The most celebrated first traveller is probably Herodotus who travelled in the 5th century BC. The Romans were the first to engage in mass tourism, peaking in the 2nd century AD. There were vacation homes and villas, entertainment, tour guides and arrangers of peregrination, the Latin word for holiday excursions. These arrangers acted as travel agents. Religious travel was booming by the 13th and 14th centuries. Travellers became tourists excited by what they read in Sir John Mandeville’s book, Travels, published in 1357. Fast forward to the Elizabethan era, then the Grand Tourist and the Romantics, followed by the Victorian tourist and the need for a personal travel agent.
Henry Wells of Wells Fargo saw the opportunity in America and Thomas Cook saw the opportunity in England. Both built huge empires with Wells starting American Express and Thomas Cook, Thos. Cook & Sons. It was the mid 1800s, rail was the new experience, shipping routes became voyages, that became cruises and air travel overtook them all. Life and travel moved into the fast lane. The packaged tour was introduced during the late 1800s and never looked back. What goes around comes around and today travel agents are once again booking flexible personalized individual travel arrangements, just as our predecessors had done. Now we can book you on tours into space.
The role of the present day travel agent has provenance dating back to the 1840s when Wells and Cook started their businesses.
The world is just not what it used to be, especially when it comes to travelling it. As your travel agent of record I will make sure you do not fall into any of the traps waiting for the traveller who books online or direct with overseas tour companies.
I will make sure that the travel I arrange for you is earth friendly – you will travel green without knowing it.
Your customized travel arrangements will be handled and packaged with the care they deserve. I will hand your documents to you personally whenever possible and make sure you are advised of the details that will make this trip one of the best you have ever experienced.
Need ideas on where to go and what to do? I’ll conduct a personal interview with you to better understand the travelling you – then I’ll propose what I believe will excite your travel genes!
When you book your travel with me I will stay connected to you as often as you need.
Put my connections to work for you! Although you can book your own travel online, I have way more connections, signed agreements and a list of preferred suppliers contracted to deliver on what they promise.
is what I do for you. It’s what I’m trained to do. Let me put the pieces together for you and save you both time and money.
I am committed to protecting you from anything that will cause you concern during your travels. I will ask you to be responsible for your own safety when travelling and offer you professional advice on travel insurance coverage and how to travel safely.
…and there’s no need to check the rear view mirror… I’ve already done it for you to help prevent most unforeseen surprises...
Thanks for being a wonderful client and fellow traveller. I will always do my best for you and continually value your business and friendship.
AS YOUR TRAVEL AGENT I AM YOUR ULTIMATE SEARCH ENGINE!
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