WHITE PAPER Written and Researched by TTS THE AGENT’S SURVIVAL GUIDE

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Dear Travel Agent,

You’ve probably heard some people say, “Travel agents are a dying breed.” We usually reply, “Far from it!”.

At TTS, our team has been working with travel agents for many years. By dealing with their requests and hearing their needs, we decided to write this white paper providing tips and guidelines to survive in times when the travel industry has been rapidly changing due to new technologies and information.

In the pages that follow, our intention is to show you, the travel agents, how to turn technology and the nowadays challenges in your favor.

We hope you enjoy,

The TTS Team

P.S. Drop us a message at [email protected] if you have any questions or doubts.

2 ABOUT TTS – TRAVEL TECHNOLOGY & SOLUTIONS

TTS is a global leading player in the development of innovative solutions for the travel and industry.

Operating in over 80 countries, managed through three offices – Miami, Lisbon and the Azores Islands (R&D Team). TTS is also a Travelport Partner, belonging to the Travelport Developer Network.

TTS team is a buildup of people with backgrounds in travel agencies, GDS, , and . These backgrounds combined are a great advantage to understand the market and its needs.

There are plenty of solutions in the market, excellent solutions, and TTS’ goal is not to do better solutions than those, but to solve the unsolved.

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CUSTOMER SERVICE SURVIVAL SKILLS

Travel, as we know it, has changed forever thanks to the internet. Travelers are now able to completely arrange every aspect of their trips through the internet, wherever they are in the world. What does this mean for travel agents? Fortunately, modern software and systems allow travel

4 agents to take care of their clients simply security and stability. The custom domain and efficiently. emails make an agency sound more professional and trustworthy. So, assuming There’s more, however, to the travel your ’s name was Travel agent’s 21st-century survival kit. It takes Corner, you would customize your company personalizing and specializing along with the email to [email protected]. technology adaptations. How does this all work? Let’s explore each aspect in Considering you have already a quite large more depth. list of customers, you can take your communication techniques to the next level COMMUNICATION by tapping into newsletters. They can help you build relationships with your customers and prospects. Furthermore, by using email- Your travel agent survival kit is going to marketing services, you can customize your have a wide variety of tools in it. The first emails depending on your target/audience piece that will go into your kit is and the type of travel your customers are communication. You have to be an effective after. communicator across a variety of platforms including both written and verbal. Emails Let’s say for instance that you have and social media platforms require the skill prospects interested in . What of writing concisely and clearly. Then there you could do is send a beautifully designed is the ability to answer the phone and email including pictures of the top 10 handle your client’s situation well. All the destinations for the upcoming knowledge you possess is of no use if you year. Or imagine some of your clients are can’t communicate clearly. senior travelers, you’ll then have to think about selecting content that piques their interest, such as opportunities of immersing EMAILS in deep experiences or information related to physical accessibility in hotels,

, and airplanes. We recommend Gmail, which offers free accounts as well as a service for custom domain email that incorporates Google

5 We are hereby giving you three options for Be aware that prices are always changing, the best email marketing services to make so make sure you check their website for up an account: to date price and conditions.

• MailChimp – This is ideal for beginners since it’s free for up to 2,000 SOCIAL MEDIA subscribers – and you can send up to 12,000 emails per month. As for the paid plans, the price ranges from $10 to Travel agents should use social media. It is $199 per month, depending on the critical for you as a travel agent to be able number of subscribers, with the ability to use a variety of different communication to send unlimited emails. You can methods, too. Though Millennials are the estimate your monthly rate based on ones who currently dominate social media, your subscribers or list size here. everyone is finding their way there and using social media as one primary way to • Constant Contact - You can get reach airlines and other groups in their started for as little as $18 per month, travel plans. If you are not using social after a 30-day free trial, or you can opt media yet, you should strongly consider for a more professional plan starting at changing that right away. The top sites to 40$ per month. Find out everything use are Twitter, Facebook, Instagram. here. Here are some of the main reasons to • iContact - Pricing ranges from $14 for consider social media as a travel agent, 500 subscribers to as far as $299 for expressly if you’re specialized in a certain 50,000 subscribers per month. Check type of travel: out the pricing plans according to your business needs here. • Establish yourself as an expert by posting regular updates and tips Check other options here and choose the about destinations or about the email marketing service that best fits your technicalities of a trip, all of these can agency needs and the number of clients to contribute to showing people that they whom you wish to send your newsletters to. can trust you because you have the knowledge, you know each and every

