You might think they are no longer required in a world where you just make an instant booking and visit comparison sites. Surprisingly, though, the role of the travel agent is far from old-fashioned. In fact, they’re thriving and running in 2024, providing expert guidance and unique opportunities for anyone looking to take their passion for the travel industry to the business level.
Today’s travel agents do not only book holidays. Some, such as those in independent networks, actually teach others how to become agents as well, allowing them (and others) to book their own travel and even build a profitable profession. In this article, we’ll dive into this question: why do people still use travel agents in 2024 and how can you get involved in this exciting business?
DIY Travel Planning Isn’t Always Easier
If you think booking your trip is a snap of your fingers across a few online platforms promising the best travel deals, you’re right. But in actuality, it’s usually more complicated than that. From there, sorting through endless options, comparing prices, trying to catch the perfect moment to book a flight and wading through a sea of hidden fees slowly chisels away at what should be a fun process into a time-consuming headache.
The Personal Touch: Expertise You Can’t Google
Even with how advanced booking platforms keep getting, they can’t reproduce the personal touch of a travel agent who knows what he or she is doing. Agents are not just in the business of finding deals; they’re in the business of matching trips to individual needs. From suggesting family-friendly resorts to finding the unknown or figuring out the best itineraries, a human touch is what makes the difference.
What independent agents do differently from algorithm-driven booking engines is provide this personalised service. Travellers who want genuine advice, not based on ratings or glowing online reviews, can trust their ears on these tastemakers, who listen to what real travellers want. Because creating trips with these special requirements or unusual requests is something mass market sites typically can’t come close to delivering this level of care.
Deals and Perks Exclusive Access
One of the biggest misconceptions about using a travel agent is that it will cost more than booking online. Independent travel agents, however, often have access to deals you won’t see elsewhere. Agents may also be able to offer upgrades and added extras that can make all the difference to a trip because of their links with airlines, hotels, and tour providers.
It’s not just a case of saving money – travelling on someone else’s dime can have its perks too including room upgrades, special experiences or complimentary service all arranged by someone that knows the best way to get good value for money. But these advantages don’t always get advertised on mainstream booking platforms, making their expertise even more valuable.
Support When Your Travel Plans Go Wrong
With the best planning in the world, things can still go wrong. Accommodations collapse; flights get cancelled; unexpected problems happen. If you have booked everything yourself, these problems are just another source of stress and another number on the pile. It’s a different story for those who work with a travel agent, however.
Agents function as a backend support structure that handles anything that comes up and provides real time solutions. The peace of mind brought by this level of backup is knowing that if travel plans go wrong, there’s someone around to help out. It’s the sort of service you simply can’t obtain from faceless booking web site.
Independent Travel Agents Are On The Rise
Travel agents are far from passe; they’ve evolved, especially in the form of independent agents that have their own networks. Many people are discovering in 2024, that being a travel agent for themselves is flexible and has potential income. No longer a profession limited to brick and mortar agencies, travel is open to the blogging industry of anyone with passion for travel.
It’s no secret that becoming an independent travel agent is a phenomenal way to enjoy freedom like few other industries will allow you to. One big draw is to run a business from anywhere, helping others explore the world, whether part time side hustle or full time career. But the travel industry is resilient and, for largely obvious reasons, people are dying to get back out traveling and the doors are beginning to open wide again.
Why Join a Travel Agent Team?
Have you ever wanted to make a living out of travel as a hobby? With a team of independent travel agents, you can do just that. Teams provide easier to get started with training, mentorship and access to the industry tools.
You can learn from those who’ve built their careers and know how to navigate travel by picking the brains of experienced agents instead of trying to figure it out yourself. You’re not just booking holidays; you’re making experiences and inspiring others to see the world. This approach also enables you to create your own business as you want it.
One added benefit to working on a team is that you will have the option to book travel for yourself and other team members as well as teach how to do this as well. This is an opportunity to create a business that goes beyond just selling trips, and to help other people become independent agents, they can become independent agents themselves, and once again take the reins of their travel, and their business, future.
This is a business model designed to flex.
Perhaps the best part of being an independent travel agent is how flexible it is. You don’t have to be stuck in a cubicle or work a 9 to 5 job. It doesn’t matter if you want to run a full time business or make some money on the side to support your other commitments.
The fact that it is flexible means that people can have a travel business that fits into their lifestyle, as opposed to lifestyle fitting into the business. With luxury travel, adventure tourism or family holidays, you can design your business around your favorite past times. Travel is a huge area, so there’s a lot of space to set yourself up exactly with respect to how it make sense for you.
Conclusion: 2024. Travel Agents, They’re Not Gone Yet
So, does anybody still use travel agents in 2024? Absolutely. Especially with independent ones, travel agents provide a level of service, support and expertise that automatic systems simply can not deliver. And they remove the stress involved with planning, find hidden deals, and they are there when things go wrong.
However, it has not only grown, it has evolved. As well as booking amazing trips for clients, they’re also showing people how to become agents themselves and owning a business while also showing people how to travel smarter. Travel is a world that, like all other markets and industries, keeps changing and there’s always opportunity for business and experience in the travel arena.
If you love travel and are searching for something beyond a booking service, the independent travel agent model is more relevant than ever. Whatever you need to do in your life, whether it be book that dream trip of yours or bring your vision to life in the form of a new venture, the options are limitless. Simply contact us and we’ll show you how to become an independent travel agent.