How & Why My Travel Agent Services are FREE!
- Chelsea Lowder
- Aug 16, 2019
- 4 min read
Please note that this post contains affiliate links and any sales made through such links will reward me a small commission – at no extra cost for you. That’s just the beauty of affiliate marketing.
I recorded my first ever FB Live video a few days ago- and as usual I talked much longer than I expected and also forgot to mention a bunch of things! So I'm going to do a recap in a blog version, for those who would prefer to read a blog versus watching a 22 min video! But I'll include the link to the video at the end of the blog and you're welcome to watch and leave me any tips, tricks or suggestions for future videos.
First and foremost, the majority of people do not know why you should use a Travel Agent when you have access to book nearly any vacation you could imagine with the internet. So here's a few reasons to consider using a travel agent in 2019!
Travel Agents have access to a wealth of information that isn't always available to the general public. Many agents have first hand experience in traveling to select destinations, others may not have as much personal travel experience but have done extensive trainings and webinars to learn all the amazing things about particular destinations or suppliers.
I never charge my clients a fee! Many agencies do not, however some do charge service fees, but in Florida you must have a seller of travel license if you wish to charge additional fees- this legality makes it a little more difficult to charge fees and for me personally I'm not ready to dive into that. So it doesn't cost you a dime to use my services, I make my money off of the commissions that are built into the rates of the packages.
Commission rates are built in to packages- whether you book with an agent or not! If you go online and book a cruise, or an all inclusive resort chances are you were offered some type of promotion and you got a good deal. However, you also paid for a service that you did not even receive. By booking with an agent you will receive the same price, often times an even better prices and additional perks, and you're receiving personalized service. You don't get that with the internet!
Whether you choose to use a home based agent- such as myself- or a 'Brick and Mortar' Agency, chances are they have a host agency. This means that they are an independent agent affiliated with a much larger business that does a substantial amount of sales volume each year, giving them a great reputation with suppliers. My host agency is Avoya Travel, in 2017 they did $410 million in sales and exceeded that in 2018 with expectations for record highs in 2019. With numbers like that these companies are able to solidify great relationships with Travel Suppliers. They purchase cabins and rooms years in advance to ensure their agents can offer Clients a trip even when it may be "booked out" to the general public. They are also able to get certain perks and add-ons for clients that you can't always receive booking through the internet.
Trainings, Trainings and more Trainings. Suppliers LOVE travel agents. There are even some companies that will not sell directly to the public, you must go through an agent. This is because they know the value that an agent holds, so they offer agents tons of training options and webinars to make them specialists on their products so that they are more equipped to direct their clients in the right direction.
Travel agents know the little details. There are random little things that we get to learn throughout all these trainings that you can't know just from looking at the website. For example, Caribbean Island Governments have sanctions on lobsters during certain times of the year. So, if you book a trip to an all-inclusive resort and you're really looking forward to steak and lobster, but it's during a "no-lobster" season, you might be a little bummed when you get there. Having a travel agent such as myself that has been through trainings and knows when the sanctions are implemented during which months on which islands would ensure that if steak and lobster are important to you, that you can get that. Maybe it's not that important, but your agent gives you a heads up and you're not disappointed when you arrive. There's power in little details when you're spending your hard earned money on a special vacation.
Travel Agents are H U M A N S. Many of us are entrepreneurs, stay at home mama's, retiree's & more. When you use a travel agent you're supporting an individuals dream, and again for many at no additional cost to you. Even if an agent did charge a fee, chances are the time and money you will save by using their services is far more than the fee they would be charging you. But, for Lowder Travel there are NO FEES. Being that I'm a human I also understand your concerns and your wants when planning a vacation. I know you work very hard for your money and you want your vacation to be nothing short of exceptional. I take time to get to know my clients so that I can suggest the best possible options for them and their families. The internet can't do that for you.
I hope this helps you to make the decision to hire me as your personal travel agent! If you're still on the fence and would like to talk to me, feel free to send me an email, give me a call or set up a webinar with me so that we can discuss your concerns or address your questions in further detail. I look forward to working with you and helping you Bring Your Adventure to Life! XoXo, Chelsea
If you're interested in watching the video you can see it here:
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