Tag Archives: travel agents

Take a vacation from booking trips and find a travel agent

Posted on by alanwhitt

Being a travel agent is a tough business … but what they heck, I love it anyway.

Alan Whitt

Alan Whitt

However, it disturbs me to see the ignorance of some people – especially those do-it-yourself folks who prefer to spend their valuable time seeking out travel bargains when it won’t cost them an extra dime to let me do it for them.

Why people don’t know that our services are basically free is a mystery. For instance, if you book a cruise yourself it will cost no more than if I did it for you. But it will save you a lot of time and eliminate the headache of sifting through the real deals and con games that are all over the Internet.

There are a group of Tennessee college students who had their Spring break trip ruined by what appears to be a con man. They booked a Panama City vacation online, paid their money and now have nothing to show for it.

The hotel? Not booked

The bus to Florida? Nope … nothing.

The pretty face on the website? No one can find him … and in fact, who know’s if it’s a guy anyway. It could be someone’s grandmother behind this charade.

Now they’ll be stuck in Tennessee when they should be sunning in the Sunshine State.

I see these stories all the time. And I shake may head when I see them. We’ve become so dependent  on the Internet for just about everything … that we forget that it can be your enemy just as much as your friend.

Everything on the Internet isn’t the truth. In fact, it is relatively easy to create an authentic looking website with all the bells and whistles, but in truth it can be no more real than a hollywood set.

I remember during my days as a news editor at ESPN when we received an email saying that the Miami Herald was reporting that Shaquille O’Neal was going to have knee surgery. The problem was that the link was to a bogus Herald website, one that looked just like the real thing.

What an embarrassment when we had to retract the story.

The same can happen with a travel website … except you can’t retract your lost money.

Get it together people! Find yourself a trustworthy travel agent to do the heavy lifting for you.

Don’t get scammed … use a travel agent or you may pay the price

Posted on by alanwhitt

Frankly, I’ve never felt better. If I’m dead that’s a surprise to me. Lets see: pulse … heartbeat … blood still flowing … slight brain activity. Yep, I live!

Alan- Muscle

Alan Whitt

I’m often asked if it’s hard to be a travel agent based on the emergence of Internet sites that claim to do the same thing.

Their next comment is usually that they thought flesh-and-blood travel agents didn’t exist anymore.

One thing folks who use those sites never consider is the abundance of scam artists waiting like roaches in a corner.

Sad … but true. There are so many new travel sites popping up on a daily basis that’s it’s tough to keep track of who’s legitimate and who’s not.

Remember when mom told you that nothing in life is free? That includes travel deals. You should have listened.

Many of those offers of a “luxurious” three-day cruise for booking this, or “free” airline tickets for booking that, are as bogus as bipartisan government.

That hurts you … and me. You get scammed … and I lose business. Everyone loses confidence in the system.

Using a travel agent – and not just Allure Quest Travel Experience – gives you a layer of accountability you’ll never get online.

Booking a trip with Fly-By-Night Travel may end up costing more than you would have saved.

And it hasn’t escaped social media circles either. It is so easy to “like” an item on Facebook, or re-pinning something to Pinterest that before you know it you’ve passed the scam onto everyone in your circle.

Fortunately, the public is slowly understanding that travel agents are  a good thing, based on a poll about key travel issues for 2013.

Not to be self-serving, but travel agents will never go away. There are probably some bad ones out there too, but at least you know who they are and how to reach them in case something goes wrong.

Visit Allure Quest Travel Experience and We 2 R 1 Honeymoons on the web for your travel needs – including analysis of destinations, insightful videos, the latest travel news and vacations to book.

There are no free rides in life, expect same at Allure Quest Travel

Posted on by alanwhitt

I love working with clients. I treat each one with respect and pamper them with exemplary service.

Alan Whitt

Unfortunately, some of my “clients” apparently don’t feel the same.

Beginning on May 1, Allure Quest Travel Experience will begin charging a $50 earnest fee for new clients using our travel expertise and resources.

If the booking carries through to completion the fee will be waived and applied to the price of the trip. An inordinate number of request changes could result in additional fees.

Preferred clients – those who have a history of booking travel with us – are exempt from the fee.

Why are we doing this?

It’s because our services don’t come cheap and we’re not in the habit of giving away our  expertise.

There are people who come to us to research destinations and pricing – and then use the information to book online or give the business to Uncle Bob the family travel agent.

That’s like someone putting in an eight-hour day and not getting paid.

It takes time and money to build a business. Not only do we have monthly expenses  and pay fees and taxes to do this, our specialists continue to study, attend conferences to learn the newest and best destinations … and then visit those destinations to develop the expertise our clients have come to expect.

