03/06/2023
From FORBES. Why you NEED a TRAVEL ADVISOR... Marisa Thalberg doesn't know where she's traveling in 2023, but she knows how she'll get there: with the help of a travel advisor.
A travel professional gives her "peace of mind," in an increasingly unpredictable world, says Thalberg, a marketing executive from Charlotte, N.C. When she works with an agent, she adds, "I know she'll maximize my hard-earned leisure travel."
This year, we can all use a little peace of mind.
Just when we think we'd seen the last of the holiday meltdowns, the FAA's computers go on the blink, freezing air travel nationwide for hours. And just when we believe the war in Ukraine is nearing an end, another horrific missile attack sends shock waves that are felt by anyone planning a trip to Europe.
"Travel continues to be complex," says Jackie Friedman, president of Nexion Travel Group. "A travel advisor will be as valuable in 2023 by providing the traveler expert advice before, during and after their trip."
PROMOTED
Travel advisors are not for everyone, though. If you need a quick domestic airline ticket or a roadside motel, you might be safe skipping an advisor and saving the booking fees, which can be considerable. But if you're planning a more complicated trip — a safari in Kenya, an Antarctic cruise, a pilgrimage to the Holy Land — you need a pro. Now more than ever.
But what’s the latest on travel pros in 2023?
They're virtually indestructible. Travel advisors working today have been through the mill, as my grandmother would say. That includes 9/11, brutal agency commission cuts, the online travel revolution, and the pandemic.
They've learned new tricks and developed new specialties.
Travel advisors personalize everything these days — your transportation, accommodations and activities. They're doing it better with technology.
They've taken their travel expertise to the next level, learning about countries, cities and even neighborhoods. Google can't compete with that.
Also, travel advisors are constantly improving, and their educational journey is continuing in 2023.
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