Research Can Be Overwhelming.
When Online Travel Agencies, like Booking.com and Expedia, emerged in the 1990s it opened the world of travel to everyone. People could book hotels in cities around the globe. It gave people options, so many options…maybe too many options. And you aren’t even seeing all of them because the ones that pay higher fees to the OTA are featured more prominently.
Let us take the pressure off! We love travel. We spend hours geeking out over the logistics of planning a trip, combing through hotel listings, reading reviews, and checking amenities- all so we can find the perfect match for our clients!
Personalization is the New Luxury
The search results you see on OTAs are meant to please the largest number of people, assuring everyone has a “good” experience but not necessarily a unique or meaningful one. OTA’s don’t take into consideration that travel is different for everyone. What one person considers cute and quaint is another person’s nightmare. It all comes down to personal preferences and OTA’s don’t know your preferences but travel advisors take time to learn your vacation style so we can select the ideal location with the amenities that are important to you.
When you work with a travel advisor, you decide to collaborate with an expert. That means you’ll get a great recommendation not just because the search results tell you it’s great, but because you have a real enthusiast who has thought through all of your personal needs, preferences and limitations, and decided that this is the trip that’s right for you. You’ll also get honest feedback and suggestions, be it a place to eat, a favorite activity on site or an insider tip that you can only get from someone who’s tuned in.
Hotels Love Travel Advisors
We make them more money (even though you pay the same price). Travel advisors bring hotels better customers. And we drive repeat service. For a hospitality business, what’s not to love?
Ever wonder why whenever you book on Hotwire, you get the absolute worst room in the hotel? It’s because you’re making the hotel the least amount of money out of every guest booking. And because travel advisors make the hotel the most money, you can bet that you’re at the top of the list when there’s the opportunity for special treatment or an upgrade.
The way the travel advisor ecosystem works, booking through an advisor actually costs a hotel property less money than other booking methods like Booking.com or even their own in-house marketing, because we bring them quality customers again and again at a fraction of the commission or marketing spend. That’s why we get all those great perks we can offer you. As a traveler working with a travel advisor, you’ll always be the top priority when you check in to the hotel.
Speaking of Upgrades…
Because travel advisors know the ins and outs of a place, we also come armed with special perks we can offer you just for booking with our partner hotels.It might be a fruit plate, a bottle of wine or a fresh bouquet of flowers upon your arrival, or it could be money-saving benefits like discounts on spa services or free daily breakfast. When you book with a travel advisor, you’re tapping into our status and benefiting from our connections, meaning you get treated like a VIP even if it’s your first time in a new place.
Fora Advisors can unlock perks at 6,000 hotels worldwide. These benefits often include property credits (usually between $50 and $100 in value), complimentary meals, extended check-in/out times, special amenities and more.
The Best Value for Your Money
OTA’s may play a role in dictating hotel rates, but they can’t offer the perks you get when you book through a travel advisor. In other words, you may be charged the same rate regardless of how you obtain a reservation, but you’ll get a lot more for your money if you book through a travel advisor. We can certainly book Expedia rates for you (ensuring you get the best rate available), and even if a hotel does not offer perks, our relationships with travel partners and firsthand experience level up any travel experience.
Our role is to match a client to the right vacation and experience while maximizing its value. We often have access to exclusive offers and promotions that help deliver such value. On top of that, you’re benefiting from our experience and insider knowledge — opening doors to things you may not have found otherwise.
Personalized Service at Every Stage
During planning you will get individualized recommendations for activities, hotels, restaurants and more based on your budget and preferences. You also have a direct line to your travel advisor while you’re actively traveling, so if your flight gets delayed and you need a late check in- we’ve got you covered.
Did I mention you never have to wait on hold? There’s no call centers. You get to interact with a real person 100% of the time. We are here to advocate on your behalf if something goes wrong or you need to make a change. We work with our partners to resolve dilemmas and make sure your trip gets back on track!