The "WHY" of a Travel Agent

About a year ago,  I did a presentation on why use a travel agent.  The presentation was simple, created on a flipchart to save time and keep the audience engaged.  It caused me to think as to why people used a travel agent or travel professional.There were six items that I felt could create the "Why":

1. Price-getting the best deal versus value
2. Time- allowing the busy professional to work on more important projects
3. Service- To not only bring value to travel but to above and beyond expectations
4. Peace of Mind- Creating itineraries through seamless suppliers to put our clients at ease
5. Someone to talk to-Some clients really need someone to talk about their ideas
6. Friend-Eventually all business relationships in travel the clients end up friends with the professional. 

Actually, the " Why"  ended up being " Love".  The six items above were all legitimate reasons.  The "Why"  clients go to a travel agent is because a good agent is receptive .

The summation of why people use travel agents actually as follows:

1. Investment-Price does not work well in the industry.  A Travel professional uses established companies to give the best price.
2. Time Management-some professionals make $1000 a day.  To spend 2-4 days trying to catch the best rate can be futile.  
3. Availability-Agents will be available as needed
4. Reliability- Agents use companies that are unlikely to go Bankrupt
5. Relationships-In the long run agents and colleagues   become friends.

Then in summation what would make a good transaction?  How do the agents become all of the above.  For the clients, most agents resemble  one or two attributes. 

A good friend of mine said something that always made sense to me.  He said that to serve you need to consider what is called the three "D" 's.    As a travel professional beginning to work with the public. This is how it lines up:

1. Diagnose-Discover what is the best destination and the best choices
2. Design-Design a plan which may mean a spreadsheet moving forward.  Or maybe replace the dry dirt with succulent  plants
3. Deliver,  After evaluating all of the above. It is now time to join other professionals who have similar ideas and belief.