Comments on: Four secrets for finding the right travel pro

By: Travel Agents Perth

Travel Agents Perth — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 12:05:01 +0000

I concur travel agents aren’t obsolete. In fact they will help you and they will provide you with a complete travel service. Maybe there are some agents who will take advantage on the situations and that could be a bad one.

By: avery hodge

avery hodge — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 21:32:27 +0000

I really like your articles and I wanted to use them on my website. I’m trying to give a balanced view on travel and travel agents. I’m a part of a network marketing business that sells travel but this website I’m talking about is NOT! connected with this business. It’s totally seperate so I won’t be biased in the information!
Whether you allow me to or not theses articles are very good and informing!
I will not use them if you don’t allow it.
Thank you
Avery Hodge

By: Lisa Banks

Lisa Banks — Mon, 26 May 2008 05:03:24 +0000

My agency is a Professional Travel Agency.
There is a per transcation fee and I would be glad to forward you the list of services we provide.
I specialize in business travel and we also have a dedicated 24 hour team to handle any issues that may come up.

By: Joe Farrell

Joe Farrell — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:06:44 +0000

I will call you Joel – I do not do airline that often – mostly hotel and car rentals – 10% commission off 20 $400 a night hotels is $800 – thats not bad, is it?

By: Joel Wechsler

Joel Wechsler — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 15:58:23 +0000

I didn’t see Joe Farrell’s offer, but if I had I would have jumped on it in a heartbeat. If he is as good a client as he says it would be a pleasure to deal with him, even if his estimate of commission earnings is a little inflated. If he is still in the market he can reach me at 617-314-5629.

By: Chicky

Chicky — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 15:29:24 +0000

Wow, Joe! You make me wish I were a travel agent! I’d take you up on your offer for sure. Sadly, I’m only an amateur traveler who usually books online. Ah well.

By: Joe Farrell

Joe Farrell — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 15:02:11 +0000

Three days ago I posted to one of Chris’ blogs about looking for a travel agent. I hav my email address. I indicated that I spend $75k a year on business travel. I offered to pay a travel agent a retainer of $500 [and up to $1000] a year for personal service and effort, and that person could retain all commissions earned.

One would think that would be a marriage made in heaven for a good agent – guaranteed money, even if I do not use the agent, plus commissions, for a business traveler who expects service and a little luxury. If, as most of these agents assert, their income has been depressed from all sorts of travel entities ending the payment of commission, and their median income being $45,000, I am offering someone $1000 – or 2.22% of their income for the year, plus commissions – seems like a good incentiv

No a single contact; not a single resume or other statement of interest received.

If a travel ‘professional’ cannot make all arrangements via computer without ever having to lift a finger and actually work, well, then I guess they can be good agents.

As I said before, I am not a difficult person to deal with. I return phone calls, make decisions timely, and pay charges when due. All I want in return is an agent to learn what our family likes and engage their brain and think of options. I want to develop a relationship with a travel partner, not merely someone to click keys on a computer.

It seems like none of the so-called master agents on this board are interested. They are leaving $5000 a year on the table when you add commissions on to the yearly offered retainer.

By: Rick Beato

Rick Beato — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 03:08:58 +0000

For many years, our family drove and I planned trips on paper maps. But in 1990 we tried a cruise, booked by a travel agent recommended to us by a friend, and fell in love with cruising. We used the same agent for three more summers, buying the Carnival package and wondering what we were paying the agent for. On that fourth cruise, I decided that I would book online for future cruises.

A week later, I stopped at a local travel agency with the intent of collecting brochures to look through. The idea was to grab the paper and get out the door, head home, and book myself. When I heard the words, “can I help you?” I spoke to the man, asked a few questions, and I learned more from him in 20 minutes than I had learned from the earlier agent in four years.

He has booked all our cruises since then, has advised and suggested things, has followed up on problems and gotten us generous refunds. And he has given us a professional to rely on. We will continue to use him and his agency, we have brought our friends in join us on this summer’s cruise, and I will continue to recommend him to others.

If you are in the western suburbs of Chicago, Marc Tonti of Classic Travel and Tours offers everything you suggested we look for — and more.