Monday, November 1, 2010

Pros and Cons of choosing a travel agent

Of course we all know that everything in life has good points and bad points as well. Nothing is perfect in this life but we must all strive to deliver quality goods and services to customers ads business people so that the customer comes back again and again. As business people it is also important to ensure that one does not skin the customer dry. So you ask yourself, what is the basic level of expectations one should look out for in a travel agent? I say:
A good business person uses their clout and bargaining power to obtain the best possible arrangements in seemingly impossible and demanding situations that the client presents. This should not exclude tour operators. This allows them to offer quality goods at competitive prices from that of their competitors.
A good travel agent distills product information these products are holiday packages that the customer wants. They also investigate and supply competitive information regarding hot spots of Kenya instead of cutting costs and taking them to poor areas for sight seeing. A good travel agent also stays abreast of the most current and timely promotions clarifying the fine details of travel such as cancellation of events, penalties and change of budgetary allocations due to uncontrollable circumstances. I also suggest that a good travel agent makes recommendations on travel-related options after all they are supposed to be the experts not the tourist.
To say the least they must simplifies the research and subsequent transaction not too much un necessary red tape should be laid in bookings and payments that eventually exhaust the client to despair. After all has been said and done, it would be good for a travel agent worth its salt to enhances the trip with value-added benefits and amenities such as follow up telephone calls to find out whether the client reached home fine. If a customer has come back they should offer a few discounts and reward heavily loyal customers.
Lastly, a good travel agent is registered with KATA whose main business is to ensure that they maintain and produce good services. KATA is responsible for the control of travel affairs through management reporting, maintaining consistency of service packages among registered firms and reliable since it is owned by the government who are unlikely to close shop suddenly escaping with clients cash.
Cash is a very sensitive issue and one must question what amount is too cheap to be true, too expensive or one that is okay? Fees structure will depend on the tour firm as the good ones also sell their good will along with the holiday package. One must be willing to pay for good quality services to ensure that they continue to operate. Ensure that the travel agent is known, Old is Gold is true in this case especially. However, nothing is perfect and sometimes due to un-avoidable reasons such as miss -communication, mishaps occur, don’t despair; things will be quickly sorted out for you to continue enjoying the holiday.

Karibu Kenya, Karibu Maasai Mara!

No comments: