Travel agents still benefit you

Now, more than ever, the value of booking with a travel advisor is clear. In 2020, when borders were closing and travelers scrambling to get home, travel advisors stepped in. We handled negotiating refunds and making sure our clients returned home safely, so they wouldn’t have to stress or spend hours on hold. Given the overwhelming complexities of the post-COVID travel industry, I’m here to remind you how important it will be to work with a professional like me.
When things go wrong, travel advisors have your back. It’s our job to read the fine print and understand what’s a good fit for our clients. Like an attorney or financial advisor, we have a fiduciary duty to do what’s best for our clients.
2020 was a year of introspection for all of us. We asked questions like: What really matters? How do I recover from a year of isolation? Where is my bucket list? Travel is the common denominator to all these questions because travel is how we heal.
As a travel advisor, I am the person behind the scenes helping us connect again. I have relationships and industry knowledge that take a lifetime to build. The benefits of my relationships and experience are passed along to my clients in the form of exclusive offers, free hotel upgrades if available, late check-out, spa credits, free breakfast and so much more. These are perks you can’t get when booking on your own.
If you really want to travel confidently, use a professional travel advisor. According to the American Society of Travel Advisors, there is a 98% chance that the travel agency you work with is a small business. By working with an advisor, you can feel good about supporting a small business, but you’ll feel even better when you see what we can do for you.
Since you can only do your first post-pandemic vacation once, I highly recommend that travelers don’t DIY something that important. As the world starts traveling again, travel advisors are here to help … and here to stay!
 
Kalyla Jacobs works with Jacobs Unlimited Travel in Beaumont. If you have a possible guest column for The Enterprise, send your idea or the column itself to [email protected] If you have something to say, we want to hear from you!