advisor also comes in handy when providing travel insurance. There’s nothing worse for a traveler than an emergency situation in a foreign country. You can guarantee safe accommodations, account for medical emergencies, recommend restaurants, and help them prepare for countless other contingencies. Not only do travel advisors assure a fun trip, they give their clients peace of mind when it matters most.
Cost Savings
While luxury travelers aren’t usually concerned with spending on vacations, they do not appreciate expenses they weren’t expecting. Travel advisors eliminate the element of surprise because they tell their clients what to expect when it comes to pricing.
For the luxury travelers who are concerned with their budget, travel advisors like you are essential. Travel advisors ensure that a traveler’s budget is used effectively, allowing them to see and experience more. Any client would be happy to get more bang for their buck, even the travelers who aren’t constrained by a budget.
Exclusivity
Travel advisors can get their clients to the most exclusive resorts available. While a traveler may be able to afford a fancy resort, they may not have the connections to get into the resort for their vacations. However, travel advisors like you spend their careers forming valuable connections with hotel companies and resorts for that very reason. Luxury travelers are leaning on the exclusivity available from a travel advisor more than ever before — something online booking sites just can’t do.
It’s clear that the role of a real, breathing travel advisor isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. However, it’s still possible to lose your relevancy — not because of the internet, but because you don’t have the proper resources. Choosing a Virtuoso® host travel agency is the greatest way to grow your business and take advantage of exclusive services. At Andavo Travel, we are committed to our affiliates and provide them with the resources to grow their business. Contact us today to learn more!