01/14/2025
šØLong post ALERT! šØ
Iām sharing this in hopes that it will help lessen the impact of the āI booked a call with Sara, took a lot of her travel knowledge and suggestions, and then booked on my ownā people on the business model for HRWT. Since January 2nd, I have been spending over six hours per day (at night and on the weekends) on the phone with new clients, new travelers, families who want to travel next month or with short timelines, etc. and my calendar is booked into February. Many of my calls have booked trips (thank you if this is you!!), but a small number of them have taken my information and advice and turned around to book their own trips. If my time is taken advantage of in this way over and over, I will need to move to a fee-based method of booking calls with me. Meaning, you would need to pay a research fee before even being able to book a call. I really REALLY donāt want to have to start this process, but if it will lessen the number of people who take up all of the call spots so that those who actually want to work with me end up waiting and waiting, then that might be the way to go we have to go during this busy season. Please spread the word and keep people honest and decent so that we can offer ourselves to everyone who needs help!
āāāāāāāāāāā
I think a lot of people misunderstand what travel agents do. Yes, they quote and book vacations. Yes, they make personalized itineraries and plans for you. Yes, this costs you NOTHING extra over booking it yourself.
What they don't do is get paid if you don't book with them. They are not paid an hourly wage. They are only compensated on trips they book, and only after you return home from traveling usually by the partnering hotels, destinations, or ships. So that Mexico vacation, cruise, all-inclusive resort stay, etc. that you book on your own? They could have booked it for the same price (or oftentimes cheaper!) and you would have helped them build their small business. AT NO COST TO YOU. Booking with a travel agent is a win-win! We have learned since COVID things come up, pre travel and during travel support is more important than ever in an ever changing landscape.
Memories are an investment, make them count!
The cost of their services is already included in the cost you pay, whether you use an agent or not. Essentially you are paying for a service you are not receiving.
You want to travel with the peace of mind of a professional agent with industry relationships to be there for support because we have all seen things donāt always go perfectly according to plan.
Please consider always using a Travel Agent for your trips even if it's not me! āŗļø
(And if you made it to the end, thank you!)
