7 Personality Traits of Great Travel Agents
1. Dependable
This trait actually encompasses several helpful human traits, such as being reliable, punctual (getting you information in a timely manner, being detail oriented) and for that matter being accurate- getting you the correct information.
2. Passionate
Of course to be successful in this industry you have to passion and be enthusiastic about what you do. In this business, there’s a lot of mind numbing details to follow up on, as well as plenty of repetition as well. But the end result, which ultimate is the delighting the client, but also the real world product, enjoying the splendor of the national parks, or the history-drenched cities of Europe, or the amazing cuisines that one encounters traveling the world, there is so much really to be excited about.
3. Specializes
Being a travel agent is sometimes like being a jack of all trades. There is so much ground to cover ( literally the world!) that no one person or company can cover it all. Many times agents have to be good generalist, because they are bound to encounter a wide range of clients. Yet the only realistic solution to the overwhelming abundance of possibilities is to specialize.
4. Builds Long Term Relationships
I think this is a real key point for all successful travel agents. If they are going to build a successful business long term, they are going to require a large stable of clients with whom they have an in-depth relationship. Clients, who they’ve known for years, who keep coming back to their travel agent because of the good service they receive, regardless of the changing itineraries. One cannot really serve a client well if they are just a name in a folder.
5. Insightful to Customers’ Value
This is a really important point that good travel agents need to get. There is a big difference between the two. Good value is something that is appropriate and pleasing to a client, regardless of the actual price tag, and cost is of course, just the price. One could sell a really cheap trip, or even an expensive one to a client, but if it is not really what they want, then it isn’t a good value no matter the cost.
6. Willing to Go the Extra Mile
This is a golden quality to have in a travel agent because sometimes, even the most carefully laid plans can go askew. When that happens, like terrible weather or an act of God spoils your vacation plans, you may already be in a foreign country or have invested a lot of time and money into the trip. When things go south, you really need an advocate on your side and someone who knows how to get you out of trouble and can quickly re-assemble new plans at a moment’s notice.
7. Authentic
This can be a hard to quantify quality, but it’s something that clients will pick up on intuitively and right away. This isn’t a person that’s just trying to push a random product on somebody because it’s available or because there’s some quota to fill. Authenticity means that the agent really does know the places they’re talking about, have been there, experienced the accommodations and services that they are recommending, from a consumer’s point of view.