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Furious agents take action after negative article
Agents in the US and Canada have reacted angrily to an article in a magazine called "Nine Things Travel Agents Won’t Tell You".
The article, which appeared in Women’s Day magazine, insinuates that travel agents push customers based on commissions and perks they receive, are unable to book all airlines and recommend hotels and cruises they have never been on.
It also claims agents do not suggest alternate dates or airports that have lower prices, push unnecessary travel insurance, don’t tell customers when rates are refundable, and don’t necessarily have the best prices.
But after receiving a barrage of complaints about the article, the magazine has now promised to highlight travel agent services in the October issue of the print magazine and in a story in December on WomansDay.com.
More than 900 agents posted angry replies on the magazine’s website and an online petition got more than 1,200 signatures.
The American Society of Travel Agents "expressed its concern about the extensive misrepresentations in the article".
"Before publishing more stuff like this, get the facts," ASTA said.
Cruise Lines International Association also slammed the article, saying it "is very concerned by, and takes issue with, the unfair and negative depiction of travel agents".
Initially, the magazine issued a statement saying: "As with any story, the expert sources can’t speak for the entire industry, and it was our goal to inform consumers of the practices they may–though are not guaranteed–to encounter."
But eventually it added: "Helping readers find value is Woman’s Day’s main objective, and we recognise that travel agents provide valuable services that help women’s vacation dreams come true. We’re sorry if that didn’t come through in this article.
"We thank you again for sharing your expertise and doing the great work that you do. We’re looking forward to working with some of you closely on our December online feature story."
by Cheryl Rosen, TravelMole US
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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