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What the experts say about using a travel agent: |
| "Travel Agents are a knowledgeable group of professionals whose business is to know the intricacies of a wide range of travel products. For this reason, Marriott has committed significant resources to provide travel agents with the opportunity to maximize their hotel expertise for the benefit of the traveling public." |
Senior Director Travel Agency Programs Marriott International |
| "Travel agents are a professional service minded group which can find you the best deal while offering you peace of mind for those just in case situations. Agents also offer a library of first hand knowledge and information on all worldwide destinations. Tauck Tours views travel agents as a true partner in travel! Remember Travel Agents are the experts in Travel!" |
Tauck Tours |
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"There is a vast amount of travel information available to the consumer on the Internet. However, I believe professional travel agents offer the consumer their expertise to sift through the information efficiently. When it comes to vacations, a Travel Agent can help you exceed your expectations and get you the best value for your dollar investment. For 21 years Brennan Tours has relied on the travel agent to distribute their travel products to the consumer." |
President & CEO Brennan Tours |
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"I have worked with Travel Agents all of my adult life and strongly, and without hesitation, support the use of them. For years their services were free to the consumer as fees or commissions were paid for by the particular supplier. Perhaps because they were free they were not appreciated as much as they should have been. It could well be that now that modest fees are being charged for the helpful services they provide perhaps the industry will get the respect it so richly deserves. During a several year stint when I was in the hospitality field I purchased tickets from a major Travel Agent and I know that between us we created a better, and more value packed itinerary through the consolidation of our respective years of experience. Why anyone would not want to use expertise that is readily available to them is a great mystery." |
Vice President Passenger Marketing Japan Airlines |
| "The web is a great source of information on travel, but a professional travel agent can be your most effective search engine, helping you focus on your real travel needs. Even if you think you have found exactly what you want on the web, let a professional travel agent confirm your findings and provide reassurance that you are receiving the best travel value for your money." |
President, American Society of Travel Agents 1990-1992 |
| "Travel agents have played, and will continue to play, a major role
in the sale of travel to consumers. There is no better interpreter of the vast
amount of information available to consumers today than the professional travel
agent. With today's hectic lifestyle, consumers enjoy researching and gathering information but have little time to sort the information. It requires the knowledge of a professional travel agent to sort and interpret the information in a way that the consumer can make decisions leading to the best vacation and the best value." |
CTC Vice President, Travel Industry Affairs Norwegian Cruise Line |
| "After you make the decision to take a trip, your next decision
should be to contact your authorized travel agent. Your travel agent is
qualified to assist you with trip planning, hotel selection, sightseeing and the
best mode of transportation to your destination. He/she will take all of the
guesswork out of trip planning and ensure that you will have a pleasurable trip. Your travel agent's telephone number should be in your desk reference book along with those of you doctor, accountant or auto mechanic. He/she is a trusted family advisor who will give expert advise on business or vacation venues and the best way to get there, at the most reasonable cost. He/she is an invaluable advisor who can make the difference between a mediocre trip and the experience of a lifetime." |
Director, Sales and Marketing LOT Polish Airlines |
| "I believe that the use of a travel agent is primordial for
international travel. A good travel agent specialized in international travel is
a professional that is in touch with it’s industry – and therefore should be
able to guide its clients through the process of setting up a trip. The US trends are reporting that consumers seek a simpler lifestyle, less stressful as well as to be more savvy in their spending habits. Setting up international travel, even through Internet, can be very time consuming and travelers recognize that some important things in life can be delegated. Travel agents have to gain the trust of their clients and provide a true service as well as added values. Once trust, confidence and ease of mind sets in the consumer’s psyche, the travel agent might have won a customer for life. Further more, even-thought the price is an important decision factor, clients will spend more in a trip if the added value they get from their travel agent is worth it. Which makes the use of a travel agent worthwhile as per the different savings – special rates – incentives they can pass along to their clients." |
Director Eastern France – North America |
| "The benefits of using a travel agent to book your holiday are numerous. Their knowledge of any travel product is much greater than most consumers and their skills enable them to perform miracles. Travel agents can prearrange your in-flight meals, book your seat assignment, request a non-smoking room and book a rental car to complete the package. They can also utilize the Internet to retrieve valuable information for you. Once you have developed a relationship, your travel agent can anticipate your needs and book your favorite seat without having to ask, book your preferred hotel and room category, track your loyalty programs, and offer upgrades and rebates – especially when renting a car. In all likelihood they have been where you are going and can provide additional information such as the best local restaurant to visit, things to do off-the-beaten path and other details related to necessary vaccinations, travel documents, and currency needs. If you use an accountant to file your taxes, why not use a travel agent to protect and enhance your travel experience?" |
| "The experience and knowledge travel agents acquire by working with and gathering feedback from a variety of travelers, allow the traditional travel agent to meet the traveler’s individual needs. Travelers benefit not only from this expertise, but also from the special rates, time efficiency, and ultimate accountability only traditional travel agents can provide." |
VP Electronic Distribution and Marketing Hyatt Hotels and Resorts Testimonial |
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"Dear Friends:
New York State is one of the most popular travel destinations for visitors from across the country and around the world, welcoming travelers to the skyscrapers of Manhattan all the way to the thundering falls at Niagara. Visitors to the Empire State can choose from a wide range of attractions, including Long Island beaches, the Adirondack and Catskill Mountains, Hudson Valley mansions, Finger Lakes wineries, the Saratoga Race Course, New York City with its Empire State Building and Statue of Liberty, the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, Alexandria Bay's Boldt Castle, Chautauqua Institution, Corning Museum of Glass, Lake Placid, and Niagara Falls. Vacationers can also take advantage of great outdoor adventures including golfing, camping, hiking, fishing, boating, canoeing, kayaking, whitewater rafting, hot air ballooning, and cross-country and downhill skiing. With all of these choices, using a professional travel agent to make vacation plans is one of the best ways to ensure a truly memorable experience. Today's travel agents are well informed about the wide variety of choices available. New York State supports the knowledge and expertise that travel agents bring to the traveling community. If you want the right ingredients for a perfect vacation getaway, consult a travel professional before you go, and enjoy all of the variety that New York State has to offer." |
George E. Pataki Governor State of New York |