When I sail with a church on one of my Spiritual Voyages I pay like everyone else. If I visit a Sandals resort … or a Zoetry Wellness Spa & Resort … or head to Cancun for a familiarization trip, the cost comes out of my pocket. Although I pay less than the average person, those expenses add up.

And don’t you feel a bit more confident dealing with someone who has at least set foot on that magnificent cruise ship or visited that fabulous all-inclusive resort?

I imagine that we’ll lose some possible business because of our decision, but it’s worth it so that we can devote even more time to our genuine clients – showering them with expert advice and the benefit of our considerable knowledge. It bothers me when our professional abilities are exploited and we get nothing in return.

Potential clients who want to avoid the $50 fee are free to utilize our services by booking online, as well as use all the resources we provide on our website. Simple click on the “Book Now” button at the top right of the page to get to the booking engine of your choice.

But if you want our valuable personalized professional service … you’re going to have to pay for it.

Check out Allure Quest Travel Experience on the web for all your travel needs – including analysis of destinations, videos and the latest travel news.

At Allure Quest Travel Experience we’re happy to be of service to you

Posted on by alanwhitt

I just discovered that I’m in the happiness business. And that makes me happy.

Alan Whitt

In a study conducted by researchers at San Francisco State University it was determined that traveling makes you happier. And for you women out there … even happier than shopping!

Those who spend their money on that first cruise … or a trip to Disney World … eating at a new restaurant … or buying tickets to see the greatest female vocalist of all time – Gladys Knight – have regular smiley faces.

Yes, even better than buying that new pair of shows … or that big screen television or even a new car. Those products decrease in value as time passes. Memories become more valuable as time goes on.

We all want to lift the spirits of others. As a travel specialist I get paid to do it. I’m your happy pill.

Yes, I could make more money in other professions and I’m sure my services would be appreciated in most of them. Been there and done that. But can you truly say that your job fills someone with anticipation?

I certainly can.

There’s nothing better than a client returning from a cruise, a Vegas getaway or a trip to Italy and excitedly tells me what a wonderful time they had.

On the other hand, San Francisco State University could have saved themselves the cost of the survey that was completed by 10,000 people. All they really had to do was ask me.

Check out Allure Quest Travel Experience on the web for all your travel needs – including analysis of destinations, videos and the latest travel news.

Magazine story a timely reminder of why I do this travel agent thing

Posted on by alanwhitt

You work hard in this business to build a name for yourself and it isn’t always easy.

Alan Whitt

But when you see your name in print … and read about the things you’ve accomplished from someone else’s perspective and where you’re headed, it makes it all worthwhile.

Last night I dragged myself home, worn out after spending the entire day out trying to make a go of my travel business and culminating with my grandson’s soccer game.

Grudgingly I stopped to pick up my mail even though I was so doggone tired that I thought about waiting until tomorrow. Heck, probably just more bills in the mailbox anyway.

Lo and behold, a copy of VacationAgent magazine, a professional travel agent publication, awaited me and on Page 12 there was a story about me and what my Allure Quest Travel Experience is doing with social media and my new website.

How exciting! And how humbling!

It makes me want to work that much harder to build this thing. And it makes all the ups, downs, missteps and successes totally worth it.

On those days where I work my butt off and a “client” takes my work and gives it to his sister-in-law who’s a travel agent so that the family member will get my commission, I’m going to pull out this story and use it to lift my spirits … a testament to why I do what I do.

Allure Quest Travel Experience has a long ways to go, but it’s moments like this where the future is crystal clear.

Check out Allure Quest Travel Experience on the web for all your travel needs – including analysis of destinations, videos and the latest travel news.

You’re purchasing our reputation along with our vacation products

Posted on by alanwhitt

Last week I began answering a series of customer questions as to the benefit of using a travel agent, in an effort to assure everyone that we’re still in business and will continue to be.

The last question was “Why should I book now? What happens if the price goes down later?

Alan Whitt

Now we move on to Question No. 3:

I’d like to book with you, but a website is offering a $5 rebate on any tour. Will you do the same?

My mother always told me that nothing in life is free. However, that won’t prevent people from trying to get anything at rock bottom prices or for absolutely nothing.

The quick answer to this question is … a simple no. But the answer is actually a bit more complex than that.

You’re hospitalized awaiting a complex surgery that could save your life. You’ve got the No. 1 surgeon in that field scheduled to perform the procedure when another physician offers to perform the surgery for 30 percent less.

Would you take that deal?

I didn’t think so. You’re definitely going to go with the best professional because your life is worth every penny.

Can’t the same be said about your vacation?

You’re taking a chance when you use a rebater. Some tour companies have gone to court to prevent rebating … while many cruise lines will ban agencies from future bookings if they reduce the price of their cruises.

The assumption is that a rebater offering the trip for less says that the trip isn’t worth what the tour operator or cruise line has priced it for. If something goes wrong while you’re on your trip, don’t expect a sympathetic ear from the tour company or cruise line.

