TRAVEL AGENT VS TRAVEL ADVISORY: WHAT’S IN A NAME?
On the surface, the difference between ‘travel agent’ and ‘travel advisor’ is nothing more than subtle semantics. But it’s actually a significant development: the gravitation toward use of ‘advisor’ hinges on the exact role the travel professional now plays for the client. “‘Travel agent’ connotes a transactional
relationship, where the travel agent is merely a middle man in the travel planning and booking process,” said Jacob Marek, founder and chief explorer at IntroverTravels, a Denver-based Virtuoso agency founded in 2016. “A ‘travel advisor’ is much more collaborative and hands- on, making recommendations to clients and steering them in the right direction to create the travel experience of their dreams.”
Hillary Stockton, CEO of New York City-
based luxury travel company TravelSort, put it bluntly: “The difference between travel agent and travel advisor is akin to a bank teller vs. a financial advisor — you wouldn’t expect a regular bank teller to give you savvy investment advice.” “A travel advisor is your personal concierge
and best friend,” said David Chait, CEO and founder of Travefy, which provides itinerary management and client communication tools to help travel advisors better serve travelers. A travel advisor, Chait added, knows your tastes and preferences to provide invaluable strategic guidance for your vacation, from soup to nuts, well beyond the actual ticketing.
