How can travel agents can offer customers the world?
The earth has got bigger. And smaller. Travel horizons have expanded well beyond our ancestors’ ken (unless they happen to be Marco Polo). At the same time, the world is as small as the click of an app.
The abundance of choice can make it tricky for travel agents to offer clients a holistic view of available options. Especially when customers can simply go elsewhere.
Travel agents need strategies that make the most of technologies, partnerships and personalisation. Some of these include:
Global Distribution Systems (GDS). Amadeus, Sabre and Travelport provide one-stop-shops for an array of content, bringing together information from airlines, hotels, car rentals and others, streamlining searches and allowing agents to offer diverse options. However, they have a steep learning curve for new users and can be expensive.
Collaborating with online platforms (OTAs). With extensive databases, OTAs can enhance breadth of choice. Integrating platforms into their service models may enable agents to satisfy a wider spectrum of customer preferences.
Customer Relationship Management Systems (CRMS). These help by tracking customer preferences and previous bookings. CRMS can improve the customer experience, allowing travel agents to make recommendations based on travellers’ unique preferences and history.
Building partnerships with suppliers including boutique hotels, local airlines and family-run services. This enables travel agents to stand out from the crowd, offering the exclusive deals, experiences and sustainability increasingly sought by today’s travellers.
Integrating advanced search and booking platforms. Real-time price comparisons, updates and intuitive interfaces empower agents to evolve comprehensive portfolios for customers.
Agents should also take time to understand customers goals, budgets and preferences. Clear communication on things such as pricing and available options will help travel agents stand out and foster trust.
A multi-faceted approach, as above, best serves travel agents and their customers. At Journey Mentor, we understand this. Our products incorporate all the benefits of the above but in lower-cost, easy-to-use, comprehensive systems. For example, our e-commerce portals continue to search better deals even after the customer has paid till 24 hours before departure. When a better deal is found, both customer and travel agent are rewarded.
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