Specialist luxury tour operator Goway Travel says personal discreet service remains a key factor for travel agents to stay relevant in the luxury travel market.
"We know luxury clients are not looking for discounted offers, but they are expecting great value for money, personal, and discreet service," explained Bruce Hodge, founder of Goway.
"There are many ways we can help agents prepare luxury personalized itineraries that will help them close their sale" said Hodge.
Goway Travel, which Hodge established in 1970 in Toronto and now employs over 250 North American staff, has refreshed its service and product offerings to keep pace with evolving trends in luxury travel.
It has retrained all staff to better service luxury travelers, and taken on a full time customer service manager to monitor regular business from agents and directly oversee all luxury bookings valued at $50,000 or more.
The company’s website has been reorganized to feature more ‘Travel in style’ independent itinerary suggestions, and has updated the deluxe properties worldwide, which include luxury private game lodges in Africa.
Goway has also renegotiated airline contracts for first and business class, often with better rates for agents.
Of the Goway premium product range, ‘Ultimate Itineraries’ focuses on discerning travelers, and ‘Stays of Distinction’ showcases premium accommodations hand-picked for service excellence, setting or overall experience, such as unique dining.
"Agents want to sell more luxury travel and we do too," says Hodge.
With Goway, travel agents are able to book inclusive land programs to Australia/New Zealand, Africa, Asia, Latin America, idyllic island vacations, group only itineraries and complex long-haul air consolidation.