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• Build consistent relationships with your customers and prospects. Take the chance of being “Someone to talk to…”. People nowadays are constantly checking their Facebook, they spend at least 20 minutes a day on Facebook, so it is much more comfortable to interact with a company in an environment that feels familiar. Therefore, building your travel agency Facebook page would come much more in hand not only to answer questions about the deals you may offer and any other travel related question but also to see how you’re rated if you have a strong identity (associated with a strong online presence). In short, anything that could make your customers and potential customers trust YOU more.

• Hearing what your customers say will help you improve your services and the way you deal with each type of client. Being present on social media, where everyone is present, is about opening yourself, be ready to respond and monitor what is told about your travel agency brand.

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HOW ELSE CAN SOCIAL MEDIA BENEFIT YOU?

You should first look at it as a complement to your current marketing strategy, instead of replacing it. You can use social media as a way to communicate with those who might otherwise not interact with you using other means.

Social media also enables you to answer questions or address concerns. How a company reacts to posts and messages can truly make or break a business relationship, and a bad response can go viral quickly, something that can significantly damage a company for a long time to come.

Social media also allows your clients to contact you at a time that is convenient for them. Remember to check your account (or accounts) on a regular basis for any questions or concerns that have come in. That time and care will go a long way towards earning your clients’ trust – and their business.

It’s vital that nowadays travel agents are available not only face-to-face or via phone/email, but that they too are using

8 social media to engage with their clients quite like lovely images and reach new ones. What kinds of that allow users to feel like they success might you achieve if you are there. You should allow your clients do? To start with, you’ll be ahead of your to post their own photos and reviews from competitors that still don’t have a social recent trips on your Facebook wall or media presence. And you also need to Instagram account. This makes it much consider the impact of social media in every more personal and less like a sales step of a trip -from choosing, planning and opportunity, like Zicasso’s review page. booking the trip to the time the traveler experiences it and later shares it with Having a branded hashtag (eg. others - in order to benefit from it. Here are #TravelisMagic) will enable the travelers to some examples of this impact: identify themselves with a place or a feeling of the type of travel you provide, thus • 27% of travelers use social media when making them part of a community. It will researching their destinations. also enable followers to see what you are • 52% of Facebook users said friends’ offering. Hashtags like those used on photos inspired travel plans. Instagram and Twitter let followers sort • 55% of people like social media pages images by destination or your agency for related to trips they are planning. even more experiential opportunities. • 85% of leisure travelers use their You gain brand awareness at the same time smartphones while abroad. from people looking to discover new travel • 76% of people post vacation photos on destinations. social networks. Furthermore, when writing content on So, learn how to use your clients’ referrals social media, always include your brand’s and user-generated content and the power hashtag and other relevant hashtags that of social media to your business advantage. will direct people to your content, inclusively your social media page whenever When you start using social media, you can they are looking for a hashtag /keywords. be as creative as you want. Try posting photos with descriptions about the travel Other agencies offer discounts and special destinations included in your clients’ bonus offers to their clients on social media packages. Nothing sells a great platforms, to entice people to follow them

9 on social media and share the word about • Facebook allows you to expand on the service they receive. Viral marketing like ideas and invite discussions from your that is a great piece to include in your followers. You can also use it instead of toolkit. a blog site to showcase your knowledge and expertise. Facebook is used by most Some travel agencies have offered special people around the world of any of the contests like all-expense paid trips to social media sites and posting even one certain destinations for those who agree to thing a day will get you the most impact. like them on Facebook or share vacation This is also where you can expend the adventures and fill out some additional majority of your energy interacting with contact information. clients and solving any travel issues.

