| Years ago, when you wanted to go on vacation, there | | | | are skilled at cutting through the hype and |
| was only one option. You had to hoof it down to your | | | | emotion-driven marketing of suppliers. They have |
| local travel agency and browse through some travel | | | | learned how to match travelers with vacations they |
| brochures. Then, when you made your selection, you'd | | | | will treasure.In the wake of the home-based business |
| sit across the desk from your travel agent (in a very | | | | revolution, many travel agents have moved their |
| uncomfortable chair) while they entered all the | | | | businesses to their homes. This is a good thing for |
| information on their green monochrome computer | | | | consumers in that it allows for much more |
| screen. Travel agents were the keepers of all travel | | | | personalized service. Agents usually have extended |
| information. Their life was the stuff of dreams. We | | | | hours when they're home-based, making it more |
| imagined they had been everywhere and knew | | | | convenient to get in touch with them. And often, |
| everything about world travel. They were the rock | | | | agents will come right to your home equipped with |
| stars of the retail world.Then, a few things happened. | | | | their laptop and brochures.The smart travel agents |
| First, the airlines decided they didn't need travel agents | | | | have embraced technology and are using it to provide |
| anymore and they pulled the plug on agent | | | | better service to their clients. Most travel suppliers are |
| commissions. This didn't work out so well for the | | | | riding the technology wave too and are providing |
| airlines as evidenced by the number of them who | | | | wonderful online resources available only to travel |
| went under in the aftermath. Many agencies refused | | | | agents. The information age has educated not only the |
| to sell airline tickets without receiving a commission. | | | | consumer, but has given travel agents powerful tools |
| Why should they work for free? So, things began to | | | | to provide superior customized service to their clients. |
| change from what had once been a very structured | | | | With this type of customization, you can receive |
| agency model governed by the ARC (Airlines | | | | targeted travel promotions only for the destinations |
| Reporting Commission) into an industry that was | | | | you're interested in. This service alone can help cut |
| evolving into something new.Then, the second thing | | | | down on information overload. You only receive |
| happened. The advent of the internet connection | | | | information that's of interest to you.Another benefit of |
| changed the face of travel forever. Information is | | | | using an agent is that you have an advocate once |
| readily available 24 hours a day about any aspect of | | | | you're on your vacation. If anything goes wrong or |
| travel you can imagine - from luxury yacht trips in the | | | | things aren't as they were promised, your agent will be |
| South Pacific to staying at a youth hostel in Europe. | | | | your advocate to the travel supplier to try to get things |
| Whatever your budget or interest, the internet can | | | | corrected and made right. Just give your agent a call |
| open up a whole new world of options available to | | | | and let them try to sort the problem out. Don't spend |
| you for travel.However, with the plethora of | | | | valuable vacation time in frustration. Suppliers know |
| information now available to consumers, is there still a | | | | that if they don't treat their clients right, agent won't |
| need for the travel agent? Can't consumers just figure | | | | promote their products. Suppliers work hard to maintain |
| this all out on their own now? I suppose they could try. | | | | a good rapport with the travel agent community. Word |
| But, why would they want to? Travel agents offer the | | | | travels fast about suppliers who won't take care of |
| benefit of their expertise in dealing day in and day out | | | | problems. However, if you don't have an agent, you |
| with travel suppliers. They still hold the "secret | | | | won't have the benefit of any extra leverage your |
| knowledge" of the travel business, just in a different | | | | agent could provide in correcting a problem.So, go |
| way now. Plus, the services of a travel agent are | | | | ahead and spend some time on the internet gathering |
| usually free to consumers, as agents are paid | | | | information for your next vacation. Peruse the |
| commissions by suppliers.In all honesty, consumers | | | | vastness of cyberspace hunting for that perfect |
| need travel agents now more than ever before. In the | | | | vacation. However, when it comes time to book your |
| past, there was so little information available to | | | | reservation, give your travel agent a call. They'll be able |
| consumers that they were at the mercy of the travel | | | | to determine if what you've selected will meet your |
| agent to get any of it. Now, there is so much | | | | expectations. If they think it won't, they'll recommend |
| information available to consumers, they're often left | | | | something else you might like better. |
| floundering in the sea of travel offers. Travel agents | | | | |