A profession very much in transition thanks to the Internet - and now, increasingly, artificial intelligence - travel's front-line retailers are some of the most knowledgeable folks in the industry. Here's a place to exchange views about issues, destinations, and more!
cover photo: Delpixart
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Premier Australia Specialist
Kiwi/New Zealand Specialist
Matai/Fiji Specialist
Tahiti Tiare Specialist
Hawaii Specialist
Cook Islands Specialist
Thanks!
I have noticed clients are looking for the best deal and waiting, waiting, waiting to book....I am a cruise specialist with emphasis on Oceania Cruises.
"Worst Part of a Trip May Be Booking It on the Web"
If you dreaded sitting down at your computer the last time you made travel arrangements or felt frustrated by all the time and effort it took to sort through pages of results for flights and hotels, join the crowd.
A new report, to be released Tuesday by Forrester Research, found that far from embracing the do-it-yourself era, many consumers were fed up with the complicated process of planning and booking travel.
“What we’ve seen is growing frustration,” said Henry H. Harteveldt, a Forrester travel analyst. “Consumers see other Web sites becoming easier to use — retail Web sites, banking Web sites, media Web sites. But travel is treading water as a category. There are very few travel companies that are really looking to improve the planning and booking process.”
Instead, customers are forced to figure out extra fees, wade through fine print and understand industry terms like the difference between a deluxe and a standard room, in addition to educating themselves about destinations, flights and hotels, Mr. Harteveldt said.
“Travel companies expect the consumer to behave like a travel agent,” he explained. “The question I always ask these guys is, ‘Could your mother-in-law use your Web site without having to call you for help?’ The answer is always no.”
In fact, Mr. Harteveldt said a growing number of consumers appeared to be interested in using an offline travel agency, if they could find one.
“The fact that there are more people now who would consider using a good offline travel agent is telling me people are saying, ‘Enough already,’ ” he said.
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