Finding A Good Travel Agent

A few months ago, the Travel Troubleshooter for the Dallas Morning News, Christopher Elliott, had a title exactly like mine today. He gave some really good direction on searching out someone you can trust with your valuable vacation time. Several hints focused on experience, professionalism, travel consortium memberships. But, according to him, and according to my experience, the best way to find a good travel agent is to ask someone. He included a great statement by a travel agent in North Carolina, she said “the best credential you can have is a referral from a friend”.

Another long-time, experienced travel agent from an agency in Brentwood, TN, Charlie Funk writes an occasional article on the opinion page of TravelWeekly. He recently had an article talking about the rise of so-called travel agents who have been recruited by the Multi-Level Marketing groups to be travel agents. They are promised the moon because “it is so easy and also you can get free trips from the suppliers”.

Mr. Funk has gathered some statistics from the Direct Selling Association where they estimate that the failure rate for the MLM members is 97%. He cited a recent study by Host Agency Reviews of several travel-related MLMs that found 75% to 80% of all members earned nothing. Futhermore on a MLM that is now defunct, they paid an average of $4.29 a year in commission to members and 81% of all representatives earned nothing. 

Thankfully many of the tour operators and cruise lines are recognizing that in allowing these types of “wanna be” agents are giving their operations a black eye and have quit allowing them to exploit the unsuspecting public.

I remember when I started in the business 41-plus years ago, the owner who hired me, who had been in the business for about 18 years, told me that it would probably take a year or two in the business to be able to adequately sell a travel product with any confidence. My internal reaction was that I'll have this down in 3 months......but you know, he knew what he was talking about. Oh, I sold a honeymoon to a great couple two weeks after I started, but really didn't know all that I needed to know to adequately advise them properly. I think they realized that, and allowed me the time to study and help advise them. You know, they became wonderful clients of mine. ...and still are after all these years. 

Notice that my main point is experience and education......and even though the MLMs still in existence talk a good game, you can't replace experience.....and education. We have great experience here at The Travel Factory. One agent started his career working briefly for an airline, then started so far, his 40-year agency experience. Another agent worked with several agencies here in town before landing with us in 2002, and she has over 45 years experience. Another agent started her career with American Airlines, but got in the travel agency business, has managed an agency in the past, and has been working with us since 2003 with over 25 years in travel-related experience. Early on in my career I achieved the Certified Travel Counselor designation from the Institute of Certified Travel Agents back in 1985, but........the best thing that happens to each of us is when a new guest comes in seeking travel assistance and they say that a real good friend recommended us to them. That's the “cherry on top of the sundae”!! Here's further proof. Of all the 58 friends who traveled with “The Travel Factory Gang” to Alaska last July, each one of them were a product of a referral of someone who had previously been with us. Experience and Education.......that'll knock those MLMs in the dirt!!!!

Call on us in person at 4150 Southwest Drive, Ste. 120; phone contact is 325-698-1421 or toll-free 800-760-4040. Web presence is www.thetravelfactoryabilene.com. Let us get involved with helping you “manufacture the vacation of your dreams”!!!