In the technology age of find it quick and easy on-line, you may be thinking, why should I use a travel agent? Here is some information that may help.

News Release: Booking Business Travel Via The Internet

Portland Oregon - May, 2009- For the past 8 years Topaz International has conducted comparative studies of airfares between actual corporate travel management company booked itineraries and various public internet sights. By exactly replicating business trips on public booking sites, like Orbitz, Expedia, Travelocity, and airline direct websites, we are able to compare low fare performance. The results from 2008 found that business travel itineraries booked by a designated corporate travel management company averages $56.00 less than the same exact itinerary booked on a public internet sight. * While agency tickets are only higher less than 9% of every 10 million dollars spent, this represents lost savings of over $100,000.00 per year.

http://www.etopaz.com/pdf/Internet%20vs%20Agency%202008%20-%20May%2009.pdf

 *         http://www.etopaz.com/news.html

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What would you do if the hotel has lost your reservation? What would you do if the car rental agency has run out of cars? Specifically, who are you going to call? Who's going to help you? The hotel? The car rental company? They don't care. You're just one person. Losing you as a guest or a customer is no big deal. Basically, you're on your own. About all you can do is hit the streets and hope that something comes up...   

 If you book through a travel agent, all you have to do is make one simple phone call. And everything will be taken care of. Will the hotel assist your agent? Will the car rental company assist your agent? Of course they will, because now they're dealing with someone who has the potential to send either hundreds of guests, or no guests at all. From a purely business perspective, a travel agency can send thousands of dollars (or even tens of thousands of dollars), or no dollars at all...  

 It is not just about price, although many times, the agents can get better pricing, better value

You look to travel agents to provide the best overall solution to your individual travel needs.  By asking tons of questions up front, an agent can provide a relevant needs assessment. This can include dates, quality or location of accommodation or stateroom, cancellation policy, recreational amenities, the ease of doing business, etc.  No two customers are alike. What works for one may not work for another. 

Saving money is not just about price. It is more about value. If the hotel was not the right location, if the cruise line was not the right cruise line, if the golf course was not the right golf course.it does not matter how much you saved. One can save a ton of money and be miserable or spend a little more to be in heaven. A travel agent can recommend relevant offerings and also provide cost saving strategies. Moving a date, changing the location of a room/cabin, being open to flight options, etc., all can save money. Nobody wants to pay more than necessary so an agent will help you find the best value without the sacrifices of a cheap trip.

If you have an agent that you trust, then you don't need to spend what little free time you have, scouring the web, trying to piece everything together-- flights, cars, rooms, etc. In addition, your agent might be working with transfer and car rental companies that you simply don't have access to, and in many cases, even hotels and airlines that you don't have access to. An agent is someone who has taken the time and made the commitment to be the best so you don't have to make planning your vacation a second job!

Safe - Guard your travel investment by using a professional.