So often I hear or read online, “travel agents are dead”.  And you know what, I agree with that statement by itself.  If you think of a travel agent as someone that takes orders and just does reservations, then yes, the internet did pretty much make the “travel agent” disappear.

But I am not a travel agent.  I am a travel advisor.  And, I am part of the Virtuoso network, another important distinction.

Let’s break this down one piece at a time.  You could just as easily call a travel advisor your travel designer or creator.  We are in charge of your most valuable asset – your free time.  A travel advisor adds value by offering tips, advice, and using their extensive network of contacts throughout the world to make every trip as memorable and special as possible.  What does this look like?  When working with a client, I will ask questions like “what was your favorite trip and why” or “what didn’t go well on your last trip”?  Expect a travel advisor to ask you a lot of questions before they start making suggestions.  Together, with input of both parties, the trip is created.

What has your previous experience with traveling been like?  Do you do it all yourself, spending hours upon hours doing research?  I used to. Google is often a friend for finding information, but it also overwhelming.  You can search and search and search and finally cross your fingers and hope the information you have found is what it really is like in real life.  Or hope there wasn’t a little detail you missed in all the reviews you read that really was important.

Here is where a travel advisor makes a difference – you have google, but I have actual people.  I know the tour operators, general managers of property, or destination companies and can ask them specific questions about a custom itinerary to New Zealand or a long weekend to somewhere warm in the US in February.  I can trust the advice of these contacts because they come from my extremely well-vetted network we both belong too.

After we, together, have agreed upon the properties, I am talking to the right person to get an upgrade secured for you.  Is it a special occasion?  Yes, I am working on having a special cake delivered to your room to celebrate. My job as your travel advisor is to have every vacation be as amazing as can be.  Not only is it my “job”, I love doing it!

Before it is time to leave for your vacation, I am double checking all the details of your itinerary and pulling together all the documents for you so they are all in one nice, neat bundle at your fingertips.  No pre-vacation stress for you!  While gone, I am still keeping my eye on you and checking in with not just you but the property to make sure all is okay.  Then, when you get home, I get the pleasure of hearing all the details of your trip.  I will keep track of your favorites parts and no so favorite parts so we can continue to build amazing trips together.

The second part to “who I am” is Virtuoso.  Virtuoso is an invitation-only organization (consortium) of the world’s best cruise lines, hotels and resorts, tour operators, regional experts, airlines, and professional travel advisors.   This influential network lends to global connections providing access to exclusive travel offers a traveler cannot get on their – not even google can help there. By booking through a Virtuoso advisor, a traveler automatically will get certain value added amenities. For instance, with hotels and resorts you would expect breakfast, exclusive gifts, such as $100 food and beverage credit, potential room upgrades, early check in/late check out and more. Or, through your advisor,  you get to work with an on-site specialist, which have the local relationships and can arrange almost anything you can dream up. Think surf lessons in Waikiki, a private museum viewing, a private chef making dinner for your group after watching the Masters in Augusta – name your passion and the on-site and the advisor will work together to make it happen. Better yet, is adventure your middle name?  How does flying into sub-orbital space courtesy of Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic space flight sound? Yep – only through Virtuoso!

Bottom line – as a travel advisor, my role is to protect your most valuable asset – your free time – while adding value to your travel.