17 September 2009

Can travel agents be trusted?

LONDON - One in four holidaymakers do not trust travel agents, according to an UK survey of over 2,000 consumers.

The research, commissioned by independent health and safety experts Check Safety First and carried out by Opinion Matters, found more than 25 percent of consumers who booked a holiday through a travel agent felt their trip didnââ¬â¢t accurately reflect the description in the brochure.

ââ¬ÅâœIf you think back to 15 years ago, the only way you could book a holiday was through your local travel agent, whose brochures and advice you had to trust,ââ¬~ said Steve Tate, chairman at Check Safety First.

ââ¬ÅâœNow holidaymakers donââ¬â¢t need to rely solely on travel agentsââ¬â¢ advice and can read honest, unbiased opinions from travellers whoââ¬â¢ve recently visited the hotel.ââ¬~

He said travel review websites look beyond the ââ¬Åâœgloss of the brochuresââ¬~, which only cover resort facilities such as swimming pools and distance from the beach, and donââ¬â¢t grade the hotelââ¬â¢s customer service, ambience or hygiene standards.

ââ¬ÅâœI would encourage people to research their holiday destination online before booking, but bear in mind that each travellerââ¬â¢s opinion will be based on a limited experience,ââ¬~ he added.

ââ¬ÅâœTravel agents must be able to provide advice on the more subjective aspects of a holiday. Those who do this will remain successful as holidaymakers will return to ones they feel they can trust.ââ¬~

Check Safety First works with UK hotels, advising on health and safety best practice.

By Bev Fearis, TravelMole UK

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• Travel 'Specialists?'
  
  

  IMO...the travel industry has only itself to blame. What is a specialist? one who has taken a rudimentary test set by a Tourism Office or Trade Supplier to promote their own destination or product. Where is been there, done that, got the t-shirt? Travel Agents with knowledge, experience and expertise (kee skills), if they did not take the same test, were, and are not, considered 'specialists' The public is not stupid and now has more choices than ever....tony@thetoptravelclu.com

  By Tony Humphrey, Sunday, October 4, 2009
• Ouch! to the web everyone!
  
  

  So why do agents get to cream a commission if there's no trust, integrity or assurance? No wonder web is taking over, just a shame it's being cornered by wholesalers where service is considerably slack if not non-existant.

  By Simon McManus, Thursday, September 17, 2009