Building a campaign for • Instagram is perfect for the visual promoting, let’s say, summer deals aspects of travel. Imagine the power of on social media is much cheaper a photo of the gorgeous sunsets of than appealing to traditional Hawaii when you are based in a New advertising, like radio, TV or England office and it’s the depths of magazine ads and banners. wintertime. That photo alone will invite people to call or message you and ask You’ll find that spending just a little time how they can get there. This is an ideal every week on your social media sites can platform to incentivize posts (with your have a huge return on your investment. hashtag) by offering contests and prizes There are books and resources out there to to guests with the best Instagram photo. learn how to best use each one in the most effective way possible. Each site is unique No matter how you want to use social and should be used differently. For media, go into it with a plan. ASTA said that instance, since you can only use Twitter 280 the reason most of the agencies they characters at a time, it’s best used for short, surveyed were not successful using social pithy, memorable ideas or exclusive media came not from using it, but rather by discounts and other offers. You may wish to using it incorrectly or randomly. You won’t start with just one and add to your portfolio usually become an overnight hit, but like a as you move forward. Other social media garden, with careful planning and sites include: cultivation, you will see steady

10 improvement. media sites are the new word of mouth and are the biggest reason For taking the burden of planning your travel agents should use social social media content, there are tools that media. help you manage your different social media channels, from Facebook to Twitter Learn more about how travel agents should and Instagram. We recommend one of use social media! these tools below that have a complete bundle of features and offer a very intuitive dashboard where you can see all your social ORGANIZATION streams, the scheduled content, track your brand mentions, and insights into your social media traffic, engagement, and reach You also have to be organized. The Internet of your posts. age means that everything moves quickly. Being systematic means, you will be able to • Hootsuite – You have a free plan, find exactly what you need when you need which is ideal if you are an independent it and find it fast. For that, you can use to- travel agent or a professional plan for do-lists, or structure your email information only 25€ per month. in theme folders (but careful, not too many, otherwise it might turn into something • Buffer – You can choose between a entropic). Your client needs an answer free starter plan, or a pro plan starting immediately when he or she contacts you at 15$ per month, both with a limited because likely a situation has come up that number of posts and associated social is requiring an answer. Shuffling through accounts. Either way, you can try both files takes time and time is not your friend. versions for free here. To facilitate not only the communication in Whichever method of social media you your travel agency but the way the choose to use, or combination of platforms information is stocked and distributed, we you use, you will need to devote time to recommend you three cloud-based hosting monitoring incoming messages as well as platforms that will make stocking and search the major search engines to see sharing files between you and your what people are saying about you. Social colleagues so much easier.

11 Using one of these services will also allow Retirement travelers sometimes have you to have access to your documents and unique needs, in case they are not in the files wherever you are. greatest health or they are traveling with mobility aids. • Google Drive Millennial travelers are the next group • OneDrive you can choose to specialize in. This is the • Dropbox single travel group with the perfect confluence of time, money, and energy. Be aware that prices are always changing, They love to go on extended adventure so make sure you check their website for up trips, also known as experiential trips. They to date price and conditions. want to form memories that they won’t ever forget and to do so before they settle down into houses and families. Knowing SPECIALIZATION what they want and how to provide it for them is a skill unto itself.

Specialization can be your ally. If you are is also growing in superb at problem-solving, this can be your the travel industry as a valuable economic niche in the agency office. Or, perhaps you tool and it’s time to take into consideration are exceptional at making travel the impact of niches like , arrangements for large groups that have voluntourism or even pro-poor tourism in many plans for their trip. Then again, you the industry. can specialize in working with certain groups, or with selected destinations. Even Whether the trip is booked as part of a if you are a top agent in all areas, being a group or just an individual traveler on his or specialist can make you more sought-after. her own, your advice and guidance are important. All too often, the Millennials will People sometimes want an agent who does think they can do it all themselves, from nothing but honeymoons. They know that booking to finding places to go and stay. you will understand exactly what it is they And all too often, they find themselves in are looking for and you will be able to need of a travel agent to help them once create the most magical trip of a lifetime for the idealistic notion of time away wears off. them. Against all odds, Millennials are actually the

