Myths about travel agents...

Happy day! We’re almost through June! Can you believe it?! If you’re thinking of traveling this fall and winter...this is your friendly reminder that NOW is the time! Please don’t wait til the last minute, okay?

I remind you of this as I make a final payment on my trip to Florida in October! Wahoo! I wasn’t sure if this was going to be a go since I had some travel come up for September as well. But, I’ll be doing both - New Orleans for work up first then the house of the mouse with family. I’m going to be doing some super cool stuff in both spots, so follow along on social!

This week I thought that I’d tackle some myths about the industry I call my passion. It’ll give you some behind the scenes info! Ready?

We make a salary  The majority of agents do not make a salary and work on commission only. So, that means I only get paid when you book with me and complete the trip. Example - you book a cruise for November 2020...I will be paid after your return...in 2020. My commission is paid to me by the vendor and NOT by YOU...which leads me to the next.

You’ll pay more  This is typically not the case, either. Inventory for cruises, hotels, air, etc. is “live” across all platforms - at the same price. Commission will NOT impact what your bottom line is. It will be the same as if you book direct with the vendor. With that being said, there are certain times I WILL charge a fee of some sort, for super custom, extensive trips that require hours and hours of research. Please know there is value in this fee - you’re saving time, and you’re getting my expertise in crafting something specific to YOU...not something plucked out of a brochure.

We only book long trips  I’m here no matter what, so if you need a flight or hotel for a few nights, let me know! It will never hurt to have your travel agent advocate during those small trips..if something goes wrong.

We travel for free  Not really! When I first entered the industry almost 10 years ago (gasp!) the benefits were richer. Now, not so much. I DO have access to discounted rates or access to familiarization trips, but there are strict requirements - vendor training, sales, application processes etc.  

We work a normal schedule  If you’ve worked with me you know this is SO not true. I work from home and whenever I want/need. I’ve booked trips at midnight in my pajamas, from the balcony of a cruise ship, on vacation or at a conference. So, if you see something online that you’re interested - call, text, email! Remember...pricing is the same with the vendor, online agency or me!

We can’t get a better deal  Not true! Again, if you’ve worked with me you know that I have access to special hotel rates, extras (like at the Royal Hawaiian on Waikiki Beach), cruise benefits/discounts and sometimes even killer flight pricing. I’ve aligned myself with vendors that sell to agents ONLY and they help me help you. So, it never hurts to ask!

We barely exist anymore and you don’t need us  I’m here for a reason and it’s because I’m a firm believer that clients deserve the best when it comes to their travel and in service. And, the industry as a whole is shifting back to this philosophy. I’ve said many times that an online agency is merely a call center and NOT an expert! Further, do you want to book that hard earned vacation and spend that money with a click of a button?  It’s best to protect your investment with me as your expert and I’m here around the clock.

Got a industry related question for me? Did you like this behind the scenes snapshot of how this business works? Let me know, maybe I’ll talk more about it in a future article!!