Do Or Die

1
Do - Or Die!!

• Bryony Hordern
• MD - Tickets Anywhere
• Advantage Board Member

2
Charging for your information

• Travel Agents have freely given their valuable
  information and it is now expected of them
• The general public does not see anything wrong in
  entering your high street agency with the
  intention of gaining that valuable
  informationbut have no intention of purchasing a
  holiday from you

3
Business Travel v Retail Sector

• At the first tranche of airline commission
  cutswe did nothing except tighten our
  belts.but that was only the start of things to
  come
• I introduced a menu of service fees in
  thebusiness office

4
Business Travel - telling the client

• The agents were far more concerned about charging
  fees than their clients
• Corporate business understood the reasoning
  behind the charges

5
Charges for the Retail clients

• At the same time I started charging service fees
  in my retail office for reissued tickets,
  anything under 100, no-frills carriers and IATA
  ticketing fees. Also added was a 2 credit card
  surcharge
• Last Monday I increased the IATA fee!!

6
Charging for Information

• The fee is for information and will be fully
  refundable on making a booking
• Telephone enquiries could be a problem - but the
  charge will be levied somehow!!
• I am sure we will lose clients in the short term
  but it will be for long term gain

7
Why book with a Travel Agent -Service is the Key

• Problems occur with travel arrangements
• We will fight for our client
• Clients affected by the tsunami were contacted on
  Boxing Day.

8
The Value of a good Independent Travel Agent

• We must shout about how good we are.
• Our staff are experienced knowledgeable
  offering unbiased information
• Incredible range of brochures to choose from and
  no directional selling of a particular tour
  company because Head Office says so

9
Changing Trends in Booking

• More people booking on the internet
• Sophisticated Websites
• Interactive TV poses another threat.
• Book now and travel in the near future
• Dynamic Packaging

10
Are we worth it - you bet we are!

• Our information should have a value -free to
  those who book, chargeable to thosethat do not
• After all we are not a public library funded by
  government

11
Value of Information

• I want to be a part of my clients holiday
  experience
• We must establish ourselves as professionals and
  as such remunerated for our information

12
Beware

• The high street Travel Agent, like the corner
  shop, will disappear if we are unable to make the
  leap from giving the information away to being
  recognised as a true professional force
  remunerated either through commission earned or
  fees levied

13
The Way Forward

• Independence is the key but.
• Offer the best possible service and advice.
  charging fees will soon not become an option
• Being a member of Advantage means that you are
  not alone