12 most likely to hire a travel agent. You can Some want to go check out the food scene help get them from destination to while others are interested in kayaking or destination while still respecting their desire museums. to be absolutely free of any burdens. The Connecting to a mobile app allows for a Millennial market is a way for you to have a completely personal experience, too. Each distinctive niche in the market, and a way to person can be in charge of his or her own have some serious income coming in. itinerary, a component called hyper- If you can find a way to act more as a personalization. Being a part of that consultant and less as an old-fashioned personalization as an agent is essential to agent, you will find more success with the your success, too. youth market. Be active on social media sites where Millennials typically spend their Travel technology for travel agents’ online time and then market ideas in solutions is part of personalization. By interesting and unique ways to enjoy keeping up on all of the technology, you can themselves on their trip and you will have keep up with your clients and what they people coming to you instead of you trying want and need, perhaps even before they to seek them. realize it. It will require some hard work on your part ensuring that you have the latest Millennials are making quite a statement in technology, but the payoff is tremendous. the industry and as time goes by, this Lightning fast updates that you can give to market will continue to develop. Surviving your clients will put you first in their minds. the rapid changes in the market takes skill, but it will be essential to capturing this No matter how much travel agent corner of the industry. technology you know, however, you have to be the person your client can call with any See more about how travel agents can enter issue. This is why you are in the business as the youth market! a travel agent – to serve your clients. Even with all of the websites out there, PERSONALIZATION people still look to travel agencies to help them make their travel plans because of that human Everyone wants something different when touch and because travel agents they travel, even within the same family. can really cut through all the noise

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And don’t forget the importance of Big Data in the travel industry: this trend that bases itself on statistical data gathered from online consumer behavior exploded in recent years, and is vital to look at it as an ally. Big Data allows you to gather information about your clients in order to create more personalized and customized travel experiences that totally meets and serves their needs.

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CORPORATE TRAVEL IS A BIG SLICE OF THE TRAVEL PIE

Corporate travel is an evergreen wave – it started in the past and it will still roll in the future. It is one of the places you can specialize that will be a solid choice for years to come. It continues to be a growing industry and with the globalization of the economy and the relative affordability of international travel tickets, is as popular as it has ever been.

If you choose to specialize in travel for SME, you’ll find that with solutions like TTS Corporate you'll have access to technology which before was only available to big travel agencies.

15 You can still specialize in travel arranging for in a safe location. Read here how larger companies since they have to account travel agents deal with crisis situations. to their shareholders and often company travel is one of the places to focus on saving Corporate travel agents can also procure money. Increasingly, company travel has confirmed upgrades for their clients, which been outsourced to agencies, so being able means the client can fly and to match the needs of the trip to a cost- take advantage of greater space to relax effective way to achieve the goals is more and arrive rested, or amenities like free wi-fi important than ever. Financial accounting and power outlets so he/she can keep has to be accurate and fast, without working, even at 38,000 feet. Things like sacrificing the service business people are being able to check out later when your used to from their travel managers. client has an important client meeting in the morning let the traveler relax and take care Online travel agencies (OTAs) have of business instead of worrying about what their place but sometimes nothing to do with his luggage. When corporate can replace the human travel agents can provide that for their connection, especially in the clients, and do it well every time, they can corporate world. The internet might be truly distinguish themselves in the new full of travel websites and portals which world-based economy and set themselves allow corporate travelers to become their up for years to come. own travel agents and save the company some money, but booking through a “My time is very valuable. It doesn’t matter knowledgeable corporate travel agent how good a website or an online app is. The allows them to tap into the technology for value of experienced and connected travel agents that gives them the ability to business travel managers and business include perks that basic internet travel sites travel agencies who take care of my travel can’t. There are many people who only arrangements and offer me peace of mind is understand the importance of travel agents far greater than any savings that I would when a natural disaster occurs. Travel make on these websites”. This is just one agents play an essential role from getting example of a business traveler who spends their clients back home safe and on the next almost 100 nights traveling each year. You plane to moving someone staying in a top can check other reasons on why business resort in an affected location to another top travelers still prefer travel agents.

