Travel Rebel

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It doesn't matter at the end of the day whether you are going to book a trip from me. I am satisfied if I could offer my frank opinion of the place!"

I am in this travel consulting business with X Travel Agent where there were occasions when I need to lie in order to close a deal. For our Europe Tours, a minimum group size of 16 is required for a confirmed departure. Usually, even when there is not a single person in the group, we are required to lie that there are already 10 in order to instill confidence to prospective customers. At first I found it hard to accept, now it has become like a normal routine to me.

Usually, there are requests from customers to fax our itinerary to them. I am now trained to differentiate between genuine customers or spies from other travel agencies. For the latter, my standard reply is “My fax machine is down today. If you are keen on the itinerary, pls kindly make your way to our office and get it from us personally.”

Of course, there were occasions when I decided to be very honest in my advice. Just like yesterday, a young couple came and asked about the HK F&E package. I gather that they were not working so I decided to offer them a cheaper alternative. I told them to book through tiger airways or jetstarasia instead if they are on tight budget. I recommended the lodge that I stayed in HK recently (which our company doesn’t represent). After talking them for a good whole 20 minutes, they wanted to get Cathay Pacific air tickets and the disneyland tickets from me. I told them frankly to book online instead coz I will factor in my profit if I were to book for them.

The deal was called off and I didn't make a single cent from them. I wasn't disappointed the least bit. On the contrary, I was happy talking to them and providing them with the best options I could offer.

To me, satisfaction from the job comes from providing the correct and genuine advice to my customers rather than always thinking of closing a deal. Needless to say, my sales figure is not really fantastic, lying somewhere in the middle.

Of course, if my dear boss is going to read this, I will be in trouble.

Shh……

The author is currently sending out resumes to prospective companies and attending interviews outside office hours. At the end of the day, if a better job offer comes along his way, he will move on from here. But before embarking on a new appointment, he will reward himself with a short trip around the region to recharge his batteries. BUT he will never go through a travel agency to book his trip.

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Comments

[Boonster]

you are darn funny. biting the hand that feeds you. :)

['the free, poor and lost']

something from mr. confucius - Without goodness, one cannot endure adversity for long nor enjoy prosperity for long. Confucius warned against hypocrisy - one with clever words and a pretentious manner is seldom good. He believed that a gentleman can withstand want; only a small person is swept away by it. Rather than give up his principles Confucius could be satisfied with coarse rice to eat, water to drink, and a bent arm for a pillow. i believe that sincerity and honesty is v important in a job, yet every few people learned to embrace these virtues. kudos to you!! the pay might be little, but im sure you're able to sleep better at night. =) plus, if that couple gets rich one day and wanna travel again, im sure they wil come back to you! haha worry not, for the fortune will come your way soon.