The impact of the Pandemic has created a perfect storm of confusion for consumers, which is why it is crucial that they book their trips with travel advisors.
Living in a world where endless information is at our fingertips, planning a vacation has gone from being independent and booking it online yourself to being overwhelmed with all of the options out there.
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Even the savviest travelers are now looking for a travel advisor. Consumers are coming to realize that what they see online is not as frightening as what they don't see. That is where a travel advisor comes in.
You cannot find the world's top-rated cruise line on the internet. You can't use the internet to get a hotel inspection report. You can't find a travel health advocate on social media. You need a travel truthteller who represents you and you alone.
Turen likes to think of a travel advisor as a trusted physician who knows their clients well.
Thediagnosis and recommendation should never be put in the hands of a commissioned call center robot.
There are issues with time.
Tammy Levent, CEO of the Elite Travel Management Group, was on hold for two hours with a cruise line.
She said that she had so many people call her saying that they needed to change their tickets.
If it is an airline issue, the client has to wait on hold for hours at a time and pay a change fee. It costs clients money and time at the end of the day.
There have been many last-minute changes due to COVID and our clients were spared the endless hours on the phone with the airlines or hotels.
There are many issues relating to protocols, travel advisories and red tape.
I can't tell you how many times in the past year we have helped our clients with getting their passports or having to walk them off the ledge when they were confused with online forms that needed to be completed before arrival in a destination.
We detail travel insurance options so they protect their investment.
Turen thinks it would be helpful for every advisor to keep a list of all the functions they perform.
He said that they help interpret dreams, operationalize them and become advocates of strength for the clients whoentrusting the best moments of their lives to their care.
In defining what we do we must explain to clients that if they book directly with a supplier they are likely entitled to a refund of the entire travel advisor's commission.
If we don't do this, suppliers will continue this massive consumer rip-off in which naive consumers who do not use a professional travel advisor are charged the advisor commission anyway.
Travelers are deserving of consumer protection laws.
The value of using travel advisors is dependent on their knowledge and experience.
The value of providing first-hand destination experience, having personal relationships with preferred vendors, and being up to date with any and all CO are some of the benefits.
Sarah Kline is the president of Time for Travel.
I don't do my own taxes, cut my hair or change my oil. I trust someone who specializes in these services.
Without a travel agent, you are your own person.
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