Do you stay loyal to one/a couple hotel brands or do you switch it up based of price, city, etc?
(Apparently I have lots of travel feels)
I stay loyal to my customer. It really depends on their budget. My goal is to find the best fit for someone in what they want to spend. I don't want to send someone somewhere that I am going to get complaints. That of course is different for each person so I really need to get to know my customer. And I do have favorites in each category.
Oh man I have so many questions for you!! I'll start with what's the best and worst thing about your current job? (In my head I would love to do your job so I need some reality, ha).
TTC since July 2014. CP March 2015. IVF #1 March 2016, 5R, 3M, 2F with ICSI. Transferred 2 on day 3. CP. Surprise BFP and then CP August 2016 (prep cycle for IVF). IVF #2: zero eggs retrieved IVF #3: 6R, 5M, 5F, 3 (2 8A and 1 11A) transferred, one "B" graded embryo frozen on day 5. BFP (at home 7dp3dt, confirmed 14dp3dt with 1552 beta) and U/S at 5w5d, 2 sacs and 2 yolks!
How might one go about becoming a bartender with zero experience? Start with bartending classes? Get a job washing dishes at a bar/restaurant?
Most bartenders I know started as a server. I can train someone to bartend if they have customer service/hospitality skills and a good personality. Making drinks is 10% of the job.
I have lots of questions! Many of them are probably silly since I only know the basics of travel agent stuff.
I'm not even sure how to word this question...
1. Let's say some clients come with this grand vacation idea, but you feel like their money could be better spent on some different options. Do you try to help them get the most bang for their buck? (Ex. like staying in a slightly different area to save money) Or do you just try to make what they ask for work?
2. Do you do cruises too?
3. How much does travel agent plan? Just tickets and hotel reservations? Or do they handle planning out tours/theme park visits and stuff?
I have more questions... but I'll wait so I don't spam you all at once.
Ok, what do people in the industry really think or feel about those of us who use Priceline ? Are hotels pissed at me as a guest checking in when I've done that? (I only use "express deals" and I am able to determine which hotel it is Ibefore buying, then obv research before I buy).
Are there any AIs in Caribbean known for having good food?
Oh man I have so many questions for you!! I'll start with what's the best and worst thing about your current job? (In my head I would love to do your job so I need some reality, ha).
Hahahahahah
The best - when customers come back to you year after year and trust your recommendations. While I've been out (these last 5 days) I've received so many emails from customers and when I tell them I'll be back on this date, they say they will wait for me. That's the biggest honor. Also free trips. But truly helping someone have the best vacation ever makes my job rewarding.
Worst - Stress. Missed connections. Lost luggage. Missing reservations. WEATHER.
I don't mind the sales goals, but all of the negative things that can happen on vacation.
Last night, one of my best customers got to his hotel in DC with no reservation in the system because of a computer glitch (completely confirmed on my end) and the front desk is blaming ME! That customers has spent well over 50k with me in 3 years and this is happening to him. I want to fly down there and give the front desk agent a piece of my mind. But I'm stuck here in bed, hoping my manager can smooth it out.
Talk to me about why i should visit Croatia. I feel like I've heard people raving about it a lot recently.
Hahaha it is a newly popular destination, a lot like Iceland. I visited Croatia as a stop on a cruise. It was lovely. I don't have a sales pitch for it though. I did send two customers on a yacht around Croatia last summer and they loved it.
Suggestions for a US destination that's a little different/off the beaten path?? I'm always looking for a new place to check out...preferably warmer weather and with outdoor fun things to check out over a long weekend?
TTC since July 2014. CP March 2015. IVF #1 March 2016, 5R, 3M, 2F with ICSI. Transferred 2 on day 3. CP. Surprise BFP and then CP August 2016 (prep cycle for IVF). IVF #2: zero eggs retrieved IVF #3: 6R, 5M, 5F, 3 (2 8A and 1 11A) transferred, one "B" graded embryo frozen on day 5. BFP (at home 7dp3dt, confirmed 14dp3dt with 1552 beta) and U/S at 5w5d, 2 sacs and 2 yolks!
