The Power of Forms: A Travel Advisors Secret Weapon

You know the feeling: you’re applying for a job online, and you have to upload your resume. But wait, there’s more! You also have to fill out a long and tedious form with the same information that’s already on your resume. Why, oh why, do they make you do this? Is it some kind of cruel test? A way to weed out the impatient and the lazy? A sign of bad design and poor user experience?

Whatever the reason, filling out forms can be a pain. But sometimes, they can also be a blessing.

As a #projectmanager, I’ve used forms and templates for many purposes: to plan, organize, communicate, document, and report. They help me keep track of everything and make sure nothing falls through the cracks.

Now that I’m a #traveladvisor, I still use forms. But not to bore you or make you repeat yourself. No, I use forms to help you have the best #vacation ever.

My vacation request form is a simple and easy way for you to tell me what you want from your trip. It asks you for some essential information, such as:

How many people are going and how old are they?

When do you want to travel and for how long?

How much do you want to spend?

Where do you want to go and what do you want to do?

You might think that these questions are too vague or too specific. You might say: “I don’t know, I’m flexible.” But trust me, you have some criteria, and as much as I'd like to read minds- I haven't successfully mastered that skill yet.

I learned this the hard way when I started as a travel advisor. I would take people’s word for it when they said they were flexible. And then I would spend hours searching for options that matched their vague criteria. Only to find out that they actually had some preferences or constraints that they didn’t tell me upfront.

I once quoted a cruise for a couple who said they were flexible on the dates and the destination. They seemed happy with the price and the itinerary. But then they told me that they couldn’t go on that date because their kids had school. And they didn’t want to go on a cruise because they got seasick.

So, I had to start all over again and look for something else. And guess what? I had to fill out another form with their new information.

That’s why I created my vacation request form. It saves us both time and hassle. It helps me understand your needs and wants better. And it helps you get the best possible options for your trip.

Of course, filling out my form is not the end of the story. It’s just the beginning. In fact, if I hear any inkling of a celebration type trip, I want to know more. I sometimes have offers for some added perks or discounts for special occasions. I will contact you to discuss your form further. I will ask you some more questions, clarify some details, and offer you some suggestions. Your definition of a beach might be snorkeling and diving; while mine is sitting under an umbrella having a cocktail. Together, we will design your dream vacation.

But before we get there, we need to start somewhere. And that somewhere is my vacation request form.

So please, don’t be afraid of forms. They are not your enemy. They are your friend. They are here to help you have an amazing travel experience.

Oh, and just so you know; once we have your vacation selected, you’ll have a few more forms to fill out along the way. The next one is where you give me your names, birthdates, and payment information. But that’s easy, right? You can do it in your sleep. Or better yet, while dreaming of your next vacation.