Travel Agent question

[blz85]

If i was a travel agent and saw that someone on here was looking for help planning travel. Would it be against the rules to pm them?

 

[blz85]

I email pete over a week ago and havenot heard an answer. Sorry if this is considered advertizing.

 

[kdibattista]

I'm not sure but hopefully you will get an answer soon... here's a little bump for you!!!!

 

[leahannpen]

I can try to help you...???

 

[Amberle3]

I've never been told anything specifically about this, but my understanding is that since this board is owned by a travel agency it would be considered a no-no to actively solicit business.

And probably (just MHO) a little tacky, kinda like going to someone's open house and then trying to steer business away from them.

OTOH, if you're offering to help them with information only (ie you're not going to do any booking or sell them anything) then it would probably be okay. I've offered advice on Vegas for instance, since that's one of my specialties.

 

[KathyTX]

Would you be PMing them to *discuss* travel, or to promote your business?

 

[Laurabearz]

Originally posted by blz85
If i was a travel agent and saw that someone on here was looking for help planning travel. Would it be against the rules to pm them?

I think this whole site is here because of people looking for help with planning travel.....

And as Amberle3 has stated this site is run by a travel agency....

Given the above, I wouldnt reply to a PM like that....

 

[binny]

I have offered to help people before with other than Disney destinations, not to solicit business, but to to lend a hand.


Not a great way to run a business I suppose LOL But I do respect the fact that this board is run by a Travel Agency, and not mine

 

[Amberle3]

I did PM someone a few weeks ago about Vegas, only because (I'm trying to remember the situation now, and seeing as it's late my poor brain isn't working properly) I *think* they were heading there for the first time and it is one of my specialties. I have a handbook that I did up for my clients, since when the Vegas deals start up here there are a number of people who go for the first (or second) time that really have no idea what to do or where to go. I PMed this person and offered to send them the PDF file of the handbook free, since our Vegas travel season here runs mainly from Jan-April and my poor little handbook gets very little to no use during the other months.

I don't want to put it online, because I did put a lot of work into it and I don't want some other travel agent snapping it up and offering it to their clients. So every now and then, when the mood strikes, I offer to send it to someone that sounds like they could use it.

It's kind of a tough situation for a travel agent on a board like this one. We do have a lot of information to give, but as Binny says it's a little strange to be giving it away for free when our expertise is our livelihood. OTOH I don't see it as being out of keeping, I learn a number of things from these boards that aren't part of the training and that Disney doesn't necessarily tell the agents about, and it's fantastic to be able to read feedback on some of the places my own clients might be interested in.

I also feel like I *have* to respond to some threads, like questions about passports or travel insurance. These issues can be so important, and if my experience and information will help someone avoid trouble later on then I feel compelled to contribute.