The Travel Agent’s Survival Guide

The internet has liberated travelers to arrange and control their travel arrangements more autonomously. Consequently, travel professionals who wish to survive this industry challenge must utilize every resource available to them to provide the most advanced and creative services to their clients.

The basics of your survival kit

Creating your “Travel Agent’s Survival Kit” involves pulling together tangible and intangible tools. Think of some of the intangibles, or skills:

Communication – whether you are talking on the phone, by email, or through social media, your communication skills make a tremendous difference in your success. You want to communicate as clearly and as knowledgeably as possible.

Organization – if you aren’t well organized, learn how to become well organized!Travel moves fast, whether you are on the road or in the air, or making reservations. You don’t have time to be searching through random piles of papers and disorganized computer files or too many apps.

Specialize – you may already be skilled at the basics of booking, travel trouble shooting, and preparing complex travel arrangements. Consider becoming a specialist in addition to the basics.  Your specialty might be destination-related, special interests or unique group tours.

The absolute must of your survival kit - technology

Today’s travel agents can be at war with technology or embrace it. The internet itself is a resource that can provide you with an abundance of information that, in turn, can help you provide vital information to your clients.  But it is the technology tools available in the travel industry that you must utilize to their maximum.

• More than likely, you are already using a Global Distribution System (GDS) such as the Travelport GDS that provides the agent with a full spectrum of travel planning and management solutions. The GDS enables a travel agent to gather reservation information in real time –responses occur within milliseconds.
• Galileo and Apollo and Worldspan are automated travel booking systems that enable the agent to store and retrieve transaction information related to airline, train, cruise, car rental and hotel reservations. These services and functions are based on the Travelport commerce platform that has a global geographic reach in the tourism and travel industry.
• TTS, a Travelport Partner, has just released its most sophisticated application to-date. The Travelport Mobile Agent application functions on the iOS platform, iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Android smartphones and tablets.
• The TTS Web Agent offers the same Travelport Mobile Agent experience, but is designed for use on desktop PCs and laptops. The beauty of TTS Web Agent is that it operates on Linux, Macintosh, and Windows and it is fully “synchronization-able” with all devices.

See also: TTS Web Agent is A New Tool That Allows You to Access Your GDS from Home

Technology plus mobility

The days when a travel agent was nearly chained to a telephone headset and an office desk have vanished. Technology such as provided by TTS enables the agent to have full mobility. Utilize the Travelport Mobile Agent – anytime, anywhere – to research travel options, book reservations, make changes, and issue tickets or refunds. Instead of tying up your client’s time with lengthy calls, you can send up-to-date information via text or email.

As a mobile agent you have the flexibility to conduct travel business either at an office or on the run. If you work in multiple locations and with multiple systems, the data you research or book through your Travelport Mobile Agent can be synchronized with any of your devices.

And while you are providing the most up-to-date services to your clients, you can also use the TTS Web Agent and Travelport Mobile Agent systems to keep yourself up-to-date. At your desktop PC or using your smartphone, you can access the latest industry news and information, and follow trends. All of these tools give travel agents flexibility to conduct business in the most efficient and knowledgeable manner.

See also: Travelport Mobile Agent 3.0 is here with great new features and upgrades

Rescuing the do-it-yourself traveler

Many travelers have discovered that do-it-yourself online reservations can be cost-effective and fast – sometimes. But when it comes to complex travel arrangements, special requests and services, or problem-solving in mid-travel, the skilled travel agent will have the edge. 

Your clients understand that you know how to quickly identify the most cost-effective options, the most direct travel routes, and the most exceptional travel packages. They also know that in the long run, you will save them time as well as money.

By building the tools in your Survival Kit, and continually expanding your skills at all levels, you set yourself apart as the valuable travel professional that clients turn to, return to, and refer their friends to for all important travel needs.