Why Expertise is Essential For Your Travel Business

The opportunity to become a travel agent currently seems more accessible than ever before. With this, of course, has come a surge of travel lovers looking to turn their passion into a business. But while the ever-expanding world of travel is thrilling news to many, there have also been a lot of questions surrounding whether or not the influx in unexperienced travel professionals is a problem.  

Why Are Unexperienced Travel Professionals a Potential Problem? 

This does add more competition to the mix, but that is not the concern of the wider sector. Many in travel have been having this debate for several years, and the word ‘diluting’ has come up several times. Several travel professionals have expressed concern that with unexperienced people calling themselves travel agents, it could also be spreading a bad opinion about travel agents to consumers.  

Regardless of if bad experiences come via a lack of expertise, accidental errors, or something else, the travellers’ opinion of a travel agent is a key asset. While many are debating if courses for travel professionals should be mandatory, expertise in travel has always been at the core of any good travel business. Whether you come across expertise through experience or teaching, having that knowledge is essential to your travel business’s success.  

Why You Need to Know Your Stuff 

When we say that expertise is important, we don’t just mean that it will make it easier to sell stuff if you know a lot about it (though that is true, please don’t sell any holidays if you have no clue what those holidays include). There are many aspects of your business where having some experience or training will prevent costly mistakes, elevate your success, and save you a considerable amount of money that would be better spent elsewhere.  

It is for these important reasons that PTS is made up of travel experts, always on standby to assist members. 

Avoiding Costly Mistakes 

This is especially true for Package Travel Regulations compliance. If you’ve ever had a cosy night-in bingeing the Package Travel Regulations (who hasn’t?), it can be quite daunting to know that you need to keep that information in the back of your mind at all times. If you haven’t encountered this legislation before, it can be especially massive.  

Not understanding the PTRs can, however, cause some expensive mistakes. If you have written terms and conditions for your business that clash with the PTRs, for example, you may not be aware that the PTRs always take priority. This means that if you’ve stated in your Ts and Cs that you don’t provide refunds in any circumstance, you won’t be prepared to find out that, legally, you must provide a refund in certain situations.  

So how do you ensure you’re always compliant? Knowing what applies to your travel business is a vital skill regardless, but becoming a member of PTS is also a quick and stress-free way to ensure Package Travel Regulations compliance while taking advantage of many other tools your new business may need as well.  

Elevate Your Success 

It is a bit a given that being an expert will increase your success. This is true in most industries. It is especially true in travel.  

Being an expert in travel isn’t just about knowing what you’re doing, it’s about knowing who you should be doing it with. Having the much-needed skills to establish and maintain relationships with the right suppliers and tour operators is invaluable.  

As a travel agent, your suppliers and tour operators are essentially the product you are selling. So having the right relationships with businesses that can provide exactly the packages and assets your dream holidays need with discounted prices will not only save you and your customers money but help you to continue growing your success.  

In some cases, this is a level of expertise that you cannot receive through training. This is where experience becomes important. A lot of travel agents will find some of their best business relationships entirely by chance.  

Perhaps you went to a conference and got a bit tipsy gossiping with someone who turns out to have a high position at a supplier you love, or maybe you take a course and meet people who are just establishing the perfect tour operator business for your needs. Many connections come through simply being in the industry.  

It is for exactly this reason that PTS doesn’t restrict members to a set list of suppliers. While our list of 200+ suppliers is full of good deals and well-established brands, they cannot cover everything each member needs. Our members have the freedom to work with whoever they want. After all, sometimes the supplier you need is as new to its own business as you are to yours.  

Save That Money for Something Better  

Every travel business is slightly different. Not just because of expertise, but because every traveller wants something slightly different. Whether you’re really passionate about skiing, or you just love classic beachy getaways, you are not going to need the same assets as everyone else.  

In this case, some of the expertise you need, is just to know your own business. But, you also need to understand what tools are available, which you may want to use, and which should be prioritised financially.  

The best example of this is ATOL. Many travel businesses will need an ATOL, but most do not. There’s no point in you spending £851 (the cost of a PTS franchise ATOL) on a license that you don’t need.  

Equally, trading in different currencies isn’t going to be important to you at all if you’re selling holidays in the UK. Finding the tools you do need at a price that works good for you is where training or research can become very handy.  

This is part of the reason that over 400 businesses have joined PTS. While each member has very different and unique needs, the package that PTS provides is flexible and affordable. This means that regardless of which tools you do or do not need, you can pick and choose which to use, and all the tools provided are easy to implement, stress-free, and affordable.  

That’s just how PTS is making selling travel simple.  

So why not book a call with our passionate team today to find out if we’re the right fit for your business! Or if you just can’t wait, contact us on 0207 190 9988 and get to know your future support system now.