By Sarah Henshall

Not long ago travel agents were predicted to go the way of the dinosaur because of the emergence of Internet travel sites, airline commission reduction and the lack of travel following the Sept. 11 disaster.

In fact, these fundamental changes in the industry, among others, resulted in a 50 percent reduction of agency locations between 1996 and 2006 .

But AAA has seen a steady increase in business over the past seven years.

There are several reasons: a resurgence in family vacations, travelers’ interest in more exotic vacations at competitive pricing and a lack of planning time by many individuals to coordinate the complex details of a vacation trip.

Here are some of the keys to AAA’s success:

• KNOWLEDGE – Savvy travel agents continually upgrade their knowledge. Intense training on travel products and service better prepares them for planning your getaway. All AAA travel consultants are College of Disney Knowledge Graduates and among our agents, 47 percent are Caribbean Destination Specialists, 44 percent are European Destination Specialists, and 58 percent are North American Destination Specialists.

• HANDS-ON – AAA’s agents travel themselves to learn everything about different vacation spots, resorts and cruise lines so they may share that knowledge with clients. This way they know the inside scoop.

• PEACE OF MIND – Most people today have such limited time for a vacation
they want it to be perfect. An experienced travel professional with first-hand experience added to a wealth of information at their fingertips can reduce the anxiety of travelers by making sure time off is well spent.

• SIMPLIFYING THE COMPLEX – Vacationers, many seeking different destinations, high-end adventures and complex itineraries, turn to agents for planning that is beyond their ability and experience, recognizing agents have relationships and knowledge that simplify the planning process.

AAA recently assisted one couple in booking a personal tour of the World War II beaches of Normandy guided by one of the nation’s leading military authorities.

Another agent booked a 111-day around-the-world cruise for a couple after working with them for more than a year to find the perfect ship and the ideal time to travel for an extended period. The average consumer doesn’t have the time or expertise to organize such once-in-a-lifetime vacations.

• THE POPULAR – While exotic locations and complex itineraries are fuelling travel industry growth, agents are also experiencing an uptick in popular mainstream vacations, such as Disney excursions, and Caribbean cruises. Such destinations make great vacations for extended families traveling together.

• ACCOUNTABILITY – In an emergency, it’s hard to get help on the Internet. AAA travel agents help in crisis situations, often using contacts that have been built over years in the industry.

• THE LEGACY – With more than 50 million members, AAA is a major player in the travel industry, which means strong relationships with hotels, tour operators
and cruise lines.

As any traveler knows, vacation time is precious. You don’t want some cookie cutter package that just happens to be available. You want a vacation within your budget that fits your tastes, dreams and lifestyle.

For this month’s hottest travel deals, call AAA Vacations at (800) 750-5386.
Sarah Henshall is Vice President of Travel and Branch Operations at AAA Carolinas.