So, we are, what? 10 years in? 20 years in? to the internet, with all it’s developments. Every five minutes, we are told about this or that “new” internet “tool” and how each and everyone of them is going to “revolutionise” travel. Well, do they? What has really proved useful to the average agent-in-the-street? I can’t speak for everyone, of course, but I will tell you what I find invaluable on a day to day basis.
Needless to say, I cannot live without my GDS. I am not going to debate the pros and cons of each, but you need one. Further, you need to be able to work it and by that, I mean by using the “native” or as some would say “cryptic” entries. Point and click is a waste of time. It has been tried but never really caught on and as long as you know your entries, working using the native language is very much faster.
What else? Google Earth is essential. Now, when I am asked for a hotel, no matter where it is in the world, I can ask the client where the meeting is and then say “Yes, I have a hotel booked. You come out the hotel, turn left and it’s about 300 yards down on the left hand side” – And I can do that for any address, anywhere in the world.
Expedia is next. “Expedia is a booking system” I hear you cry. Well, it is – but have you ever looked at a fare on your GDS and thought “That doesn’t look right” or “I wonder if I have missed a very much cheaper way of doing this itinerary”. Now, as we all know, you either have contracts for CAT45 etc fares, or you don’t. So, if in doubt, I will run the itinerary through Expedia. You have to be a bit careful with connections and times but it means that you can be sure your fare is right and that you have not missed something. Further, it allows you to weigh up options – an Expedia fare may be cheaper, but is it worthwhile making two changes (say) instead of one, to save maybe £30 on a £800 fare.
Tripadvisor has its uses. We all tend to book the big groups, mainly because we know, then, that we will get a standard. If we book Leading Hotels of the World, it will be good. Hilton, NH, Marriott or Ramada are safe for middle management, Intercontinental for the boss and Mercure, Novotel or Ibis for the clients lesser (but nonetheless important), troops. Trouble is, the group hotels, the “safe bets” can be full and then we may be working in the unknown – and this is where Tripadvisor comes in.
Wegolo is an invaluable asset to know, as well. This is almost like having a GDS for the low fare carriers – and it’s global, too. Odd low cost types pop up on the GDS system but this can be more of an irritation than anything else – How many of us have managed to do a USA connection from, say British Airways to JetBlue! Worse, airlines such as Aer Lingus who try to get the best of both worlds and wind up falling in between the two. Airlines should be either a) On or b)Off GDS systems. Wegolo lets you check (and book) on low cost carriers that may exists practically anywhere in the world – without having to, effectively, remember all sorts of airline names – and not to mention, remember their routes as well.
I should also mention seatguru. I don’t use seatguru that often but GDS seat maps are, though accurate, not as clear as seatguru can be. Especially when one has a very particular client. Also useful for seat pitches and the like.
Apart from the obvious email, the most useful mobile communication tool is the humble SMS text message. Iphone apps have their uses, but no internet access, no app. The SMS text message gets through, no matter what. It lurks in the ether and when it sees a chance – zip! – it’s there. This I know from my experience trying to communciate with my brother who was caught up in 9/11. Mobile phone calls were neigh on impossible – but a text message got through, each and every time. If there is a disaster, communication lines get clogged – fast. Whereas the iphone-dependent person cannot get through, the SMS person can get through to their agent. A big plus, when the chips are down. (And so is having an agent). The same applied, incidently, during the more recent volcanic ash saga.
Do you know any other really useful tools?