16 To help you be an effective corporate travel doesn’t stop because of a time zone agent, TTS Corporate was created to be difference, so you need travel technology a company’s travel booking best friend. solutions that work. Agencies, of any size, can use the tool for their small and medium-sized companies And since the corporate travel world keeps and win them over OTAs. TTS Corporate evolving fast it’s important to know who is designed to be the ideal bridge between are today’s business travelers and companies and you, with customizable how they behave in order to become options that will match what you want to do the best corporate travel planner. in your agency. It saves a lot of time from calls and exchange of emails between the Find out more about this corporate client and the travel agent. booking solution for everyone!

The solution itself is so easy to use that you don’t even need any in-depth training. Travel agencies can easily customize the booking environment according to their and their clients' business needs. The booking experience works much like an e-commerce website where travelers or arrangers can search and add several products to their shopping cart to complete the booking for all products at the same time. And if companies have different groups of travelers with specific travel restrictions, each user group will have their own travel policy. Everything is done in a simple and intuitive way.

Plus, TTS Corporate is available on mobile platforms, so you can assist your business clients wherever they are – and wherever you are. The 24-hour world

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THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY IS ALL ABOUT MOBILITY

No more are you expected to have to sit at a desk all day, every day. No longer do you have to sit with a phone under your ear. Technology has freed up travel agents to work from anywhere and to use whatever devices work best for them at that given

moment.

18 For instance, the mobile application, no longer work 9-5 in the same time zone Travelport Mobile Agent, allows you you do, and being able to be there for them to access your Travelport GDS and lets you is crucial. Your ability to be a mobile travel do anything you would do in the office at agent and to have a mobile-friendly website the local coffee shop, even down to issuing will set you apart from your competition. tickets. You can do all of the research you That is why you need to choose carefully need for your clients, update and make your website template (if that is the case). reservations, and contact your clients by e- Though modern smartphones have the mail. This lets you start ability to zoom and shrink the screen image, your day in the office, and finish it outside the cleaner interface of a dedicated mobile on the patio, so you can do whatever you site is preferred. If your client has to choose need to do and never miss a beat. between your mobile site and a competitor’s that is not optimized, guess If you are in charge of doing a lot who your client will pick? Your mobile of work for corporate travel, you abilities and software options are can be at conventions traveling some of the greatest assets you and still be able to handle your can have in your toolkit. clients’ needs and requests. You can make changes on the flights for your clients Part of mobility is also the ability to wherever you are, whether they need to effectively communicate by phone and by e- extend a trip or change their plans to head mail, about which we already talked in the to another destination instead of back to first chapter. This gives you the flexibility to home, even when you are at home. take care of things well no matter where you are. Your clients know that, too, and More people are traveling than in years they will greatly appreciate it. past, and since your clients are using their Read here why mobility is a must- mobile devices at an increasing rate and have in a travel agent’s life. since one in five people in the world has a smartphone, your ability to connect with them in the same way they connect to you is critical to your success. Remember, as we said before, your clients

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TECHNOLOGY AND BEING TECH-SAVVY

Besides embarking upon social media networks that play a huge role in improving your customer service, you have to have the travel technology solutions to survive in the 21st-century. There is no way to avoid it.

