04/10/2022
Hoping to dispel any incorrect information on how Travel Agents work. "Borrowed" from an Agent colleague ....
How we get paid:
"The Travel Industry secret no one wants to discuss."
Studies show that a majority of consumers don't understand how travel agents are compensated,and many travelers who generally book directly with a supplier online believe they'll be paying extra if they use our services.
We want every client to understand how our compensation works. We want you to understand that a "direct bookingâ made with a tour company, a safari operator, a river cruise company, a cruise line or any other travel supplier includes a 10% to 20% surcharge in the vendor's published pricing, a fee that is included to cover the travel agent's commission.
Thus, consumers are paying for the travel agent services even if they book directly with the supplier or with an online travel agency (OTA) such as Expedia or Priceline, and the cost is the same whether or not a consumer uses a travel agents services.
Customers who book directly with a supplier get few, if any, of the services that a good travel consultant would provide.
People who work at most of these places have no clout, they are working with a commissioned "headsetâ who is likely to be based somewhere outside the US. They are relying on that person, who is unlikely to have ever experienced the product, to be their advocate, to offer advice and to have their back if something goes wrong.
Can the "headsetâ tell the consumer why the product might not be the best option, assist with pre- or post-trip arrangements, counsel the traveler on the crucial issue of insurance options?
No. The "headset" merely takes the built-in commission and pockets it for the company playing consumers for suckers and insulting their intelligence by pretending they are on the customers side.
Charging clients who book directly with a supplier a 10% to 20% surcharge within their vendor pricing models is not exactly ethical, and it is rarely discussed.
When travelers understand that our professional services and counseling come at minimal additional cost, the game changes.
When consumers understand that they can work with some of the country's most respected travel consultants on a minimal fee basis, the game really changes.
Do yourself a favor and find a Professional Travel Advisor like ME!!
