One of the great things about working with travel
professionals is that they are there for you before, during and after your
vacation. They will help you select a cruise or tour, make your reservations, and
provide advice and assistance with alternate arrangements if anything goes
awry. After your vacation, they’ll want to hear about your experiences, which
will help them advise other clients and serve you better on your next trip.
And, staying in touch with your travel professional before,
during and after your vacation is getting easier. It wasn’t long ago that the
only way to contact your travel agency was by old-fashioned land-line phone, or
to take time from your day to stop in the agency’s office. Today, you can connect
with your travel professional from just about anywhere, at any time, using a desk
computer or a mobile device (studies show that 85 percent of international
travelers use their smartphones while on vacation).
Social media applications such as Facebook have created even
more new ways to connect. For example, the Cruise Holidays Facebook page, which
represents Cruise Holidays professionals across North America has more than 50,000
fans. Many Cruise Holidays franchise owners across North America also have
their own Facebook pages, where their fans/customers can connect with them, day
or night.
For example, the next time you step off a cruise ship in a
new port of call and wonder where to find a great lunch or the best local
souvenirs, post a question on your travel professional’s Facebook page. Not
only can your travel agent answer quickly, so can other customers who have been
to that location.
Savvy travel professionals are using their Facebook pages to
share great travel deals, offer prizes to customers who share their opinions
through surveys, and share links to interesting travel articles. Cruise
Holidays recently conducted a sweepstakes via its Facebook page in which one
lucky fan won a fabulous cruise for two.
Some travel agencies get their customers involved in populating
their Facebook pages, making them places for customers to post their favorite
travel photos and videos (no need to wait until you return home), post reviews
of cruise ships, or make recommendations about favorite destinations.
You can reach Anita Thompson by visiting her Facebook page: www.facebook.com/AtthetaTravel. We would love to hear from you!
