A decade of difference
Travel advisors weigh in with their thoughts on how the industry has changed
“There are so many more requests for things off the beaten path — as much as there is on the internet, I love the personal touch of talking with an expert at a consolidator or tour operator.”
Karri Peeling
Travel Agents in Action, Brampton, ON
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“Clients have become savvier which means travel agents have to step up their game to stay competitive.”
Daina Gasner
Travel Masters, Vancouver, BC
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“Many people know what they want because of the Internet and we do not have to sell them on a product. Our job is not to ‘take the order’ but to enhance their travel experience through expert advice and helping them to feel comfortable and safe with the product that they purchase as well as when they travel.”
John Van Dyk
CAA Travel Markham, Markham, ON
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“I’m not an travel AGENT, I am a travel advisor, a senior travel advisor, and have seen many changes in THREE decades, but in this one particularly I’ve noticed even more people realizing that the internet, though helpful, simply cannot provide the personal touch they need.”
Elizabeth Lakic
Vision Travel, Waterloo, ON
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“Professionally — tour operators and airlines are starting to see the importance of working with home based agents.”
Ami Hisanaga
Centre Holidays, Burnaby, BC
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“The need to keep up with technology would be the single most change as a travel agent, as it is ever evolving. Nobody needs to be tied to a desk, you can do business from just about anywhere in the world now! Again, we need to be faster with the internet than our clients are.”
Linda Toth-Winterkorn
Northstar Travel, Kitchener, ON
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“How has it changed in past 90-days might be more apropos. That we are constantly able to flow with the myriad of changes thrown our way, continually adapting to a new way of policies with changes every single day.”
Heather McDonald
Maritime Travel, Kingston, ON
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“I have only been an agent for three years and did not start to notice travel really until I became an agent. The one thing I have noticed is the need for change on the part of the travel companies. I feel that it used to be that you paid for what you get for the consumer but now I feel that is changing where the travel industry is working hard to make sure that the consumer is getting the best product for the best price.”
Colleen Salt
The TravelAgentNext Door, Toronto, ON
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“Travel advisors are no longer order takers, but rather inspirational curators of experiences. Our clients trust us to create travel experiences that are perfect just for them, understanding them as individuals, and the types of travel styles, destinations and local experiences that are just the right fit.”
