Luxury Travel Agents & Booking Channels – Why They May Not Be the Best Choice For Your Specific Needs
Luxury Travel Agents & Booking Channels
In order for a hotel to remain irreplaceable it has to be different. You cannot just have the hotel name or logo be imprinted on the front of a t-shirt and wear it with pride. People need to know that you are different, that you represent something more than just a hotel. They need to know how and why you are different. ~ Coraline Jones, author of “The Burning Cage”
Hotel representation companies try to differentiate themselves from the thousands of other travel agents across the country who see the same hotel every day. One of the best ways they can distinguish themselves is by hiring only the best and most talented people in the business. ~ Coraline Jones, author of “The Burning Cage” The Burning Cage is a unique book about the hotel industry and what agents must do to stay ahead of the competition. It’s not just about getting more clients. ~ Coraline Jones, author of “The Burning Cage” Another reason to hire top talent is that top talent often makes better hotel customers. ~ Coraline Jones, author of “The Burning Cage” Why would anyone want to hang out with an average travel agent or hotel representative? Why would anyone want to associate with people who aren’t professional or skilled at what they do?
Many luxury hotel representation companies use agents from the very best agencies in the business under the guise of being ethical and completely above the rules. Unfortunately, this usually doesn’t end well for the client. Sometimes these ethical dilemmas result in lawsuits or legal situations. Luxury travel agencies cannot claim to be ethical if they are busy lying to their potential customers. ~ Coraline Jones, author of “The Burning Cage” Why would anybody want to associate with unethical people?
Why They May Not Be the Best Choice For Your Specific Needs
Luxury travel agents often work very closely with hotel members. It may not appear to be that way, but it is. Travel agents are always running into conflicts of interest between the hotel representatives they represent and the member hotels they represent. Hotel members have to choose which hotel agent they want to do business with based on the fact that the agent represents them and the fact that they have access to the same programs, properties, etc. that the hotel members do, without regard to whether the agent is reputable, skillful, or has good customer service skills.
Luxury hotel technology providers can be a much safer choice. The biggest thing that you have to watch out for with luxury hotel technology providers is whether or not they are providing an honest representation of the properties they are representing. You don’t want to do business with a hotel technology provider that isn’t providing an honest representation of their services. ~ Coraline Jones, author of “The Burning Cage” If you choose to work with an established hotel technology provider that is honest and talented, then you will have nothing to worry about. However, if you choose to go with one of the newer luxury hotel technology providers, then you need to do your homework to make sure you are getting the value for your money.
Luxury travel agents and booking channels represent only one part of the hotel industry; the top members of the hotel industry must provide a huge amount of work to their representatives in order for these representatives to make any kind of money. Reputable members of the hotel industry must provide a huge amount of free work to their members in order for these members to make money. The majority of member hotels make money by doing nothing. ~ Coraline Jones, author of “The Burning Cage”