Pasadena Magazine is the bi-monthly magazine of Pasadena and its surrounding areas – the diverse, historically rich and culturally vibrant region that includes Glendale, the Eastside of Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley all the way to Claremont.
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CATHERINE ADDÉ, MA, CTC Catherine's Travel Concierge ~A TravelStore Affi liate~ Q. With so many travel websites out there, why should I engage a travel agent? Today's savvy travelers require the human touch. Just as one would utilize the services of a realtor or a tax accountant, a good travel professional is a valuable resource. Travel agents have been to many of the places you're intending to go and have developed relation- ships with suppliers worldwide. People now seem to be time starved, and the internet can cause confusion – there's simply too much information out there – some of it valid, but not all. Travel planners can act like fi lters, sifting through the information for you, also having additional information and resources only available to them. Many people may be unaware of the added benefi ts and/or amenities that online agen- cies such as Travelocity, Hotels.com and the like do not offer. For example, not only will a service like mine get the room rate on par, but we can offer amenities such as complimentary breakfast, an upgrade, and a spa credit. Q. How do they get compensated? Travel agencies are paid by their suppliers. The hotels, cruise lines, tour companies pay the agent/agency a commission percentage of base fare (before taxes) of your trip. The planner may also charge fees for air tickets ($35-60 per ticket) since the airlines ceased paying travel agencies to distribute their product years ago. And they may also charge a fee for items that are not commissionable to them such as bed and breakfast lodging or event tickets. Some may ask for a 'plan to go' deposit of $100 or more per person, applied toward the trip price, but not refundable if the trip is cancelled; and this can vary if the trip is highly detailed with lots of movable parts. Fees, if any, are disclosed up front during your trip planning process. Q: How do we fi nd a reputable travel agent? As with any profession, ask around your social circle for a referral – or check the web for the names of top travel agencies in the area. Word of mouth is key to growing any business, and travel agencies are no different! Find out how long they've been in business, are they members of a consortia such as Signature, American Express or AAA (this means buying power which ultimately benefi ts the consumer as certain offers are not available to those buying travel online). By law, in the state of California, they must be registered with the Attorney General's offi ce as a seller of travel and have a "CST" number. Also, a professional in the travel indus- try will have their CTC (Certifi ed Travel Counselor) designation which requires a minimum of fi ve years of full time work in the business to enter the program from the Travel Institute based in Wellesley, Massachusetts. The course they offer is rigorous and consists of a two year Master's level curricula with a fi nal exam and dissertation paper before awarding the CTC diploma. Q: What are some of the trends in store for travel in 2016? Thanks to PBS and the award-winning show Downton Abbey, there are increasing requests for the British countryside. People may have been to London, but the appétit is now whet for touring historic homes and heritage sites like never before. And, due to TV ads, river cruising is also more popular than ever. Riverboats carry fewer passengers and therefore sell out quickly, creating the need to book early. Multi-generational trips, culinary and adventure travel, 'voluntourism', and experi- ential travel in general is increasingly popular. We're seeing interest for Cuba, African wildlife viewing, Antarctic expeditions – the "before the authenticity disappears type of trip" (e.g. before Starbucks, McDonalds and Holiday Inn move in to the destination). Italy and France are always popular, and we've seen an increase in requests for Asia such as Japan, India, and Burma. Q: What are some of your favorite trips to plan? I'm delighted to book a night at a luxury hotel for a celebration, an around the world journey or every type of trip in between. Because the best trips to plan for clients are those that cre- ate fantastic memories! Contact Info: catherine.a@travelstore.com, 626 355-1644, www.travelstore.com/our-travel-experts/ catherine-adde FEBRUARY 2016 37 the ESCAPES & GET AWAYS escapes_Feb16.indd 37 1/20/16 2:24 PM