Long before I began writing for KarryOn, I was one of you – a gewwwd looking Travel Agent. And although it was a challenging job at times, it wasn’t without its rewards.
Today I’m feeling a little nostalgic, and so I want to reminisce about my time working in the field…
*Cue tear drop.
As Travel Agents, you already know how frustrating the job can be, especially when you have to deal with price beaters, time wasters, NEGS, etc.
But then, as Travel Agents, you also know how incredibly rewarding it can be too, especially when you’re part of an awesome team and fantastic working culture.
Here are five things I miss about being a Travel Agent.
1. My awesome team
I remember those morning meetings fondly. All of us, sitting in front of that whiteboard, tracking our commissions and giving each other praise and encouragement to keep us all on track. I remember the camaraderie in the office – we were a team, and we all had each other’s backs.
I loved that we all helped with each other’s clients, took phone calls for one another, and supported each other when the $hit hit the fan. And I still remember the jokes we shared and the store characters that become known to all of us. I’m still in touch with most of my team to this very day. I now call them friends.
2. My legendary clients
I met some very interesting people during my time as a Travel Agent, and some of them I still keep in touch with to the present day. Let’s face it, people who travel are the BEST kind of people (wouldn’t you agree?), and working in this fantastic industry puts you in contact with them every single day.
I loved helping my clients travel the world, and I think it’s very special to play a part (oftentimes a very BIG part) in making someone’s travel dreams come true.
3. The regular social events
Work hard, play hard. That was the motto I lived by when I was a Travel Agent. Regular buzz nights, product nights, global balls, Christmas parties, or just team catch ups – my travel agency made sure that we had many opportunities to let off steam on a regular basis. And boy did we deserve it!
Although I don’t miss the hangovers that inevitably followed, I do miss the community vibe that came with being a part of a brand that knew how to have fun.
4. Being part of a community
Becoming a Travel Agent with a well-known travel agency instantly brought me into a huge community of like-minded individuals that shared my love of travel and people. Everyone was in the job for similar reasons. And when it came time to vent your work-related frustration, they were the ones that spoke your language.
They understood the concept of NEGS, they knew how unbelievably annoying certain customers could be, and they would offer any advice they thought could help in making life as a Travel Agent as easy as possible.
5. The discounts/famils/free $hit
Sure, back when I was a Travel Agent, I wasn’t getting rich. But the job did have its perks – famils to Thailand, Canada, New Zealand; a Singapore Global Ball; parties in Sydney; agent rates on tours and experiences; discounts on flights… And that compensation was more than enough for me!
I was a travel addict (still am) and the travel industry was my dealer, and we struck up a pretty good win-win relationship, it and I.
PS – God I miss those agent rates!
