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From that common
perception of what a travel agent does, it would seem that
loving to travel and a desire to help people are the major
qualification of a travel agent. As is the case with most things, the
professional travel agent's job is far more demanding and complex than
the casual observer would ever guess. It has been said that "a little
knowledge is a dangerous thing." Contrary to popular opinion,
knowledge and expertise are the real products that travel
professionals provide to the traveling public. Years of training, hard
won experience, a vast pool of knowledge, excellent technical skills
and considerable expertise are the qualifications that should be the
hallmark of the retail travel professional. Unlike many other
professions, a travel agent's "body of knowledge" changes on a daily
basis. The complexity of just the air travel segment of the industry
alone is mind boggling. A travel agent must have routes, fares and
rules at his or her fingertips in order to provide top quality
service. It has been estimated that there are over 150,000 air fare
changes a day world wide. In order to give you all the alternatives
that meet your needs, your professional travel agent must know how to
keep up to the minute with such information.
A travel agent must be an expert in geography. In retail
travel, it is essential know both where a destination is and the best
ways to get there. The agent must also know what the destination
offers to tourists and which companies doing business in that area
provide the best products and services. Hand in hand with the physical
geography of the world is a keen understanding of world politics and
other situations that may effect travelers. Travelers look to agents
for information about such things as terrorism, political unrest, visa
requirements, potential heath hazards, economic conditions, travel
advisories and currency fluctuations that might affect their trips. A
good, professional travel agent can and does provide such
information for a myriad of world wide destinations each day.
Excellent interpersonal skills are essential for professional travel
agent. Travel agents are counselors, advisors, psychologists,
advocates and friends for their clients. Your travel agent listens
carefully to what you say, understands what you want from your travel
experiences, carefully considers your concerns, considers your budget,
factors in your special needs and suggests the travel products best
suited to your own particular dreams. Doing so requires skill,
patience, a sense of humor and a genuine desire to make you happy. The
job of a professional travel agent is frequently exhausting, often
challenging and always rewarding. We provide the stuff of which dreams
are made and we are proud, as professionals, to do it well.
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