Your ability to use travel agent technology and adapt it quickly to your business means you can not only keep up with the web

20 travel sites, but you can also gain business members. 2I0t used to be the gold standard share thanks to demonstrating your speed for all travel agencies, meaning they and ability to use the software and to couldn’t issue tickets without having an provide that personal touch that no website IATA certificate. Yet, now it is possible can. Getting instant information from the to be a non-IATA agency and still airlines and cruise ship companies is be a key player in the industry, valuable and can give you the ability to plan able to work and participate fully the perfect trip with no problems caused by in the industry, just like an IATA a lack of information. For that, Travelport travel agent. GDS is one of those assets, or shall we say, partners, that you must have. It’s improved While IATA gives support to its partners, it is over time to become one of the industry’s possible to use modern software to do leading global distribution systems. many of the same things that IATA travel agents can do. No longer do you have to Moreover, the GDS enables you to create a receive the accreditation from the complete trip reservation based on association nor do you have to exclusively accurate, up to the minute information. You obtain your training from them. There are a will have a full international reach that considerable number of travel agencies enables you to book a reservation that dropping or not going for the IATA due to includes everything from planes, trains, the financial impact. A travel agency can automobiles, cruise lines, and hotels. operate normally without IATA certification however, they cannot issue tickets making it You are also able to create GDS client a bit more difficult. However, TTS profiles, where you can store all the Consolidator is the solution to solve that information about Mr. John and when Mr. problem, reducing the costs for both the John returns to your agency, you'll know consolidation players: IATA and non-IATA that he wants an aisle seat, or a non- travel agents. smoking room, or a kosher meal. Once again, personalization. What are you giving up by not Another important part of travel technology being an IATA member? IATA is related to the International Air agencies have the ability to book and issue Association (IATA), which offers just about their tickets on any of the IATA member 85% of all available seats to its airlines easily and they receive an

21 accreditation that gives them a Travel desktop, there is the TTS Web Agent Industry Designator code. That code also solution. It allows users to have a similar means you can book trips throughout the experience to the app, but you can use it on industry with many other tourism computers, and it’s universal across the companies. The code identifies you and major operating systems – Mac, Windows, means your sales will all be labeled properly or Linux, since it runs on the browser so you and foreign transactions will be easier to don’t need to download or install it. Plus, book and easier to track. you can work from the comfort of your home or in a variety of offices if you need to Because IATA membership and training are – the choice is yours. Both Travelport not cheap, an increasing number of Mobile Agent and TTS Web Agent agencies are dropping their certification or synch easily so that you continue your work just not obtaining it in the first place. even if you switch devices.

The question that remains, in the Moreover, you must look at end, is to IATA or not-to-IATA? conquering the world of online travel and divert energies and Being able to adapt and respond to resources in building up your technology for mobile travel agents and all online presence that is almost as of the components that go with it set you important as the in-house apart and give you a way to survive in a technologies you offer. To help you market that can be extraordinarily with this, TTS WeBook Suite is a competitive. A solution for travel agents powerful tool in your kit. This is particularly who want to be mobile is the Travelport true for small travel agencies. Small agency Mobile Agent app that is available for travel agents must not only provide Apple, Android and Windows Phone exceptional and customized services to their devices. It gives you the flexibility you’ve clients; they must also work to grow their always wanted - meaning you can work business. from anywhere at any time, no matter if your client is halfway across the world or Solutions like TTS WeBook Suite allow right next door. you to strengthen your online presence and improve your customer experience by For those who prefer to use a laptop or a presenting your clients with a professional

22 website with a booking engine. Any search mobile devices. You can also get news engine that offers an easy booking system, updates and other travel-related supports the primary GDS cores and works content that might be of interest to you. with any Internet browser, operating system, and a platform is most welcome. • TripCase. Another free app that helps both you and your clients get real-time You also have to be up on what updates on their flight statuses or your clients are using so you can changes, , and transportation know what they are doing, what they need, information, and so on. Clients who use and how you can help them, whether they TripCase can also input their entire are in your office or at home in their itinerary in the app for easy access and pajamas. updates.

