Happy Travel Agent Day!

by Daniel Nikulin May 3, 2017

written by Daniel Nikulin May 3, 2017

We rarely toot our own horn, but since today is Travel Agent Day in Canada – toot! Toot!

Let’s be honest, travel agents are an exceptional bunch. Not only do they get to tell people where to go for a living (tee hee), they’re looked upon as experts in international law, marine biology and even weather patterns. Of course we know if there will be a hurricane hitting your Caribbean island resort four months from now!

While often rewarding, organizing our clients’ travels can sometimes be a thankless job – especially for those handling online bookings, and yes, there is an actual person behind your screen. If you’re currently working with a travel consultant or have in the past, here is our top 5 list of how to celebrate their efforts on this most sacred day for Canadian travel agents.

1. Bring Them Coffee

That’s right, coffee. A grande, double espresso for good measure. In the travel biz, time is of the essence and sometimes minutes separate a family vacation from a sold out flight. There can be entire 8-hour days when a travel agent simply doesn’t have the time to leave their desk, even to step out for a quick cup of Joe. We’ll get your booking in even if it means going without what’s keeping us up, and we’ll do it with a smile. If you want a cheap and cheerful way to say thank-you, a little caffeine goes a long way.

2. Return with a Token of Appreciation from Your Trip

There’s nothing we like more than to be remembered while you’re away – unless you’re having a terrible time, of course. Returning with a little something for the agent that helped you live out your dreams is a thoughtful and appreciated act that adds value to our work, and if the gift is right, to our after-work activities too. It can be as simple as a bottle of the local hot sauce or a vintage cabernet – your call. Alcohol almost always works nicely, as winding down after a hard day is much harder to do with a fridge magnet.

3. Spread the Word!

A good travel agent is like a good mechanic – hard to come by. Luckily, we’ve got a thousand of them! (Some even award nominated!) If you’ve built a relationship with a phenomenal travel agent, tell the world. Referral business lets us know we’re doing something right, and hey, makes you look pretty good too. In Australia, it’s even cool to have a travel agent! Kind of like having a lawyer or a naturopath.

4. Make a Booking

If you’ve been on the fence, kicking the tires on a possible trip that you’ve yet to confirm, dive in on Travel Agent Day and book it up. While gifts are always nice, bookings are the best. They butter our bread and keep us doing what we do. Whether it’s a cheap one-way domestic flight or a tailor-made European adventure, they all count and they all matter. Don’t delay and book today!

5. A Simple Thank-you

Thanks, merci, gracias – any way you want to say it works for us. Want to really blow your agent’s mind? Then don’t just thank them, tell the office manager what a superb job your wonderful agent did. Everyone enjoys the warmth and recognition of a pat on the back from their boss and travel agents are no different. We appreciate your business and will always thank you for it.