05/26/2023
Later today I have a client leaving for a trip to Iceland and the story of how this trip came together is a great example of the value an EXCELLENT travel agent adds to your vacation experience.
Two weeks ago this client was referred to me by a friend and fellow travel agent. The client wanted a last minute trip to Iceland (departing today) and was feeling overwhelmed because they needed to get this trip booked and didn’t have the time to research everything and make the trip happen.
So, after talking with the client for about 35 minutes on the phone, I explained my process to them and what the fees would be to book the trip. Understanding that we were in a time crunch, I immediately got to work brushing up on my knowledge of Iceland to I could understand the geography, unique circumstances of Icelandic travel, and anything else of note I would need to pass on to the client.
Within 12 hours I was able to create an itinerary with flights, hotels, and suggested tours and activities. Within 36 hours, I had all the minor adjustments to the itinerary worked out to the clients satisfaction and the entire trip booked. In less than a week from initial contact I was able to send the final e-mail with confirmations of early check-in at the hotel and pick up times and locations with all of the tour operators on this trip.
There are a couple different points that illustrate the value an excellent travel agent has.
First, I am part of the Travel Edge Network of travel agents— the largest privately owned luxury travel agency in North America. Within that network, I am also a part of a team of 7 agents from across the US and Canada who collectively work together sharing our unique talents, interests, and specialties to provide the absolute best experience for our clients possible. This is how I was able to get the referral for this client. The referring agent had a lot going on with their client list and wasn’t 100% comfortable with booking a trip of this type. They know that the trip the client was looking for was something I enjoy and am good at organizing. So, together, we were able to create an unforgettable experience for a client that had never used a travel agent before.
Second, I was able to use my knowledge, skills, and all the tools at my disposal to confidently organize a 5 day trip that my client was very happy with in about 12 hours time. My skills were able to alleviate all the stress of making this trip happen so the client could focus on the excitement of there upcoming adventure.
Lastly, I was able to access exclusive lists of contact information for each of the vendors on this trip to communicate the clients travel needs and confirm every detail of the trip saving the client an inordinate amount of time. I was able to present the client with all the final details of their trip in one convenient e-mail giving them confidence and piece of mind.
