Before beginning a career as a remote travel agent you may be wondering why someone would even use a travel agent in the first place. Maybe you love to travel or are fascinated by the travel industry, and working from home as a travel agent sounds appealing, but you find yourself asking, “Is there even a market for this service?” This is a reasonable thought process, and before diving into a new career you should be asking these types of questions.
So, why would someone use a travel agent? We have compiled a list of some of the top reasons why people choose to use travel agent services.
1. It’s Free!
Travel agent services can be provided to your clients at no cost to them! As a travel agent, your host agency has an IATAN or CLIA number (in our case, we have both), which you provide to a vendor at the time of booking. This number certifies you as a legitimate travel agent, and therefore the vendor will pay you a commission for booking your client’s travel through them. Most people don’t realize that when they book their own travel they are paying a travel agent’s commission whether or not they are using the service! Similar to insurance agent services, a travel agent’s services are already wrapped into the price.
2. Saves Time
For most people, researching the details for a future trip takes up a bunch of time that they would rather be spending on something else. A travel agent can not only provide their knowledge and expertise for a client’s chosen destination, but they do the research that is necessary to put the trip together. Think about how frustrating it can be to pick the perfect flights, or finding the best deal on a hotel. When someone chooses to use a travel agent, they are saving themselves time on some of these tedious tasks.
3. Reduces Stress
Not only does using a travel agent save time, but it can also reduce stress. Traveling to a destination you have never been to before can be stressful. Working with a travel agent gives you an opportunity to ask any questions you may have about your destination, including questions about traveling there and what to expect once you’ve arrived. Consider a travel agent as your one-stop-shop for travel resources and expertise.
4. Nothing is Forgotten
Imagine you have planned an amazing vacation all on your own and it’s finally time to travel by plane to your destination of choice, only to arrive there after a day of travel and realize you had forgotten to reserve ground transportation to your hotel. Travel agents book travel on a daily basis – unlike the average traveler – and are much less likely to leave off an important detail necessary for a smooth trip.
5. They Advocate For You!
Travel agents consider themselves as the ultimate advocate prior, during, and after their clients’ travel. Prior to travel, a travel agent will work directly with vendors to tailor the travel components for the client’s needs. This can be anything from getting the client adjoining rooms at a hotel to a private yacht tour of the coastline for their family. During a client’s trip, their travel agent is available to advocate during unexpected situations. For example, if bad weather causes a late night flight to be canceled, the travel agent can step in to book the first flights out the next morning and to reserve a short night stay in a nearby hotel. After the trip is said and done, you can count on a travel agent to pass client feedback to the vendors, rectify anything that may have gone wrong, and to start the process all over again for the client’s next trip!
There are many great benefits to using a travel agent’s services. In fact, in a recent study consumers report that booking through a travel agent saves them an average of $452 per trip plus four hours in travel planning. 63% of the consumers polled said that using a travel agent makes the overall trip experience better, and 66% of them said that travel agents help them to avoid costly mistakes they may make if they were to book travel on their own. The President of the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) even said,
“This study dispels the myth that booking direct with suppliers or spending hours online yourself gets you a better deal, or gives you a happier travel experience [than when using a travel agent].”
Now that you understand the value a travel agent brings to their clients you may feel more confident in a career as a remote travel agent. If you are interested in the opportunity, you can apply here. No experience is required, and we provide all the training you need to be successful in this industry. We look forward to speaking with you!
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