To use a travel agent or not?

As owner of Dugan's Travels, a travel agency, I often hear from people saying that no one uses a travel agent anymore. It is true that there are so many websites out there and it is super easy to go to a hotel chain's website and book a hotel for a couple of nights.  Anyone believing this isn't true hasn't seen the statistics showing that 65.8 of all the travel booked in 2011 was booked at the supplier's (ie Marriott, Holiday Inn etc) website.

Does this mean people are over using travel agents?  No not at all.  It is just people tend to use a travel agent for more complicated trips than a simple hotel booking.  Does this mean a travel agent doesn't want this business?  That depends on the travel agent.  At Dugan's Travels we will take any trip big or small because we want to be your go to agent for anything you need.  That being said, when I have a client who does want to make their own hotel booking, I don't shame them or act offended.  I do give them my travel agent number so that they can still do it as they want but then hopefully the agency will in turn get the credit.

I think agents who get mad or angry that someone doesn't use them is just spinning their wheels.  Some people are comfortable doing their own reservations.  Some people are just quick to the point get it done.  They remember at 1am they need a hotel for the  next week business trip.  Why not embrace it and realize that is what our world is like.  I tell friends or family, it is okay if you book it and if you put in my information if there is any problems I can help you.  Otherwise my hands are tied at what I can help you on.  I don't think they can't handle booking a simple hotel for a couple of nights.  My friends, family and clients are smart people! I believe they can do things on their own and if they need me, I am an email or phone call away.

I think as a travel agent I need to know what people are doing and not get offended but learn to embrace it.  This might be while I am still around as an agency while so many others have given up.

So to all your travelers out there, I don't feel it is right for anyone to shame you because you want to book your own travel online... just contact us so that we can have a part of it and help you if you need us!  Once our information is on a booking, we can help out.  It's okay and we still want you to be our customer!

Is being a travel agent right for me?

Of course being a travel agent from home is like any type of career, it isn’t for everyone.  However for a wide range of people, it is a great industry.  Here are some reasons travel may be good for you.

You like people.  You don’t have to like everyone but generally like people.  If you don’t, then this probably isn’t the best career for you.  You have to interact with customers and suppliers.

You enjoy helping people.  You are a consultant for people who are planning a trip.  Your job is to help your clients plan and go on trips.  You can’t be someone who is annoyed when someone asks for help.

You like to travel.  If you are a traveler yourself, you will have information on different destinations.  If you do like to travel, you can save money on your own vacations.

Everyone already calls you.  Your friends and family contact you anytime they need help making their travel plans.

You are someone who can use the Internet.  While everyone else you know can’t seem to maneuver around the web, you can get online and find just about anything.

You enjoy projects and researching things.  This is one of the areas that has made me the agent I am today.  I did not do a lot of traveling and I actually failed geography class!  But I know how to research and find out information for my clients.  I use the Internet and books to help me.

You love to dream.  I am constantly thinking of the next place I would like to go and spend hours searching for things.  My searching helps me to learn more and more about the world and places to visit.

You are not afraid to pick up the phone and call suppliers to get information.  You don’t have to know every location in the world or have traveled all to be a good agent.  If you are the type of person who will pick up the phone and call someone for help, you will do just fine.  Suppliers and there to help you plan your clients’ trips.

You are looking for a way to have a second income.  If you already have a job this business is one that won’t require you to work long hours or stay in any location for too long. 

You move around and want something you can do from wherever you are located.   As long as you have access to the Internet, you can work from home as a travel agent just about anywhere.

You have special interests.  This is a wide area.  Maybe you enjoy a particular sport or have a favorite place you like to visit.  If this is the case for you, you can specialize in what you enjoy.  Many agents will just sell one particular vacation like ski trips or golf trips.  Some will focus on a particular location like Florida or Mexico.  Some focus on things like cruises or family trips.

You enjoy learning about new things.  This is one field that you will never know everything about it.  It constantly changes and there are so many areas of travel.  There is no way no matter how long you have been in the business you will know it all.

You have always wanted to be a travel agent.  This something I am told all the time by new agents.  The travel field has always interested them.