I have lots of questions! Many of them are probably silly since I only know the basics of travel agent stuff.
I'm not even sure how to word this question...
1. Let's say some clients come with this grand vacation idea, but you feel like their money could be better spent on some different options. Do you try to help them get the most bang for their buck? (Ex. like staying in a slightly different area to save money) Or do you just try to make what they ask for work?
2. Do you do cruises too?
3. How much does travel agent plan? Just tickets and hotel reservations? Or do they handle planning out tours/theme park visits and stuff?
I have more questions... but I'll wait so I don't spam you all at once.
1. It's a little bit of both. I really hate being the crusher of dreams when people come in and tell me they want to go to Bora Bora or Tahiti and I have to tell them how much it costs and how far away it is. (This happens almost every day) But then it's my job to talk to them and find out what they really want to see/do/experience and recommend some realistic options based on budget.
2. I do sell cruises as well. In training they told us cruises are the easiest money to make. But I think it's a lie. They take a lot of time for little money. And don't get me started on the company that starts with a C and ends in -ival. I do love when cruise bookings go well though because they can be easy.
3. Depends on the customers needs. I like to consider myself a full experience agent and I like to include sightseeing tours with my packages. People are going to book them anyways, I might as well save you the money and do it in advance. If you wait until destination, yes you may be able to get it for a better rate by negotiating but most of the time you are getting price gouged because you are there and want to go. Theme park tickets are different and usually park of a package. When Disney/Universal tickets go up, we see people making sure they have them ahead of time at the lesser price.
Ok, what do people in the industry really think or feel about those of us who use Priceli.ne ? Are hotels pissed at me as a guest checking in when I've done that? (I only use "express deals" and I am able to determine which hotel it is Ibefore buying, then obv research before I buy).
Are there any AIs in Caribbean known for having good food?
In my experience yes, I feel as though a hotel sees that you booked with an agent that recommended the property and will treat you better rather than someone who booked online. Also I see a lot of unhappy people at properties because they booked online and didn't find the best fit for them or were not made aware of the status of the beach etc.
I think some of the other people who work in hotels could also attest to people who pay more for a room booking direct versus Pricel.ine, Exp.edia, etc. (bex15 can you speak on this?)
Food at AIs Hit or Miss. I have had fantastic food experiences in Mexico. I really think the more competition, the better the food. Just like here in the US, some restaurants can do it and others cannot. Also one dish to the next. The DR AIs have terrible food, but the DR has amazing food. Also 4.5 star hotels typically have good food. The best part about the AIs is if you don't like it, order something else. I'm notorious for ordering 2 appetizers or 2 entrees because I want to try both.
Suggestions for a US destination that's a little different/off the beaten path?? I'm always looking for a new place to check out...preferably warmer weather and with outdoor fun things to check out over a long weekend?
I don't know of too many off the beaten path places. Those are hard for me to find hotels in.
Places I'd go: Charleston, Nashville, or New Orleans.
onesweetworld, I think I know who I'm going to contact when I need help planning my first adult vacation.
Does it annoy you when people aren't really sure what they want?
Do people ever come to you and say something like "I want to go somewhere warm for 1-2 weeks and I have x amount of money, please help?"
Hmmm it doesn't necessarily annoy me, what drives me batty is when you waste my time because you don't know what you want and expect me to price out 15 options for you. Let's have a conversation about what you want, let me recommend a few places (2/3) and then pick one and book it. Nothing makes me more angry than time wasters. I've gotten pretty good at being able to give them good service, load them up with brochures and send them on their way.
Second question - all the time. I'd actually prefer you to tell me how much you want to spend up front so I know what to recommend. I like when people can be flexible in days so I can find the best airfare. Unfortunately I'm a slave to the airlines because they can eat up way too much of the budget and then I'm strained in finding a hotel that fits what you want/need.
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