travel intel
travel style ,” Berube says . “ Plus they can share exclusive member benefits and pricing you can ’ t find anywhere else .” In fact , many AMA Travel specialists are in such high demand that they are only available by appointment .
Do all travel bookings benefit from appointments ? Not necessarily . For quick transactions on things like flights , car rentals and all-inclusive packages , you can go to AMATravel . ca and take advantage of member and exclusive rates . But for a trip with even a few complexities — a cruise , a journey to a country you ’ ve never before visited , an adventure with multiple generations — an hour-long appointment with a travel specialist is your best bet .
Making the Match
How AMA ’ s travel counsellor appointments make for trip-planning bliss
AMA TrAvel counsellor Megan Hill hears one thing over and over when she sits down with her clients : “ I just didn ’ t realize how much information and research is involved in planning a trip .”
“ I think I ’ ve heard that 10 times this week already ,” she says . It ’ s one thing to book a cruise . But when it comes to booking the best cruise for you ? Well , there are many more factors that go into that decision than the average traveller realizes . There are hundreds of companies , ships and destinations , widely varied cabin types , and myriad dining options , beverage packages , and transfer and excursion opportunities . Luckily , Hill can advise on all of them . An in-person meeting is ground zero for the planning process .
Match traveller with counsellor AMA Travel ’ s 200-plus counsellors have a staggering range of specialties . Together , they ’ re familiar with all regions of the world , specific tour companies and countless types of travel — from solo and group trips to foodie , cruise and coach tours to custom itineraries and destination weddings .
“ Our counsellors are passionate about their destinations and specializations ,” says Nikola Berube , AMA Travel director of sales . “ Through travel and training , our cruise specialists , for example , are exposed to an incredible amount of information , and they can speak to aspects of cruising far beyond what you could find in an online search .”
How do you access this passionate pool of experts ? The most direct route is to visit AMATravel . ca and find the travel specialist best suited to your needs . Then book an appointment to speak with them in-person .
“ You ’ ll have the best trip-planning experience because your specialist is an expert in your desired destination or
Match traveller with trip The appointment is the initial time for information gathering , says Hill , who has personally visited more than 21 countries . Her specialties include New York , Hawaii , Italy and China , as well Insight Vacations , Air Transat and Celebrity Cruises .
When Hill sits down with clients , she starts with the basics , like their desired destination , number of travellers and length of trip . She digs deeper to find the right match — to understand each traveller ’ s personal preferences and interests . Do they want to travel independently ? As part of an escorted tour ? On a cruise ? Hill can even suggest potential destinations if her clients are undecided , if they know their preferred country but not specific cities , or want to explore a region but have yet to settle on countries .
The counsellor then goes into research mode : “ Once we ’ ve narrowed it down to , say , an escorted 12-day tour through Italy , I ’ ll then look at all the different companies that AMA works with . If there are three tours that fit my clients ’ criteria and budget , I ’ ll send those to them .”
If there ’ s another agent in the AMA Travel network with relevant expertise , Hill might connect with them for further insights into recommended tours . Hill might also reach out to the client one last time to provide additional details and finalize the itin-
MAuritius iMAges gMbH / AlAMy
26 WINTER 2017
AMA INsIdER