What makes someone a professional travel planner?

When I was interested in making the transition from the causal friend helping people plan their vacations, to becoming a true professional vacation planner, I went about researching what sets us apart, and what value is introduced beyond simply having good information. I then coupled this together with many professional skills I have from working in the technology industry. Some examples are:

• • We are going to be professional in our correspondence – we will answer client phone calls, return voice-mails promptly, and represent them appropriately.
  • We are trustworthy with client hard earned money, and their precious vacation time.
  • We will provide advice and recommendations based on industry best practice, with answers we can stand behind – we will not offer fringe or borderline advice.
  • We represent our clients to the suppliers with the their best interested in mind – our clients have the confidence that as we deal “professional–to–professional” with our suppliers, that we have greater ability to assist them in complicated situations
  • For our suppliers, we represent their product properly, and ensuring all value is retained (not gaming for the lowest deal, or using questionable tactics to close the sale).
  • We are working for you, our clients, and your business is my priority
  • We are going to do, what we say we’re going to do, when we say we’re going to do it… (Integrity)
  • We maintain professional affiliations with CLIA, IATA, ASTA, etc
  • We are committed to learning about our field and suppliers, we don’t just sell with the limited information we have, but are actively learning more each day, and actually taking working-trips to explore and learn more about specific destinations and products.
  • We know that the “devil is in the details”, and beyond the simplicity of just booking a , we can help make the overall vacation experience better with first hand knowledge of the details such as embarkation details, planning luggage properly for the last night, better fight connections, specific travel seasons, accommodations for special needs, etc.
  • Being the “consummate host” who anticipates our client’s needs before they even realize they have a need or want.

Those are just some of the additional commitments you receive when working with me as your professional vacation planner.