Why would you sell one operator vs. another?
Recently, a tour operator asked me, "What would make you sell one tour operator over another?" In typical greedy travel agent fashion, I answered, "Have them give us an incentive, a gift certificate over and above any commission we might earn."
I thought about that as I rode home on the subway, reading the May 19 edition of Travel Weekly. And then I thought about it much more as I watched the news coming out of China and Myanmar.
In that edition of Travel Weekly was a piece written by Michelle Baran called "Tour operators aid China, Myanmar efforts."
It went on to talk about what three tour operators were doing: coordinating efforts through local groups to provide food and cooking oil products and transporting them to the delta via Yangon; distributing water filters locally; and assisting humanitarian relief efforts by donating excess inventory and supplies, including clothing, towels and drinking water.
I am sure that whatever these three operators are doing it is just a drop in the bucket. Yet they are doing something.
What is the tour operator who asked me how to get my business doing? What are other tour operators and travel agencies here in New York and the rest of this blessed country doing to aid the countries to which we send so many of our clients?
I was asked what would make me sell one tour operator over another. All things being equal, I would, today, choose that tour operator that was "giving back" to the local community in times of need, whether it be after a cyclone or an earthquake or a flood or a fire or just working to help a local school or orphanage or senior center.
Today, I would book a tour with one of the companies mentioned in the article. I could just as easily book with X, Y, or Z tour operator, but first tell me where their hearts are in this very fragile world.
Bob Kunikoff
RJK Travel Ltd.
New York
A thank you to Richard Turen from a travel agent ....
I just read Richard Turen's column "A letter to the moms of America's agents" [May 19] four times. You summed up so perfectly who we are and what we do.
Almost daily I ask myself what else I could do for a living. After 34 years of airline strikes, deregulation, hurricanes, ships sinking, wars, etc. (all of which, according to our passengers, is somehow our fault that we didn't see it coming in the crystal ball), I think I should just give it up. Then I read your "letter to mom" and remember why I'm still doing this. Thank you. I've cut the article from the magazine and put it in my memory box. I hope somebody reads excerpts of it at my funeral.
Coleen Czechowski
Gorge Travel
Lewiston, N.Y.
... and a thank you from a travel agent's mom
What a great article. I am the mom of a travel agent, merchant of dreams, and very proud of him, of what he achieves and what he brings into the lives of his clients. Not too many professions can make dreams reality, and your letter said it all. Thank you for putting in words what so many of us felt.
Monica Urban
Proud mother of Renaud D. Urban
travel counselor at AAA Travel
Aurora, Ill.
A taxi ride to Al Ain brought back memories
Arnie Weissmann's column on his trip to Al Ain [From the Window Seat, "World citizens, unite," May 12] is one of the best things I have read in any trade media in a long time.
It not only informed me about a distant land and people, not only reminded me about why I love working in the travel business, but it made me think about when the last time it was that I was as hospitable to a visitor as the taxi driver was to you. Thanks for that reminder.
Tom Trotta, senior vice president
Priceline
Norwalk, Conn.
Travel leads to curious, and lasting, friendships
I was deeply touched and inspired by Arnie Weissmann's column "World citizens, unite" following his Dubai experience and the trip to Al Ain.
Having been a student of the tourism industry for many years, it always struck me that my successes have only come from those moments such as you described.
The quote "I have always depended upon the kindness of strangers" from "A Streetcar Named Desire" had little to do with tourism or passion for business and travel in its original context. But the vulnerability of those of us who venture out often leads us to that exhilarating feeling of being out on some skinny branch with no familiar hand to guide us. Thus we make curious friendships along the way, some lasting forever.
Hopefully our understanding of cultures and religions that we know so little about will be enhanced by your telling of this story and more stories to come.
Valerie Moon, director of sales
Excalibur Hotel and Casino
Las Vegas
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