Contributed By: The Travel Institute
What does it mean to be a travel agent? Well, your role starts and ends with you being a professional. An understanding of professionalism in the travel workplace is a necessity for all those who wish to call themselves travel agents, counselors, advisors, experts, or other terms conveying expertise.
Let’s start with, what is the definition of Professionals? These are people who earn their living by practicing some skill or engaging in some activity that requires expertise. True Travel Professionals demonstrate a commitment to the ethics and standards of the occupation and to the interests of the client.
Professionalism implies a commitment to ethical behavior, which means following certain principles of proper conduct. If you earn a reputation for unethical behavior, you forgo the trust of clients and are likely to lose their business. Therefore, it is imperative that you create and follow a code of conduct.
A code of conduct is a useful tool to standardize ethical behavior for a group of professionals. It shouldn’t be viewed only on a new hire’s first day of work. For a code to be effective, it must be reviewed and practiced by all members of the organization, at all organizational levels. Travel organizations, large or small, can benefit from a written code of conduct explaining the company’s policy regarding ethical challenges most likely to occur. These codes should incorporate the core values—those guiding principles and fundamental beliefs—that make up the heart of the organization. These can include things in a Role of a Travel Agent like:
Sometimes it’s good to step back and look at all the things you bring to the table as a travel counselor. You demonstrate your worth every day, and you certainly have proven your value by stepping up for your clients over the past several months. If the thought of “Do clients need me?” crosses your mind, you must watch this clip on CNBC’s Seema Mody.
A large percentage of your value lies in doing the things the customer cannot do. Every day, you
As you can see, there is much to being a travel professional, and it all starts with your education. To learn more visit www.thetravelinstitute.com
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