I started out in the travel industry before the age of the internet. Sure, we had a dos based invoicing system and could manage client addresses for mailing labels, but I could not just do a quick search for available hotel rooms and rail tickets. I spent a lot of time on phone calls, pouring through destination training manuals and traveling to get familiar with what products were being offered. As we glided into the new millennium things started to change, and quickly. More people had home computers and it started to launch our instant information lives. The industry drastically changed when the first iPhone showed up. Now we really did have instant information lives, in the palm of our hands. It removed the human, sometimes cumbersome parts of traveling and made it instantly available for immediate purchase. How do you compete with Expedia and the like? Hi! My name is Jennifer, and I'm a professional travel agent. I would be happy to help you!
Do you REALLY need a travel agent? Yes. Here's why:
1. Experience.
I live and breathe the travel. Sometimes I dream of travel routes and maps! I have traveled profusely and I continually travel throughout the year so I can use my own journey to help you enjoy a personalized experience for the planning of your vacation. I lived abroad for many years and draw on my friendships and working relationships to provide a unique experience to my clientele when necessary. Do you need someone to show you around Bergen, Norway? Do you want to have a pub experience like a local in Dublin, Ireland? Would you like to have a personal tour of Amsterdam? Do you need someone to drive you around in Dubai? Do you want to visit multiple countries on a minimal budget? Do you need help connecting your ancestry dots and translate it to a vacation? Do you want to plan a family adventure for 25 people? Do you want to know the best place to park to watch the sunrise over the Eiffel Tower? I have the experience and connections to make these little experiences happen for you.
2. Saving Time.
Let's be honest here, time is a commodity and none of us have enough of it. As exciting as it is to think of a new adventure and visit a website looking for more information, it can also be a rabbit hole with no bottom. There is always more information, more price components, more pictures, more more more! You can spend hours trying to sift through the massive amount of information which leaves you no closer to finalizing anything as when you first started. As your travel agent, I do all the hard for work you. After we have a brief chat I will do all the research, cost comparisons and sort through all the deals, offers and black out dates. I will save you from the headache of multiple searches for a price that might save you $20, but used up 8 hours of your precious time. My only job is getting you the vacation you want! I do not charge a fee for planning services.
3. Your advocate.
Even the best planned vacations can sometimes encounter issues. As your travel agent, I will go to bat for you regardless of fault and help get things back on track.
4. Resources Resources Resources!
Professional Travel Agents have access to a variety of booking tools and resources that the average consumer can't use. Third party travel websites often times add on sneaky fee's or scrub away the basic protections for cancellations or changes to itineraries. Sometimes these tools make it easier to ask for better seats on a flight, a hotel room with a view and other little amenities that takes a vacation from ordinary to fabulous! I know suppliers on a first name basis and know their products, sale pricing and secret offers. I don't need to search through multiple websites to find the best deals and the best availability. This information comes to me, directly which can translate to a better vacation for you. Putting together the right travel package usually translates to added value to your overall travel experience which is all part of the customized, personal relationship you have with your travel agent.
5. Professionalism.
I am a professional, trained and skilled like any other professional. My experience and passion for this industry drives me to provide the best services for my clientele. I don't have a fixed office which means i'm available to meet you when and where it's convenient for you. I'm able to manage all your travel needs including negotiating corporate travel contracts and rates, group discounts and maintaining all your frequent traveling numbers & due discounts. I am available to my clients during holidays and after-hours for emergency services.
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