The Role of a Travel Agent

What does it mean to be a travel agent? Well, your role starts and ends with you being a professional. An understanding of professionalism in the travel workplace is a necessity for all those who wish to call themselves travel agents, counselors, advisors, experts, or other terms conveying expertise.

Let’s start with, what is the definition of Professionals? These are people who earn their living by practicing some skill or engaging in some activity that requires expertise. True Travel Professionals demonstrate a commitment to the ethics and standards of the occupation and to the interests of the client.

Are You Exhibiting Ethical Behavior?

Professionalism implies a commitment to ethical behavior, which means following certain principles of proper conduct. If you earn a reputation for unethical behavior, you forgo the trust of clients and are likely to lose their business. Therefore, it is imperative that you create and follow a code of conduct.

A code of conduct is a useful tool to standardize ethical behavior for a group of professionals. It shouldn’t be viewed only on a new hire’s first day of work. For a code to be effective, it must be reviewed and practiced by all members of the organization, at all organizational levels. Travel organizations, large or small, can benefit from a written code of conduct explaining the company’s policy regarding ethical challenges most likely to occur. These codes should incorporate the core values—those guiding principles and fundamental beliefs—that make up the heart of the organization. These can include things like:

• Excellence in service—To ensure clients receive your best efforts and customized products of the highest quality before, during, and after a transaction
• Honesty and integrity—To exhibit ethical, truthful, and honorable behavior and to exercise good judgment
• Passion—To love what you do and to inspire excitement in your clients
• Commitment—To be loyal, dedicated, and devoted to your clients, the organization, the community, and the profession
• Individual responsibility—To hold yourselves accountable, to deliver what you promise and to own up to your mistakes
• Efficiency and accuracy—To do things correctly the first time and without wasting time, effort, or resources
• Communication—To respond quickly, accurately, and honestly to clients, vendors, suppliers, supervisors, and coworkers
• Currency and knowledge—To constantly research current trends, methods, and destinations to best serve the client and the organization.

Why Does a Client Need You?

Sometimes it’s good to step back and look at all the things you bring to the table as a travel counselor. You demonstrate your worth every day, and you certainly have proven your value by stepping up for your clients over the past several months. If the thought of  “Do clients need me?” crosses your mind, you must watch this clip on CNBC’s Seema Mody.

A large percentage of your value lies in doing the things the customer cannot do. Every day, you

• reduce the stress of planning a vacation
• lessen the risk that something will be forgotten and that things will go wrong
• remove obstacles that get in the way of what the client wants to do
• add convenience by relieving the client from doing all the work
• provide travel options that are good, better, and best
• rescue the client from difficult situations
• be your client’s advocate ALWAYS.

As you can see, there is much to being a travel professional, and it all starts with your education. To learn more visit www.thetravelinstitute.com