As a travel advisor, your ultimate goal is to provide clients with unforgettable journeys that exceed their expectations. To guarantee that every client has the best experience possible, it’s important to have a well-structured and repeatable pre-travel process, so that when they embark on their trip, they have nothing but excitement and anticipation for it. We recommend establishing a series of communications and client touchpoints that allow you to gather essential information, set expectations and provide valuable guidance before every trip. By investing time in understanding clients’ needs and preferences, you can tailor their travel experiences and establish a strong foundation for a successful trip. So, what exactly is a pre-travel process and how does it contribute to your success as a travel advisor with a host agency?
Pre-Booking: Setting the Stage for an Unforgettable Journey
Whether you’re working with a long-time client or a new traveler seeking your expertise, start by gathering baseline information about their trip. Engage with your clients in a conversation, understanding the purpose of their journey, and any special occasion they might be celebrating. This insight allows you to curate personalized experiences that leave a lasting impression and understand the goal of their trip, even if it’s simply to relax.
Are they looking for adventure, relaxation, or cultural immersion? What kind of accommodations do they prefer? Take note of their preferred brands and loyalty programs to book the right accommodations and other services they prefer. By aligning their expectations with the travel options, you can offer, your work is easy and your client is happy.
Post-Booking: Building Excitement and Enabling a Smooth Journey
Once the booking is confirmed, it’s important to be in touch in the months and days leading up to the trip. In addition to the standard confirmations, help them prepare for their trip – and get excited for it – by providing them with destination-specific tips and tricks, including advice on safety, currency exchange, airport logistics, and essential mobile apps for navigation and checking in. Not only does this guidance demonstrate your expertise and care for their well-being, it empowers them to confidently navigate their travel experience.
In addition to practical tips, you can generate a lot of anticipation by sharing fun things to do, hidden gems you know of, and insider recommendations, taking into account what you know about them when you took the time to learn their likes and dislikes. By fueling their curiosity, you create an emotional connection and a sense of anticipation that will heighten their overall experience.
A successful pre-travel process also involves being available to address any questions that come up. You can build trust and assure them that they are in capable hands.
By investing time and effort into understanding your clients’ needs, preferences, and expectations, you can tailor their journey to near-perfection (as we all know, nothing’s perfect). A strong, repeatable pre-travel process not only benefits your clients but also reflects positively on your reputation. Use these opportunities to reinforce the value of your business, your expertise, and the personalized service they can expect every time they work with you.Want to know more about VIP-ing clients and how a host agency like Levarté Travel can help you grow your business? Check out our recent blogs and be sure to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram where we post tips, trainings and highlights from our incredible members!