Travel Agent of the Day - Wednesday October 10th, 2007 - Rhonda R.
10/10/2007 10:10 a.m.
Rhonda R.
Accredited Cruise Counselor (ACC), Destination Specialist (DS)
Rhonda joined the Tripology network back in April of 2007 and has already planned some great vacations for travelers she found through Tripology.com.
How long have you been in the business?
"7 Years"
What inspired you to become a travel agent?
"I have always loved to travel and also have always enjoyed careers in sales so decided to combine the two."
Did you do anything else before becoming a travel agent?
"I was a Real Estate Agent"
Are there any great perks that come with working in this business?
"Many"
What are some of the perks?
"I have had the opportunity to participate in some amazing FAM trips to the South Pacific and even though I am 'working' during these trips I have experienced some of the best these countries offer."
What about upgrades?
"I have been upgraded to business class a number of times on the long haul flights between the US and the South Pacific."
Are there any great contests you have ever won?
"I recently won a contest related to booking clients into Hamilton Island...I had no idea that I had won so it really came as a surprise!"
Do you take a lot of vacations?
"I travel to the South Pacific at least three times per year. I also try to make at least one trip a year to another destination."
Do you travel alone or do your family and friends go with you?
"It is about 50/50...sometimes traveling with my husband and/or one of my children. My friends are always available to travel as well so I try to include them in a trip or two."
What are your favorite getaways to head off to on your own?
"Right now I would probably say the Cook Islands. My husband and I have fallen in love with this destination and are planning our third trip back this coming winter."
Do you inadvertently work a lot when you are on vacation? - scouting hotels, activities, tours and sites?
"I am always 'working' when traveling...When I am traveling with a family member on vacation I try to experience the destination as a client would which is also very important."
How many clients do you have right now?
"I currently have 880 names in my database- that is made up of potential clients, current clients and past clients. I am currently working on about 20 trips and have about the same number booked and under deposit for the South Pacific. I also have a hand full of trips to other destinations that I currently have booked."
Do you work with a partner?
"I just recently hired an assistant."
Office or home?
"Home"
Do you limit how many clients you can work with at one time?
"At this point I have not had to limit the number of clients. I was to a point though that in order to continue to grow and expand I needed to add an assistant to handle some of the day to day activities needed in order to maintain the level and quality of service that I would like to provide to my clients."
Websites such as, Orbitz, Expedia, and Travelocity have given the opportunity to travelers to book trips without a travel agent. Have you found this to be a problem for you?
"Not with the destinations that I specialize in."
What are you doing to convince travelers that a travel agent is a better option?
"Again with my destination specialization I do not run into too many problems."
If a traveler asks you, "Why should I use a travel agent," how do you respond?
"I just have to point out all the complexities involved in booking Australia and New Zealand. I also point out that I and my wholesaler book several 1000 people each year and that we have established relationships with the accommodations. Thus, affording my clients the best rooms and in the event there is an issue definitely the best service in getting that issue resolved."
Have any travelers given you any horror stories of experiences they had trying to book a trip on their own?
"I have heard a few. Mostly ones where they arrive at the destination and the property is not at all like what was represented on the internet."
Do you have any tips for the listening travel community?
"Always ask for a travel agent's credentials...have they been to the destination they are selling you? How many times? Do not be afraid to ask for references from past clients."
What's the most exciting trip to book right now for you?
"Anything to Australia and New Zealand. I am especially enjoying some of the two and three month trips that I have had the opportunity to plan for the upcoming travel season."
What are the best ways for people to see the South Pacific?
"There is a wide array of cruise products to the South Pacific right now. And I am finding that combining a cruise experience with a land based experience has been a great way to see these destinations if the client has the time."
What would you say is your most popular destination request right now?
"Two-Three weeks down under."
There's a lot of buzz about specialization these days, and how destination expertise is still a great value proposition for travelers. Why do you think agent specialization is important to have when travelers are trying to book the trip?
"There is no way that any agent can say that they know the world. I am aware that there is still a "school" of agents out there that believe they have to be everything to everybody. I honestly believe you are doing your client a disservice when you are booking a destination, particularly a foreign destination, that you have not personally been to or experienced firsthand. I have been fortunate to be able to form a network of agents in my area and across the country that all have specializations in particular parts of the world and we regularly refer clients back and forth to each other."
What does it mean to be specialized to you?
"Finding a destination, a type of travel or a group of travelers that you can relate to and feel passionate about."
Is it focusing on only 1 thing and traveling there every year?
"I do believe that it is focusing on one area, one type of travel, one market segment and then getting to know everything you can about that specialization. Whether it means taking classes, traveling to the destination, joining clubs, etc..."
Do travelers ask a lot if you have been to where they are trying to book their trip?
"My clients often have very specific and detailed questions. I have brought electrical adaptors to presentations, luggage, foreign currency or whatever it is they want to know more about."
How specialized is too specialized? Is this possible?
"I don't think that is possible and it really depends on the book of business you want to create."
If someone were to call you and ask for a once in a lifetime vacation idea, what would you suggest?
"Australia, New Zealand, and one of the South Pacific Islands. These destinations are like no other...they offer a wide range of activities and can suit any type of lifestyle or vacation request."
Funniest thing you have ever been asked?
"I had a call once from a person that wanted to drive from the US to Australia because she was afraid of flying. I also had an inquiry once from two travelers that had about $1000 to spend and wanted to do a three night long weekend trip to Sydney from the United States."
Tags: travel agents of the day
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