Travel Agents
Retail Travel Environment
Level 3 – Travel and Tourism 13th February 2013
INTRODUCTION
In this assignment, I have been asked to produce a report describing the retail travel environment in Travel and Tourism. This must include the roles of the different types of retail agents; the products and services that they are selling; the links that exist within the retail travel environment; and the different types of relationship that exist within the retail industry.
ROLES OF TRAVEL AGENTS
The main function of travel agents is to make the life of holidaymakers easier, relaxing and convenient. They can do this by providing outstanding customer service that would exceed the expectations of the customers. They must be able to match needs of the clients to the products and services that are on offer. It is their responsibility to provide information about the activities and events at the chosen destination of the holidaymakers and offer them advance booking services. Another responsibility of travel agents is to give important pieces of advice to the clients before the holiday such as: weather, vaccination and offer passport and visa services.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF RETAIL AGENCIES
Independent
This is the type of travel agents that has only one business firm. For this reason, it is not part of a chain and is usually owned and managed by a single proprietor. The products and services that this type of travel agent is said to be “unbiased” because it doesn’t have to just sell its own goods which means customers have a wide range of selection of merchandise. Some examples are: Nicoll World Travel and Dorchester Travel.
Multiples Unlike independent travel agents, multiple travel agents (also known as mass-market) are part of a national or even international chain. These travel agents can be seen in every high street throughout the United Kingdom. Thomas Cook and Thomson are two of the most popular multiple travel agents and they rely on having
Level 3 – Travel and Tourism 13th February 2013
INTRODUCTION
In this assignment, I have been asked to produce a report describing the retail travel environment in Travel and Tourism. This must include the roles of the different types of retail agents; the products and services that they are selling; the links that exist within the retail travel environment; and the different types of relationship that exist within the retail industry.
ROLES OF TRAVEL AGENTS
The main function of travel agents is to make the life of holidaymakers easier, relaxing and convenient. They can do this by providing outstanding customer service that would exceed the expectations of the customers. They must be able to match needs of the clients to the products and services that are on offer. It is their responsibility to provide information about the activities and events at the chosen destination of the holidaymakers and offer them advance booking services. Another responsibility of travel agents is to give important pieces of advice to the clients before the holiday such as: weather, vaccination and offer passport and visa services.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF RETAIL AGENCIES
Independent
This is the type of travel agents that has only one business firm. For this reason, it is not part of a chain and is usually owned and managed by a single proprietor. The products and services that this type of travel agent is said to be “unbiased” because it doesn’t have to just sell its own goods which means customers have a wide range of selection of merchandise. Some examples are: Nicoll World Travel and Dorchester Travel.
Multiples Unlike independent travel agents, multiple travel agents (also known as mass-market) are part of a national or even international chain. These travel agents can be seen in every high street throughout the United Kingdom. Thomas Cook and Thomson are two of the most popular multiple travel agents and they rely on having