You already know people who travel.  Maybe your friends and family travel or your full-time job requires you to book travel already for many people.  I have several agents who do the travel for the place they work already.  They say they normally book it online or through another agency and realized they could be making money from the work.

You are tired of working for someone else.  This business will be your business.  You will work for yourself and instead of working hard to make someone else rich, you will be the one profiting.

You enjoy making money.  When I worked full time as a travel agent at an agency, I would look at my weekly sales.  I used to always think about if I had been on commission, what I would have made instead of the hourly rate I made.  Now if I have a great week, I get the money from it as opposed to the same pay.  Of course, the flip side is if I have a bad week I works to my disadvantage.  There is a great incentive to work hard and be rewarded.  There is nothing like the feeling of booking a cruise and making $500 in an hour.  If you want to make money and are willing to go after it, you will make it.

You want a job that allows you to work from home.  Many of my agents just wanted a way to work at home either for family reasons like children or for health reasons.  Many just want to own their own business and have the opportunity to be at home with their children.

You don’t want a 9-5 job.  I work whatever hours I decide.  Many of my customers enjoy the fact they can call me after they get home from work.  I enjoy working late at night when my house is quiet.  Many you want to have other commitments during the day like schooling or activities that a regular job would not permit.

You want to travel.  There are great opportunities to travel as an agent.  Some require a certain amount in sales in order to allow you to participate in familiarization trips or discounts as a travel agent but they are available.

Whatever the reason for deciding for being a home based travel agent, it can be a wonderful opportunity for a variety of people.

Why become a travel agent?

People often ask me how I get paid or why they should not just make their own reservations.  Hotels, rental car companies, tour companies, cruise lines and some airlines pay a travel agent a commission on the sale.  This is not an additional amount you have to pay.  It is the same price as if the person booked it with the company him/herself or if a travel agent makes the booking.  For my agency, this is what I survive on.  Some have decided to charge fees for their services.  So why should people use a travel agent?  Many times I can get things cheaper due to all the resources I have at my fingertips.  There are some companies that only deal with travel agents so you would not be able to get their prices.  One company I deal with on a regular basis for Hawaii packages will not sell to the public and I have saved people money using this company.  A travel agent is like any personal service that you use regularly like hairdresser, doctor, lawyer, etc.  Once you find one that provides you the service you want and need, it can be a lasting relationship.

But what about all the places on the Internet that you can buy your travel?  It is a good idea to check to see if it is the deal that some may think it is.    I think that the Internet is a great resource but many think they will get a better deal than they would thru a local travel agency.  If this has been the case for you, this does not mean all agents are like this.  Or it may be a one-time deal where you did save by using the Internet.  The problem with the Internet is that there isn't that personal touch a local agent could give you.  If a problem arises, you can be in trouble.  There are also many fraudulent companies online.  I have done some research on using the internet to book travel and I have found that there are many times where the internet shopper pays more than what I can find.  Some rental car companies online charge more than what I can get my customers.  Then some agencies get better rates thru certain companies due to affiliations or sales offered only to travel agencies.  Many airline websites will not check all options because they aren't affiliated with certain airlines.  There will always be the chance of getting a special on the Internet, I won't deny that.  Some airlines are offering Internet fares only but many times a travel agent can get you the same rate.

Dugans Travels

It is now 2013 and I can't believe it has almost been 16 years since I first made the step to start Dugan's Travels.  I can hardly remember how hard it was but part of me will never forget.  So many things are different now.  When I first started taking on other moms to help them become travel agents I had no idea what to do.  Now we have a full fledge training program in place.  We now have people of all ages, races, sex, etc.. and there is no set type of person who joins us.

One thing that has been hard is learning how to deal with becoming so successful which in turn has people who want to just tear it all down.  There are so many hateful websites out there.  People posting untrue things for no reason other than to cause issues.  New companies are now coming up to fix the negative things which leads me to wonder who put the negative posts in the first place.

I am learning that all I can do is tell the true story of Dugan's Travels. I know that those who know me and our agency will see those posts for what they are.  Someone said to me the other day I should be flattered because only people who have done well for themselves are a target for people who are angry.  I am not sure if that helps any.

I am so excited for 2013 and what it will bring for the agency.  I know it is going to be an amazing year.

Jennifer Dugan
Dugans Travels