National Travel Advisor Day

Excerpt from a letter to the editor: “Now more than ever, the value of booking with a Travel Advisor is clear. Last year, as borders were closing and travelers were scrambling to get home, we stepped in. When travelers spent hours on hold negotiating refunds or navigating their way home, our clients didn’t have to lift a finger because it is our job to handle that on their behalf. When things go wrong, we have your back. It’s our job to read the fine print and understand what’s a good fit for our clients. Like an attorney or financial advisor, we have a fiduciary duty to do what’s best for our clients. Given the overwhelming complexities of the post-COVID travel industry, I’m here to remind readers how important it will be to work with a professional like me.” ~ ASTA

According to a study conducted by ASTA, 44% of American are getting vaccinated so they can travel. The questions we ask ourselves: What really matters? Where is my bucket list? How do we recover from a year of staying home? Travel is the answer to all of these because travel is how we heal.

As a travel advisor, I am behind the scenes helping us connect again. It is important to know where to find the covid protocols and keep up with the changes. I have relationship and industry knowledge that take a lifetime to build. The benefits of my experience and knowledge are shared with my clients in the form of available hotel upgrades, spa credits and free breakfasts. On cruise ships available cabin upgrades, shipboard credits, specialty dining and private cocktail parties. Benefits you only receive when working with a trusted Travel Advisor.

If you really want to travel confidently, use a professional Travel Advisor. You are only able to do your first post-pandemic vacation once. Don’t DIY something that important! Travel Advisors are here to help, and I am ready to work with you. Let’s turn that bucket list vacation dream into reality and start creating memories of a lifetime.

Reasons why we know travel is in a recovery phase:

• 76% of Travel Advisors are seeing an increase in customers
• 80% of Travel Advisors are hearing from travelers who have never worked with a travel advisor
• 58% of international vacationers who have never cruised before are booking cruises
• On April 1, 2021, nearly 1.6 million people went through airport security as compare to 124,000 for all of 2020
• 87% of American travelers now have travel plans booked in the next six months
• 65% of travelers are still thinking about where they want to travel next

It is not just about price. Sure, price matters, but today’s Consumers are looking to Travel Advisors to provide the best overall solution to fit their personal needs. This is why we take time to talk to our clients and listen to their answers. We want to know your best travel dates, is the quality or location of your accommodation or stateroom important, how flexible do you need the cancellation policy to be, what activities do you hope to do on your vacation, does the style and type of dining experiences meet your expectations, etc.

Value is more important than price. If the hotel/resort was not in the right location, if the cruise line was not the right fit, if any activity was not the kind you could enjoy…it won’t matter that you got a ‘good deal’. If you saved a lot of money but had a horrible vacation, you will be miserable. Value is brought to the table in the form of knowledge. Knowledge of the best cabin or room locations, changing dates for more availability, suggesting better flight choices and arriving a day or more in advance of your cruise or tour so you embark on your adventure refreshed and ready. Bragging to your friends about your Travel Advisor’s expert knowledge and their ability to offer it all at a great price is key. Happy clients are our best friends!

We have spent countless hours learning about our Travel Partners products through training, site inspections, supplier webinars, talking with other Travel Advisors and FAMS. Education and certifications are critical to being a credible travel professional. Gaining insight and keeping informed is how we can ensure our clients will have the best vacation experience possible.

As we emerge into the post-COVID world, safety and security will be top of mind with travelers. Protocols are changing almost daily and it is important to know where to find the most current information on vaccination and testing requirements. Some destinations require proof of Travel Insurance and are very specific about what they will accept. Some countries have closed borders and others are wide open. Things change and it is super important for our clients to have to most up-to-date information possible.

How is value measured? It is price times quality times personalization divided by time and energy. As valuable Travel Advisors, we must  provide a personalized travel experience at the right quality and price and most importantly save time and energy for our clients. We do. It is more than ‘finding the best deal’. We do the work and have the insight to match the right travel product at the right price with the appropriate needs. We have to do it all and at Infinity Travelaz, we do. We love being your One Stop Shop for the perfect vacation.