04/10/2024
PLEASE PLEASE - Take a moment to read. This is extremely important as I am implementing some changes in my day to day operations. As every business evolves and grows, policies must be developed and followed. So yesterday was so great and I accomplished a lot. I have a very clean and straight closet and I'm am going to be tackling my bathroom very shortly. I can't tell you how great it feels to get these chores checked off my list. And for anyone who knows me well, y'all know I cannot stand to be unorganized. This time has also gave me time to reflect on some changes that need to be implemented in my business. During the month of April, I have had something happen that is very rare. I have had 6 cancelations. And for someone who doesn't have an extreme amount of cancelations, the month of April has just about killed me. It's to the point I am going to miss out on thousands of dollars. And the reasons for the cancelations are all very much valid, but if a client cancels, I get nothing, notta, zilch. And although the client will most likely rebook the trip, that still doesn't compensate me for the time, effort and research that I have spent on the canceled trip. In a world where things have changed so much in the past few years, it seems that we are charged a fee for everything and anything. Folks, I am here to tell you that the travel business has changed so very much since I started 31 years ago. The changes alone, are mind-boggling. It is the way my suppliers have certain policies in place due to cancelations, changes, and more. And while everyone understands that "life" happens and things come up, if there is a cancelation due to a death or illness, I'm left "holding the bag". Some of you know that my washer has been not working properly for almost a week and a half now. There has been a man here 3 times to try and fix it. Each and every time he left here, I paid him something. And he didn't want to take it the 2nd and 3rd times, but my mother and I INSISTED he take it. He was out gas money, his time and effort and I wasn't about to leave him hanging. To me, that would've been incredibly inconsiderate of us. The washer is still not fixed and let's hope and pray the guy enroute to us as I type this will get us fixed up and running. If not, we'll be making a trip to Lowe's this afternoon. Anyway - surely to goodness, anyone reading this can understand where I am coming from. Surely to goodness, anyone can understand the amount of time, effort and knowledge I put into each and every trip. Do I make commission on trips?? I most certainly do - IF THE CLIENT TRAVELS. If not, I'm sitting here picking and choosing which bill gets paid this month. Is that fair?? If you answer "yes" to that question, then we are cut from 2 entirely different fabrics. And when someone books a trip with me, it is their very intention to go on the trip, otherwise they wouldn't have booked it in the first place. My point is this.....things come up unexpectedly, life happens, people get sick, people pass away, people may have changed jobs, - all valid reasons. And I could say "oh, it's just part of this business" but that still doesn't compensate me for the work I have put into the trip. And if you are planning to rebook, that is great, BUT that doesn't have a thing to do with the amount of work I have put in on the canceled trip or making changes and adjustments to your booking. The new trip is just that, a new trip......it is a totally separate trip from the one you had scheduled, a totally separate issue all together. Therefore, after much pondering while I have been cleaning closets and drawers and quite honestly, praying til I am blue in the face about this, I have made the decision to start charging a service fee. Trust me, it has not been an easy decision. I've wrestled with it back and forth and I have replayed different scenarios in my mind over and over. I'm sure it will not be the most popular decision I have ever made. But say for instance, if you hired an attorney and he/she won the case for you. You would be happy to pay their fee, right?? Because they have put the time, effort, research and expertise into resolving your case. If they didn't win the case for you, the amount of work is the same.......and they still would charge you. And don't give me that crap about an attorney not charging a fee if they don't win the case. That's TV commercials and billboards. I've heard from an excellent attorney years ago that "A good lawyer doesn't have to advertise". Truest words I have ever heard. And this gentleman was highly regarded in his field. He didn't have to have TV commercials or his picture pasted on some billboard. He wasn't that kind of lawyer. Guess what, I'm not that kind of travel agent. And I say that very proudly because we're talking 31 years I have been in this business and I do love it, but 95% of my business comes from referrals and repeat business. I also focus very heavily on continuing my education whether it is a fam trip with resort site inspections, continuing education such as webinars and courses that are imperative to the travel industry. I do this because this is my livelihood, thus making it beneficial to better serve my clients. I do hope each and every person reading this will not jump to the conclusion that I am "out to get you". Absolutely not the case at all, because I have really tossed this decision back and forth many, many times. This decision is effective immediately, starting April 10th, 2024. I have developed a fee scale based on the amount of the trip and you will be assessed the charge at the time you wish for me to begin the research and will appear as a separate charge. Fees are completely NONREFUNDABLE. These fees applies to the types of travel products that I do such as All Inclusive to Mexico and the Caribbean, All cruises (ocean and river), Hawaii, Alaska, Europe, Disney, city stays, Universal Studio packages and may be adjusted to add other destinations as deemed necessary. Fees are as follows: Packages that include airfare, hotel, attractions, transfers, including any and all cruises that range in price from $1000-$3000, the fee is $150 per booking, $3001 up to $5k, the fee is $250, $5100-$7500, the fee is $300, $7501 and up, the fee is $350. For a hotel only booking (such as a condo rental, Florida hotel/resort, any destination in the US that does not include air and other components, the fee is $75.00. For custom itineraries such as multiple locations, point to point, rail or car, attractions, the fees starts at $250 and is based on the overall trip price and the amount of research time. Again, it's been a very difficult decision, but I don't know of any other business at all that "works for free". It can't be done and expect to survive. That's not how the world works and anyone that would disagree, well - do I really want a client like that anyway?? If you had a family member that owned a business and you saw how intense and hard they worked at something (often 12-14 hrs a day) would you really want that person to have a business and then see them be on hold for hours, write letters, file claims, etc and then not be compensated?? Trust me, my mother sees this day in and day out. I say that not to be mean, but simply to be realistic. This policy change will also be emailed and enclosed with documents on future trips. If you are a client of mine, please know you are highly valued and I appreciate you putting your trust in me. I appreciate your understanding and consideration of seeing "my side" of this situation. And I look forward to assisting any and all of you in the future. I also think if you value my in-depth research, time and experience that you will not find this an issue. Thank you for taking time to read this.
