What is a Travel Agent and How Can Our Platform Help Them?
A travel agent is a professional who helps people plan their trips. They make it easier for travellers to book flights, accommodation, and activities. But, a travel agent is much more than just a booking service. They give advice, solve problems, and create custom travel experiences that fit each person’s needs.
This makes travel agents important for anyone looking to have a smooth, enjoyable trip. In this article, we’ll dive deeper to answer the key question of ‘what is a travel agent?’ and also show you why they are so valuable in the process. Keep reading to learn more!
What is a Travel Agent?
A travel agent is a professional who assists people in arranging tourist trips. Unlike online travel agents (OTAs), which are websites through which you can book flights or hotels, a traditional travel agent offers a personal touch. They talk to you about what you want from your trip, and then use their knowledge to create the perfect experience.
For example, if you’re planning a family holiday, a travel agent can find kid-friendly hotels, book fun activities, and even make dining reservations for you. They can also help with things that OTAs don’t usually handle, like special travel needs or changes to your plans. This level of personal service makes travel agents invaluable – especially when things don’t go as planned.
What Does a Travel Agency Do?
Now, you might also be wondering: ‘what does a travel agent do exactly?’ Well,their job involves a lot more than just booking flights. Let’s break down their main responsibilities, skills, and some of the specialist tasks that they take on.
Responsibilities of a Travel Agent
A travel agent’s main tasks include:
- Booking Flights: Finding the best deals and most convenient flight times.
- Arranging Accommodation: Selecting the right hotels or vacation rentals based on your needs.
- Planning Tours and Activities: Organising guided tours, sightseeing trips, or special activities.
- Providing Recommendations: Suggesting places to visit, eat, and explore.
- Handling Issues: Solving problems like delayed flights or sudden hotel changes.
Key Skills Required for Travel Agents
To do their job well, travel agents need several key skills – including:
- Interpersonal Communication: Good agents will need to talk to clients to understand what they want and need for their trip.
- Organisation: They’ll also need to keep track of multiple bookings, schedules, and details, so organisation is essential.
- Problem-Solving: Travel plans can change quickly. When this happens, agents must find solutions fast – like rebooking flights, or finding a new hotel at short notice.
- Attention to Detail: Getting the small details right – like maintaining precise hotel addresses, contact details for restaurants etc. can make a big difference for travelers.
- Tech-Savviness: Many bookings are made online, so agents need to be good with computers and booking platforms.
Types of Travel Agents
Travel agents often specialise in different areas:
- Leisure Agents: These agents focus on holiday trips for individuals, families, or groups.
- Corporate Agents: These agents plan corporate travels, meetings, and conferences for companies.
- Destination Specialists: These agents know specific destinations and locations in-detail, offering the best advice and insider tips.
Why Use a Travel Agent?
But, in the modern world, why use a travel agent when you can book online? The answer lies in the personalised service they can provide. A travel agent listens to your specific needs, offers expert advice, and handles all the details for you – saving you time and stress.
Plus, they’re there to help if something goes wrong during your trip. This personal touch makes travel agents a great choice for hassle-free travel.
Introduction to Travel Agency Platforms
In recent years, travel agent platforms have become important tools for agents. Technology has changed the way agents work, making it easier for them to find the best deals and connect with suppliers. These platforms allow agents to quickly compare prices, book services, and access useful resources. This means travel agents can now provide even better service to their clients.
Introducing Travel Trade Ready (TTR)
Travel Trade Ready (TTR) is one such platform, designed to help travel agents. It connects agents with a range of travel suppliers, like hotels, tour operators, and attractions.
The best part? Every supplier on TTR has been carefully assessed to make sure they are ready to work with the travel trade. This guarantees that agents are choosing reliable and professional partners for their clients.
How Our Platform Helps Travel Agents
TTR offers many features to support travel agents in the following ways:
Finding Qualified Suppliers
One of the biggest challenges for travel agents is finding suppliers they can trust. TTR solves this problem with its supplier assessment process. Before being listed, each supplier goes through a 10-question assessment to ensure they understand how to work with travel agents. This means agents can confidently choose partners that are ready to meet their clients’ needs.
Time-Saving Features
Our platform includes features designed to save time. Agents can opt in to receive updates from suppliers they are interested in. This way, they can access information that’s relevant to them quickly and easily.
Our platform also allows agents to build marketing materials like brochures, and gives them the ability to use our centralised supplier search to find the right supplier. This again saves time and effort, which allows you to focus on your clients.
Business Alignment and Confidence Building
TTR helps agents find the right suppliers by offering a 10-question assessment. This assessment matches suppliers with different types of buyers, like tour operators or educational tour organisers. By understanding the similarities and differences between these buyer types, agents can choose suppliers that best align with their clients’ needs.
Direct Communication Control
Agents can choose to allow suppliers to contact them directly through our platform. This feature is helpful for planning meetings, setting up familiarisation (fam) trips, or staying updated with the latest news. It gives agents full control over who they hear from, making communication easy and relevant.
Comprehensive Resources and Support
TTR provides a range of tools to help agents, including:
- A jargon buster to explain industry terms in simple language.
- Video resources narrated by trade professionals to offer insights and advice.
- Downloadable marketing materials that agents can use to promote suppliers.
- The Travel Trade Handbook, a free 10-page guide full of tips and advice.
The Process of Using Travel Trade Ready
Getting started on TTR is simple. Here’s how you do it:
Registering on TTR
First, agents register on the platform and complete their profile. They select their business type, preferences, and opt-in choices. This helps to set up their profile so that they receive the most relevant information from suppliers.
Exploring Suppliers and Building Partnerships
Once registered, agents can start exploring suppliers. They can use the search tool to find partners, view their marketing materials, and decide which ones align with their clients’ needs. This step-by-step process makes building partnerships easier than ever.
Opting In for Updates and Direct Contact
Agents can opt in to receive information from suppliers that match their interests. Again, this helps to ensure that they only get updates that are relevant to them, helping them stay informed without unnecessary clutter or distractions.
Addressing Common Concerns
Some may wonder if TTR is “too good to be true.” However, TTR is backed by over 20 years of experience in the travel industry. Its design is based on the principle of providing for real needs, making it a reliable tool for agents.
Another concern is cost. Agents can rest easy knowing that there are no costs involved in using TTR. The platform is completely free for travel agents, allowing them to access valuable resources without any financial burden.
Conclusion
Now that you’ve learnt what a travel agent is and the crucial role they play in creating seamless, personalised travel experiences, it’s clear why their work is so valuable.
If you’re a travel agent seeking reliable, trade-ready suppliers, we invite you to visit our website and explore how our platform can make your job easier and more efficient. Start building better travel experiences today with Travel Trade Ready!