Of course, Allure Quest Travel Experience also has price protection for you anyway. So if you discover a cheaper fare than what we can provide just bring it to our attention, we’ll alert the tour operator and if the price is legitimate we will match it.

Check out Allure Quest Travel Experience on the web for all your travel needs – including analysis of destinations, videos and the latest travel news.

Savings, quality are two biggest reasons to book a vacation early

Posted on by alanwhitt

On Thursday I began a series answering questions as to the benefit of using a travel agent to assure everyone that we’re still in business and will continue to be.

Yesterday’s question was “Why should I use your services when I can book directly?”

Alan Whitt

Now we move on to Question No. 2.

Why should I book now? What happens if the price goes down later?

It’s Spring break in Nashville, and I’m already working on getting people excited about their vacation and getaway plans for 2013. Even when I was just a vacationer and not a travel specialist, I always mapped out my plans well in advance.

I made sure I submitted my vacation dates in plenty of time to insure that I could get the time off that I needed. Once you know you have the time , you can better prepare for your vacation months ahead of time.

Now let’s make this clear. You will always get the lowest price available at the time when booking with Allure Quest Travel Experience.

Part of our responsibility is to monitor pricing so that if there is a reduction we can get it adjusted for you.

If you book it yourself, then you’re responsible for frequently checking pricing, and then contacting the vendor yourself, and then navigating through the appropriate paperwork to fill out and get the reduction. Do you have time to do that? Is it worth your time?

Booking early is always the best way to go. That way you get the cabin, the tour and the dates that you want. Wait and you’re likely picking over what’s left.

Tour operators and cruise lines operate like any other business. They need to fill as close to capacity as possible, the sooner the better so that they have better control over their bottom line. That means they usually reward those who book early, and penalize those who book late. Last thing a cruise line wants to do is cut pricing for someone who has already booked and paid, so they start out at the lowest rate possible.

Rarely will you see a price cut on the best ships or itineraries. If you choose to sit back in anticipation of price slashing you’ll usually end up paying more for less desirable accommodations.

In April 2011 I reserved group space on Allure of the Seas for a May 27, 2012 sailing. At the time I secured balcony cabins for $1,245 per person. Book that same cabin today and it runs $2,035 – a difference of $787 per person.

You can still get on Allure of the Seas for that sailing for $1,245, but that would be for an inside cabin. You do the math: A balcony for $1,245 … or a windowless inside cabin for the same price.

And last, we have a reputation to uphold. That’s why we only use reputable vendors and not the bargain suppliers who pop up on the Internet with fluctuating prices seemingly by the week. With Allure Quest Travel Experience, our suppliers also want you to get the lowest price possible, which allows us to guarantee price protection.

Check out Allure Quest Travel Experience on the web for all your travel needs – including analysis of destinations, videos and the latest travel news.

Rumors of our demise not only exaggerated, but blatantly untrue

Posted on by alanwhitt

I had to check my pulse the other day to make sure I’m still alive.

Seems lots of people think travel agents are dead … or that last rites are right around the corner.

Alan Whitt

But I assure you that blood still runs through my veins, my heart still beats and contrary to a few bozos who shall go nameless, I’m not brain dead.

The travel business ain’t what it used to be, no doubt. But we’ve evolved. Our biggest problem is that people assume we’re out of business, that the Internet has buried us and that they can get better deals elsewhere.

Au contraire!

The Internet has actually enhanced my business. I sell more travel outside of my base home of Nashville than I do in the Music City. Through Facebook, Twitter and my website, I can reach people I never would have otherwise.

I just booked a Soul Train Cruise cabin for two ladies from Virginia, and I’ve got more ready to get onboard from St. Paul, MN; Cleveland; Philadelphia and more.

As long as I’ve got my cell phone and laptop I’m in business.

There is an article in Travel Weekly, a travel industry publication for professionals, that asks tough questions from clients but provide tougher answers.

So for the next several days I’m going to touch on some of those questions and hopefully provide answers.

Question No. 1:

Why should I use your services when I can book directly?

People actually believe that by booking direct they’re saving money. But you need to know that the commission is built into any fare and someone is going to get it.

The difference in booking with us is service … and an ear. My job is to be there throughout the process, even while you’re on the trip and after you return. I spend hours learning this business, networking and building relationships with vendors around the world … with serving you in mind.

As I grow in knowledge, you benefit through my expertise and connections.

An Internet site or some guy on the phone is trying to sell you that one trip. My goal is to build a trusting relationship to cement you as a long-term customer.

As I learn you, I develop a feel for your wants and desires, and I’m constantly looking out for them … even as you sleep at night.

Service still matters … at least it does at Allure Quest Travel Experience.

Check out Allure Quest Travel Experience on the web for all your travel needs – including analysis of destinations, videos and the latest travel news.