Having the right travel technology • Travefy’s Trip Plans. This tools for when they are needed is unbranded app is available on both iOS also crucial. Nothing is worse than and Android system and gives you the realizing something you need ability to create and update your clients’ after you need it. itineraries, trip plans, and quotes wherever you are and send them to There are applications for travel your clients right away. agents, which are becoming more important as part of a travel agent’s toolkit, particularly mobile travel agents. There are several that are so essential they should be thought of as mandatory. You can meet your clients’ needs quickly and in a way that gets information and changes to them at just about the speed of light. The apps certainly work in real time. They include:

• Travelport Mobile Agent. This is the previously mentioned app that you can use on iOS, Android or Windows

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CONCLUSION

So, what have we learned? Technology is here to stay, and the best part is, it’s useful. You’ll be able to do things that would have kept you in the office all the time. Freedom of variable hours and freedom to work anywhere are now possible.

Social media can be one of the greatest tools you have at your disposal, particularly the most popular platform, Facebook. If you don’t already have a Facebook page, you should set one up right now, and start filling it with interesting posts plus what travel deals are going on, just to name a few ideas.

But don’t forget what else is out there, including Twitter and Instagram. All of this will turn your relationship with the customer more personal and with a higher speed of response.

We’ve also seen how corporate travelers

24 prefer specialized travel agents when the regularly reassessing your travel business. If range of needs becomes complex. you wish to have a thriving business you need to constantly look at new possibilities, Travelport Mobile Agent is one of reevaluate old models and technologies, your strongest allies in the booking world. and keep learning how to be on the leading It’s truly the first solution you’ll find that edge of change to help meet the constant allows you mobile access to Travelport GDS, flexing needs and desires of your clientele. granting you complete mobile freedom and security and a mobile platform that works We wish you the best of luck building your no matter where you are, no matter what survival toolkit, and for more travel agent time of day or night it is. technology information, plus tips and tricks of the trade, you can subscribe to our blog The old days of having to belong to IATA are and check out Ask Travelport for Travelport no more, and with the technological GDS Tutorials! You’ll learn more about the opportunities that are out there, the industry and gain helpful information that relation between the IATA and the non-IATA you can use to better your career. travel agent is considerably facilitated. Moreover, applications for travel agents give you added flexibility and control over your business in ways that were not possible even just a few years ago.

Remember to take advantage of the best available tools to brand your business. Never before have so many high-quality, high power tools and the convenience to use them been available to travel agencies, and if you are willing to use the available tips then the future of your travel agency is likely one of engagement with clients, steady revenue, and ultimately success.

And don’t neglect the importance of

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WHAT OUR “What I truly enjoy about the TMA is both the ease and rapid response of the system. Using near intuitive software, it allows quick access and USERS SAY constant updates of my entire office’s PNR’s. Utilizing a large variety of tools, it gives me the ABOUT confidence to manage all of my reservations no matter where or what I am doing.”

- Mark Feldman CEO @ Ziontours Jerusalem

“I love Travelport Mobile Agent! It's

nice to be able to look up schedules “As a home-based retail travel and irregular operations when I am agent with interaction with clients out of the office or traveling. I've in their own environment I find used it both for myself and for Travelport Mobile Agent the perfect clients! The days of having to worry ‘on the go’ tool to allow me access about carrying a laptop to have to my GDS/Galileo anywhere, access to my clients' reservations are anytime and it’s peace of mind to over - this is a must-have application know whatever I am personally in today's world of 24/7 doing I am always able to rebook my accessibility.” travelers or help them 24/7.”

- Debbie Tate - Robyn Sinfield Manager @ University Travel Service Manager @ Home Travel Company

27 “I have been using “Travelport Mobile Agent” for well over a year. It has revolutionized the way I work. As a one “man” business, this makes getting away so much easier and less stressful. I can check queues, make bookings and changes pretty much whatever I can do at my desk but “on the go”. I have it on my iPad and no longer lug my laptop wherever I go. I can still work even whilst waiting for a doctor’s appointment. I can highly recommend this handy “app”.

- Pip Abbott Travel & Manager @ Veritas Events

“Customer service is key and in today’s fast paced world Travelport Mobile Agent allows instant access to our booking and data, 24/7, enabling us to extend our service proposition and increase customer satisfaction.”

- Anne Bromley

Corporate Director @ Travel Bureau

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