Travel Agents – Makers Of A Blissful Holiday

Travel Agents have been helping travellers plan their vacations and trips for decades. With the invention of internet, where the information is available 24 hours a day for you to search for any destination one wishes to travel to. The number of people using online services is growing. This has resulted in a change in the view of the convenience of traditional agencies.

According to a consumer poll, online travel agencies have cheaper rates, are the easiest to use and offer all the relevant information. However, finding the right travel agency with genuine market standing is the key word. But still there are various travel agencies which are still going strong and many times beating the prices of online competition. Plus Travel Agents are happy to help you with your travel arrangements including inception of ideas and thorough planning. Agents usually have extended hours when they’re home-based, making it more convenient to get in touch with them. And often, agents will come right to your home equipped with their laptop and brochures.

Travel Agents have the most up-to-date information about specials, promotions and rates. Because they are the professionals in the industry, they are notified first of all current special rates and promotions stemming from airlines to tour companies to hotel deals. Earlier the travel agents used to provide free services to their customers, however with the changing times now they charge a small about of commission for the same. Travel agents work as agents for airlines, hotels, rental car companies, etc.

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Travel Agents – A Well Informed Advisor

Earlier if one wanted to go one a vacation then one was required to do a lot of go around looking for good travel agents and then browsing through some travel brochures, plus the pain of paying and exuberant price. Then, after selection one had to sit across the travel agent waiting for him to enter all the travel information on their green monochrome computer screen. We assumed they had been everywhere and knew everything about world travel. They were the rock stars of the retail world. With the advent of the internet connection the face of travel had changed forever. As the information is available 24×7 about any destination one wishes to travel.

A travel agent does the legwork for you from booking trains, flights and hotels to finding the best deals and securing upgrades. The key is finding the right agent for you and helping them understand your needs. Most travel agents offer the travel package that consists of everything from airfare to toll taxes.

The services of a travel agent are usually free to consumers, as agents are paid commissions by suppliers. The smart travel agents have embraced technology and are using it to provide better service to their clients. Saving you time; they sift through the options and suggest only the ones that meet your preferences and budget. It is the responsibility of the travel agent to help and guide the travellers about the constantly changing schedules and airfares, availability of packages for vacation, and a lot of travel information that the traveller may not know about. Information on weather conditions, restaurants, tourist attractions, and other such necessary information are also provided.

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The Art of Living Enters Strategic Partnership with the American Society of Travel Agents

September 5, 2009, Coral Springs, FL – The Art of Living with Marilu Henner has entered into a strategic partnership with the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) to expand education on the travel industry through quality television programming.  
As leaders in the educational television genre, The Art of Living is working with ASTA, the world’s largest association of travel professionals, to provide viewers across the country with expert-based information related to travel trends, corporate travel, leisure travel, and the industry’s latest development, green travel.  
“The industry is rapidly evolving as travel has become an everyday part of life, whether for a corporate meeting across the country or a family vacation to a nearby city,” said Jim Nicholas, Vice President of Production for The Art of Living.  “The opportunity to collaborate with a recognized leader in the field, and gain access to some of the leading experts in the industry, will help us to further educate and inform our viewers on important issues in the travel industry today.”  
“ASTA is pleased to be working with The Art of Living to promote the importance of travel agents. Education is one of ASTA’s top priorities and this opportunity will let today’s travelers know they are never alone when planning a trip,” said ASTA CEO, Bill Maloney, CTC.  “We look forward to helping viewers explore the fascinating areas of green travel, the latest travel trends and so much more.”
About The Art of Living with Marilu Henner
The Art of Living with Marilu Henner is a preeminent lifestyle show, covering health, travel, dining, fashion, interior design and family life, among other topics.  The show is dedicated to keeping all members of the family well-informed, and airs on a variety of national and regional networks.  For more information, please visit www.watchartofliving.com.
About ASTA
ASTA’s (American Society of Travel Agents) mission is to facilitate the business of selling travel through effective representation, shared knowledge and the enhancement of professionalism. ASTA seeks a retail travel marketplace that is profitable, growing and a rewarding place to work, invest and do business.  For more information, visit www.asta.org.

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