Why Use a Travel Consultant?

Ever wonder why the travelers in the room next to yours received strawberries & champagne upon arrival and you didn't? They probably used a Travel Consultant!

There is a big misconception that Travel Consultants cost more than just booking online and this is just not true! Many consumers might not realize what they are missing out on when booking trips on their own. 
There are several benefits of using a Travel Consultant. Here are our top 10!​
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​Vacation planning is complicated and time consuming. Why spend time searching for the perfect vacation when a Travel Consultant can do that for you? Travel Consultants can match you with the perfect destination/travel plans based on your travel needs & desires!
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​"Ever felt overwhelmed with too many hotel options and find yourself scanning the internet for hours only to feel more frustrated and confused than when you started? Using a Travel Consultant saves you time and time is money." - Senior Travel Consultant Janine Cartier.

Travel Consultants are experts in the travel industry. They know the market and are able to match you with a product that is better than anything you may find on the internet. Travel Consultants live and breathe travel; they travel themselves to become familiar with the products & destinations, meet with representatives from travel companies all around the world, do hours of research and read up on the most important travel news daily.  When booking a trip on your own, you risk losing the expertise that travel consultants bring to the table. 

"Travel consultants know the best hotels, they know which hotels have the best service and the best food, they know because they have either been there or have met with the hotel's General Manager. "
​-Senior Travel Consultant Janine Cartier
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Many consumers think that it will cost them more to use a Travel Consultant and this is not always the case. Travel Consultants make their money in many ways, most of the time from the travel companies themselves. The price you can find online is the same price Travel Consultants can book them for, if not sometimes less since they have direct relationships with the travel companies. Any fees you may end up paying will come back to you as value in a handful of ways.

In addition, your Travel Consultant will offer different travel insurance coverage that can save you from unforeseen medical expenses or cancellation fees that may arise before or during your trip. Their knowledge of various currency exchange rates, customs procedures, Visa requirements, immunization regulations, etc., can end up saving you so much time, hassle and money while planning and while traveling.  
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If something were to go wrong during your trip, you have your Travel Consultant to go to bat for you.

Lost luggage? Flights get cancelled? Missed your flight? Weather emergencies? Car rental company fails you? Hotel/resort can’t locate your reservation? Medical emergency overseas? They’ve got you covered! One single person may not have much leverage in terms of complaints and a resolution, but a Travel Consultant with an entire agency backing them up certainly will. At Brentwood Travel, we have our own 24-Hour Emergency Hotline that can be utilized in any travel emergency, at any hour of the day after booking with one of our Travel Consultants.

“You have someone to call on when things go wrong and no one is listening.” -Travel Consultant J.V.
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There are so many value-adds that can be added to your trip by a Travel Consultant, usually at no cost to the consumer. One of the most common perks is “onboard credits” or extra spending money for you while on your cruise ship or resort. Another could be  "Exclusive Brentwood Travel Offers" or savings that only our Travel Consultants can offer, or extras like specialty dining and spa credits.
Additionally, if a consumer is traveling to celebrate something special, the Travel Consultant can contact the travel company and advise them of such celebrations and they will usually work something to make the trip even more special.
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Brentwood Travel belongs to Ensemble Travel Group, which allows our Travel Consultants to offer special upgrades and give clients even more special amenities, like free Wi-Fi, room upgrades, complimentary food or drinks, or even have their room decorated with champagne, flowers, chocolate covered strawberries, and many more. 

The photos below are an example of ways a Brentwood Travel Consultant was able to add value to a clients vacation. The Travel Consultant reached out to her connection at the resort and advised them of her clients arrival, their love of their dogs and how this trip was supposed to be very special for the couple. The consultant sent photos of the clients dogs to the resort and shortly after she received an email back advising that the resort had upgraded the couples room to a Suite and the email included the photos shown below. The resort made their arrival extra special by adding framed photos of their dogs as well as a note written just for them.

Photo by Dreams Sands Cancun

Photo by Dreams Sands Cancun

The added amenities are truly endless and Brentwood Travel will do everything they can to make any vacation or trip as special as can be!

“We partner with many hotel brands such as Hyatt and Fairmont, where at some of their resorts we can add on extra amenities like breakfast daily or spa credits.” -Supervisor of Leisure Travel Stacey Hoehne. 
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​Travel Consultants have a numerous amount of resources that the average consumer does not have access. They use different software and computer programs that allows them to find better seats on airplanes, room upgrades, tickets to events, hotel amenities, etc.

Travel Consultants also use their personal and business connections as resources. Brentwood Travel has access to hundreds of representatives from hundreds of resorts, hotels, airlines, tour companies, etc. We meet with our reps regularly and overtime we have built relationships with them. The representatives are our direct contacts so we can call them at any hour of the day for assistance with a booking, to ask questions or to sometimes even meet with our clients!

Travel Consultants are equipped for an ever-changing world. There is always somewhere new and trendy to travel and a Travel Consultant will know the best way for you to travel based on your interests.

Travel Consultants also have relationships with many travel companies that offer vacations as a package (hotel/resort stays, flights, transportation, tours, etc) and can often do so at a rate lower than what you can find online. Additionally, they have exclusive access to many tours, experiences and even private jet products that are only made available through Travel Consultants, some that you probably didn’t even know existed! Making your travels just that much more unique than everyone else’s. 

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Probably the best part of using a Travel Consultant instead of booking online is the personalized touch you receive when utilizing a Travel Consultant. You are dealing with a REAL PERSON who you can build a long, lasting relationship. 
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As Travel Consultants get to know their clients and travel interests, they are able to suggest the right destinations and overall trips without even having a conversation with them. When you have that type of relationship with a Travel Consultant, you can call them up, tell them you are wanting your next beach vacation and they can have a handful of different options for you to choose from rather quickly!

“After talking with clients and learning their priorities, we can narrow down the vacation search to our top 3-5 choices based on our experience with them. This helps save the client time from endless internet searching and saves them from getting overwhelmed.” -Supervisor of Leisure Travel Stacey Hoehne. 

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Travel Consultants are the professionals that know of the most unique destinations and experiences, and can customize your travels to be SO much more than anything you can find online. If you are wanting a true, unique travel experience, use a Travel Consultant because what you see online is what many others are seeing also. 
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Additionally, after asking the right questions and getting to know the consumers interests, Travel Consultants can pin point exactly what destinations a client should travel to and exactly what experiences a client should partake in to best meet the clients needs and desires. They are always in "the know" as to the best times to travel to a particular destination and even what the new "it" destination will be before the general public does. Want to be the first to travel there? Use a Travel Consultant! 
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Travel Consultants are very personable and knowledgeable! They are easy to talk to, easy to get to know and are very welcoming.  They come from various backgrounds with different experiences under their belts, and they can have more stories to tell than a history book. Travel Consultants have been out in the world, experiencing other lands, people and cultures.
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Travel Consultants (especially the ones here at Brentwood Travel) are so passionate about sharing the beauty of the world with you!

Contact us today to start utilizing our great staff and our amazing services!
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Resources: 
-Trip Savvy 
​-Travel Pulse