You should consider total costs when booking your own vacation

Posted on by alanwhitt

I think back frequently about a conversation I had with a gentlemen a while ago about Internet booking vs. using a travel agent. No, make that a travel professional.

Alan Whitt

The Internet has been both our best friend and our worst enemy .. and you can find just about anything surfing the Web. That doesn’t mean you’re going to find the right thing.

It also gives people a false sense of security, that they can do anything better than someone who has the education and experience in a chosen field.

Before long people are going to believe they can perform an appendectomy better than a surgeon because they found the instructions at surgery101.com.

My job is to give people the best possible vacation for the best price possible based on what they have to spend. That doesn’t mean they’re going to get a Sandals resort for $1,000, but I can get you to Sandals at a good price with significant discounts.

Simply put, a travel professional is going to give you value for your dollars.

Too often, do-it-yourself travel agents don’t consider the entire cost of a vacation. They’ll look at hotel costs and figure they’ll fold in the other elements at it goes along.

A recent client looking for a honeymoon  wanted a “tropical” vacation on a beach and had about $3,000-$3,500 to spend.

They were offered a week at a 5-Star resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic called Dreams Palm Beach for $3,408 all inclusive. That includes flights, accommodations, gourmet dining, unlimited premium drinks, the requisite beach, a definite tropical location and a host of entertainment options.

They declined because they though it was too much, and asked for something in Florida where you can walk out of your hotel straight onto a beach. They never considered the airfare costs (average $700 for two tickets if booked early enough), $1,050 for food ($150 a day), $200 for a rental car (not to mention gas) … and don’t forget that low-end beachfront hotel that runs at least $250 a night.

That’s at least $3,700 … and if you want some drinks and entertainment, let’s tack on another $300.

You get the point.

I’ve talked with other travel professionals who feel the same way. It was particularly frustrating when President Obama made the uneducated statement that travel agents were dead because of the Internet.

Well, Mr. President … just wanted you to know that we’re alive … well … and booking more travel than ever.

Sales vs. service separates us from Internet travel sites

Posted on by alanwhitt

While at a Brentwood Cool Springs Chamber of Commerce early morning session on Friday here in Tennessee, a member talked about how the travel industry has changed. He said he books all his travel online and that must be tough for me to take.

Alan Whitt

I assured him that wasn’t the case, because Allure Quest Travel Experience is nothing like an Internet travel site.

We’re better.

An Internet travel site is all about sales. Allure Quest Travel Experience is all about service.

There is a huge difference between the two.

Our job isn’t just about selling a vacation. Yes, we want you to buy cruises, resorts, tours and honeymoons. But at Allure Quest Travel Experience our primary purpose is to serve you, to the point where you’re comfortable with a purchase before, during and after returning from your trip. We’re trained travel experts, and our job is advise you on the perfect vacation, designed specifically for you. After all, every vacation isn’t for everyone … and every vacation experience is unique.

We’re Allure Quest Travel Experience for a reason … and “experience” is the key word in our name. In fact, that word is also part of our mission … to provide clients with the vacation experience of a lifetime. An experience – good or bad – is something that resonates again and again in your memory, for years to come.

When you book travel online, that company’s work ends the moment you push the payment button. There isn’t an Internet site in the world that will tell you not to purchase a particular trip. So what if that cruise rate has more restrictions than a father gives his daughter on her first date; or that romantic all-inclusive resort you thought you were getting is overloaded with screaming children; or half of the attractions you wanted to see on your European vacation are closed because its a holiday season you knew nothing about.

If you want to buy it they’re more than willing to sell it to you.

An Internet travel site usually won’t contact you on your return to find out how things went. And heaven forbid something goes wrong on your trip and you have to contact an anonymous voice on the other end of the line for resolution. Good luck with that.

At Allure Quest Travel Experience, you’ll deal with one person throughout your search, booking and travels. Our first task is to qualify you for your vacation. In other words, we want to find out what you want, and then we’ll match you to a travel experience based on your history, needs, desires and financial barriers.

We’ll talk you through everything, answer all your questions … and even provide answers to questions you may not have thought of. Will you need a passport to cruise? Is a passport card as good as a passport? How should you dress at that Sandals resort? Is Cancun safe? What’s the best time of the year to visit Italy? What’s the difference between an African safari in July vs. August? Ask … and you shall receive an answer. And if we don’t know it, you can be certain we’ll find it.

Finally, when you return, we won’t forget about you.

And no matter where you are anywhere on the planet, we’re just a phone call or email away to help you overcome any problems or glitches that may come your way.

Yes, the travel business has changed and Internet sites make my job a little bit more challenging. But as long as Allure Quest Travel Experience’s mission remains to shower our clients with superior service, I think we’ll be OK.

There isn’t an Internet travel site on the planet that can top that.