I’ve had a lot of people ask me recently why my job is necessary. Why can’t people order their own transportation and hotel? Why do I need to fly to Mexico for three days to get a trip started? Why do I need to fly to Jamaica months before a trip just to see how a hotel’s conference space is laid out? Why do I need to sit in the hotel lobby every day of a trip?
I went over the day-to-day tasks of my job in an earlier post, but the answer to why I am necessary is a slightly different answer.
I’m necessary because people get very stupid in groups. When people order their own hotel, their own transportation, their own excursions, etc., they are much more responsible. They know what time they need to show up, they know how to get their transfer, they print out instructions and confirmations, etc. But when they book a package, they don’t pay attention to these details. All they know is that they are going somewhere, and everything should be handled. They sometimes don’t even know where they’re going.
I have a client who sold an international trip before the location was even announced and sold hundreds of rooms. Once the location was announced, they sold another hundred or so. It amazes me that people lose all interest in knowing the details of their travel when they buy a package, but they do. All common travel sense goes out the window.
I have people who expect me to just know when their flight arrives. If I didn’t book it, how am I supposed to know that? I’m not the best mind reader, although my job would be much easier if I was.
I recently sat next to a gentleman on an airplane who was going to a corporate retreat. He had no idea what hotel he was staying at, what city it was in, how long the flight was, who his transportation company was, etc. He wasn’t on one of my trips, but it called to the forefront exactly why I am necessary. For my group, they won’t know any of those details either, and it’s my job to make sure they get to the right place anyway.
It’s one of the perks of using a travel agent or buying a group package. You just don’t need to know all those things, and for a lot of people, that makes a huge difference in how relaxing their vacation is.
