The travel industry has been on a roller coaster since the spring of 2020.
After social isolation measures and closed borders began to ease, the industry still had a lot to deal with, including finding ways to conduct business in new and more sustainable ways. As the costs of food, fuel and labor went up, the cost of doing business went up as well.
Travel advisors have had to adapt to this rapidly evolving landscape for a long time.
TravelPulse asked agents to share their thoughts about the top mistakes to avoid in the year ahead and the biggest questions and issues they and their colleagues will face over the next year.
The travel world has changed a lot as an advisor. According to Jesse Morris of We Book Travel, the biggest mistake to avoid is assuming that our clients know this.
We helped our clients prepare for the temporary changes to travel such as masking and vaccinations. Many of the permanent changes that our clients think are temporary are not.
Some developments are here to stay.
Small things like barcodes at restaurants are likely to be a part of the travel experience for a long time.
It would be a mistake for agents to neglect to address the new reality with clients because all of these changes may continue to be a part of the travel landscape for years to come. The more prepared clients are, the better they will be.
Appropriate budgeting is one of the areas that we need to discuss. Air travel costs have gone up. As people get more accustomed to the pricing being at its current levels, the less likely we are to see it decrease by much.
It is worth noting that prices are likely to climb even more throughout the year, so this reality will need to be communicated to customers.
Airfare is expected to increase by more than 8 percent in the year 2023. The people who are waiting to book the air are likely to be disappointed. We need to talk about this with our clients.
It's important for you and your agents to get education this year. Tammy's advice is to be on top of your agency, know destinations, requirements, tour companies, and the ins and outs of our industry.
Clients are likely to compare the offerings of multiple professionals. It is important to educate yourself so that you stand out in the crowd.
It's important to have a competitive angle against your competitors. You should live and breathe what you do.
Don't stop advertising or marketing your agency even if you don't like it. When this is the time we need to advertise and get our name out there more, it's a mistake that we make.
The effects will be felt by your agency if your brand is not promoted on social media.
It's important to empathise with clients who are afraid to pull the Trigger on a vacation.
The last few years have been difficult for everyone. The realities of the epidemic are still being worked on. That has led to a new appreciation for the value of life.
Life is too short and no one is guaranteed a future.
A client might be struggling to find a way to go on a three-week trip. If you are a travel professional, you can help that client find another itinerary, destination, or option that is equally satisfying.
If you don't take your time with your clients, they will go somewhere else, online agencies can't give them that.
Communication is an important part of running a business. It's important to keep open lines of communication with vendors in the future.
It's important to have good relations with your vendors. Make sure they are stable as they were prior to COVID.
If a vendor suddenly goes out of business, where do you go? It is suggested that advisors consider securing insurance for their clients.
If you want to reach new market segments and clients, consider expanding or changing the methods you use.
Travel advisors should use different forms of communication to reach consumers in different age groups. I used to be most comfortable using email or phone. I booked a new client's trip to Royal Caribbean via text message a month ago.
Hargarther says that he was contacted via Facebook Messenger earlier this year for a babymoon and that it was the easiest way to reach the client.
After being stuck at home for two years, clients may be ready to travel outside of their comfort zone. This could mean traveling more luxuriously.
According to Hargarther, he just sold a tour for just over $10,000. The client has been with our agency for almost 20 years. The tour they booked cost more than before.
Over the past three years, clients have spent a lot more time at home, so they are spending a lot more than they used to.
Hargarther says agents will be better served if they focus on best overall value with their clients.
According to Hargarther, cruise lines such as Celebrity, Norwegian, Princess and Holland America often offer packages with extras such as gratuities, wi-fi and beverages, which costs significantly less when purchased with the cruise versus onboard the ship. Both the travel advisor and the consumer will benefit from this.
There was a lot of upheaval and challenges for businesses and people around the world.
There were more than a few stories of companies that flourished. Travel agents were more important than ever as industry experts who could help clients navigate the rapidly changing landscape.
Morris said that if there were any positives to come from it, it was the visibility that travel advisors got as experts and a go to resource for travelers.
People will start to forget how painful the last few years were and slip back into their old habits. We have to be very careful about proving our value with our clients in the future. We need to make sure clients think of us first when they travel with us. It will be a fatal mistake if we don't succeed here.
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