Many people consider the traditional travel agent business to be dying as a result of cheaper online alternatives but I think there’s a huge opportunity for innovation within a niche.
My travel agent at STA Travel is embracing new media through her personal contacts, to build her own brand within the company. Like many other consumers, I book and research my flights online. Kara will answer questions and lets me organize tickets over Google chat. She can nearly always get me a cheaper deal on international tickets than I can find myself. Sometimes I have questions about more complicated trips. She knows the fare rules better than I do so asking questions via chat saves me time researching terms and conditions.
I have email introduced almost 10 people to Kara, of which many have led to sales. (I only introduced people who asked for a recommendation, I didn’t bombard my friends). She’s building her personal brand within her company. I’m helping friends with a really good service. I’m her product champion. My friends want good advice and convenience. Kara knows her stuff and she’s accessible. I’ve earned $75 for recommending a good service that I would have already recommended.
STA have created a framework that enables Kara and her colleagues to flourish. STA Travel are fostering word-of-mouth referrals by offering an incentive to past passengers to refer new business. It’s also an incentive for their travel agents to leverage their personal connections. After all, STA is an organization made up of many individuals.
Here’s Kara’s email f you want a travel agent who knows her stuff and is accessible via gchat: karalucchesi@gmail.com. If you like her service, please tell her I sent you so I can claim my $25 credit!
