FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - seeking Virtuoso travel agent recommendations (with Wiki)
Old Apr 20, 2013 | 9:11 am
  #43  
Kagehitokiri
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,871
if you cant get similar benefits by booking direct..
(didnt you say this before, if you cant get similar benefits, then use a TA?)
(personally all i care about is when there are potential upgrades that are valuable)

you do not like using TA/etc. others dont like talking to management, or even hotel (and only book online)
preferences vary, those are just some examples
but if you book through LHW or R&C they take a cut (ah some LHW no longer pay 10%)

Originally Posted by behuman
hoteliers still care
self important agents
what reason and with what justification
referral spend - http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxur...l#post19524254
if a hotel didnt get any benefit, they wouldnt do it. like those quitting LHW.
although not sure about management company vs owner etc.

Originally Posted by behuman
agents will disagree, but in many cases a traveler's best friend is loyalty to a brand and the internet with sites like FT
agents here recognize the quality of this forum, thats why theyre here, mainly to keep up to date
only those who are "one time posters" are here solely for gaining clients
at least 3 agents here have said at one time that they were not taking new clients at that time (in past)
this specific thread is asking about specific agents and first hand experience
there are not many agents on the forum, a number of posters use agents who are not on forum

re brand loyalty, are you forgetting hotels created their own TA programs? (not 3rd party virtuoso etc)
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxur...-programs.html

Last edited by Kagehitokiri; Apr 21, 2013 at 11:06 am
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