John Guinn of The Holiday Hut has a specialist niche as a Travel PA for his clients – if it’s something you’ve thought of or been asked about by your clients, here’s John’s Top Tips:
Your client wants to go away and has asked you to deal with it. Now you have one big advantage over any travel agent, you really know your client. This means that you can provide so much more than just the tickets, just by using your inside knowledge.
Now I’m probably preaching to the converted here, so please forgive me if you already do this.
As a Travel Researcher (or Travel PA), I provide an information pack for each trip my client makes. These can include:
- Local Public Transport (to save on taxi fares)
- Latest Government Travel Advice
- Restaurants that offer my client’s favourite food
- Other dining suggestions
- What’s on
- Must see/do
- Weather
- Time Difference (so calls home can be made without disturbing anyone)
- Weights and Measures (converting local measurements to those used at home)
- The location of ATMs (can be cheaper than cashing travellers cheques in the hotel)
- Electricity and Telephone Connections
- Travel Gear
- Packing
- Misc – Religious Places (if required), Tipping, Travel Tips
The list can go on. But think about it. If your client goes direct to a travel agent/website they probably will only get limited information (if a travel company can’t make money on it – it doesn’t exist). However when they come to you they get a personalised guide book, which gives them great value for using your service.