Comments on: Specialization-A giant step in differentiating yourself and your agency

By: Sandy McDowel

Sandy McDowel — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:15:53 +0000

Fantastic article! You are so right about specialty travel gaining momentum and consequently the falling by the wayside of the general travel agent.

As the president of the Specialty Travel Agents Association (www.specialtytravelagent.com), I have seen an increase in demand from consumers who are looking for a higher level of travel and a more in depth experience. This means great news and increased business for the travel specialist. By making a commitment to specialization, you can make a difference in your clients travel experience and gain a larger base of clients traveling within your market.

For those agents who in the past have had difficulty marketing themselves or drumming up business, specialization provides an easier way to marketing yourself directly to those interested in what you have to offer. The majority of potential clients coming to you as a specialist will already know what you do and for the most part what they want to do. It is then up to you to sell yourself and your knowledge and turn your lead into a sale, which for a true specialist should not be a difficult task.

Specialization is the key to differentiating yourself as an agent and to increasing your bottom line.

By: Mohammad Hasanat

Mohammad Hasanat — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 20:52:51 +0000

To me the price we charge tourist might not to be trimmed. However, agent/tour operator should have some abundance in a price one charged to any tourist.
Part of the trip proceed alloted aside for some extravaganza, or valuable surprise.
I tried these surprises, I found the effect tremendously great. Consequently, I gain good reputation, as end tour operator and in the same time it kept some gain for the sender tour operator abroad?
On top of that with good price I charged, I hired excellent guide, used top stars hotels and I gave the group some ease. In another word, I don’t have to squeeze expenses to make the ends meet.
I really, have to laugh at any tour outlet when he/she tells me: your price is high?
From my experience little bit higher price better than squeezed price, because costumer, always, looks to what kind of service he/she will get?
Soon he/she paid the cost, no matter how high or low it was, he/she want excellent service in exchange? It is a reason, when a tour operator charges low,low price, one can’t deliver a good service, the client become unhappy, and the results, of course, drastically reverse??

By: Rosemary Danielsen

Rosemary Danielsen — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:57:30 +0000

Geoff,

Love the way you compare the specialization of doctors and lawyers to travel agents! That comparison really makes your case more compelling and “real” for me. Great article!