I’ve recently travelled with a small group of young travel agents, just starting out in their careers, really, and it is very interesting to listen to their perspective on the travel industry. One thing is for sure. The industry has changed dramatically since I began working in it forty years ago! Back then, agents didn’t travel nearly as extensively. Very few people did, actually. Travelling was for the well-to-do until cheap package holidays became a thing and in those days most families would save up all year for a week on the Costa Brava!
I know there is a trend these days to count the number of countries visited, some people aiming to see them all (there are 195 by the way!). It has struck me how well travelled some young travel agents are. Of course, there is no one better placed to advise a client than an agent who has visited a destination and toured around the hotels. I’ve been lucky to travel the world for business and pleasure and my young colleagues were fascinated to hear my stories and perhaps learn something from my experience.
All this might soon change, though, as virtual reality and AI take over our lives. You can walk virtually through a hotel, ‘sit’ on a beach or explore a historic building or ancient site, all from the comfort of your armchair. Call me old fashioned, but I can’t help thinking that you cannot really appreciate the atmosphere of a place over the internet. Plus, any information you gather online has been fed in by someone and so risks being subjective. Let’s hope, somewhere way in the future, people don’t stop travelling at all and just live their lives through VR headsets!
On that note, travel IS very subjective, which is why it is so important to make sure clients are fully informed during the holiday planning process. These days, the word luxury is overused, in my opinion. Too many hotels are described as 5 star or even 6 star now. A hotel’s star rating shouldn’t necessarily define it. I’ve just visited a 6 star hotel with all the whistles and bells, even a casino attached and a karaoke room in one of the suites. It just wasn’t for me, but some of my travel companions loved it. Give me a small, boutique hotel with character any time and I don’t care if it is officially rated 4 star!
Whistles and bells offers:
5 nights at the Atlantis, The Palm in Dubai from £4,909pp
Includes:
- Return business class flights
- Chauffer transfers
- Acess to business class airport lounges
- A 5 night stay at the 5* Atlantis, The Palm hotel
- And a FREE 5% donation to the charity of your choice!
Please note: pricing correct at 08th April 2024. Pricing subject to change. Please enquire for up to date pricing by emailing Lizzi using the link below.
- Return business class flights
- Chauffer transfers
- Acess to business class airport lounges
- A 5 night stay at the 5* Atlantis, The Palm hotel
- And a FREE 5% donation to the charity of your choice!
Please note: pricing correct at 08th April 2024. Pricing subject to change. Please enquire for up to date pricing by emailing Lizzi using the link below.
Or, with just 26 suites and 13 luxury villas, the Mandarin Oriental Canouan is the epitome of understated luxury and class:
7 nights at the Mandarin Oriental Canouan in St Vincent and the Grenadines from £6,949pp
Includes:
- A complimentary suite upgrade
- A 7 night B&B stay in a one bedroom beachfront suite
- And a FREE 5% donation to the charity of your choice!
Please note: pricing correct at 08th April 2024. Pricing subject to change. Please enquire for up to date pricing by emailing Lizzi using the link below.
- A complimentary suite upgrade
- A 7 night B&B stay in a one bedroom beachfront suite
- And a FREE 5% donation to the charity of your choice!
Please note: pricing correct at 08th April 2024. Pricing subject to change. Please enquire for up to date pricing by emailing Lizzi using the link below.
Then let’s talk about the way people book their holidays these days. Is there too much choice? The TV bombards us with adverts, offers come in via Facebook and Instagram and how do we decide what is genuinely a good offer and something we’d really enjoy? One might argue that it’s a good thing to have more choices, but if it seems like a minefield out there, ask your travel agent to match you to the holiday they think will suit you, after having a proper discussion with you and getting to know your preferences.
Which travel agent to use? Well, this is a no-brainer! If you can donate 5% of your holiday cost to a charity of your choice, at no extra cost to yourself, why wouldn’t you book through Charitable Travel? Spread the word!! Charities are crying out for money these days, and this is an easy way to help them, so please don’t keep this a secret!
by net effect