Reality Travel
by Anita Pagliasso

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Just as in the popular reality TV show “The Amazing Race,” when you’re traveling there are going to be “Detours, Fast Forwards, and Roadblocks” and most likely many other hurdles to overcome. You should prepare your travelers for the inevitable problems that are associated with traveling in today’s world.

One of the most valuable sales and marketing tools you will have is this opportunity to share your knowledge and expertise. Let them know that you will provide guidance on what to expect, and also assure them that should “anything” go wrong any time during their travels, you will be available any time to them to assist in any way possible. How can the Internet compete with that offer?

The reality of travel is that, while exploring other countries and cultures, you are going to see life as we may not know it. After all, isn’t this why people travel? Then, why is it that I am always amazed to see American travelers in shock when they see living standards that are not in line with what they left at home?

The best travelers are those who are prepared on what to expect and what to see. Prepare your clients for the onslaught of tenacious street vendors and even possibly drug dealers when they come off that beautiful cruise ship and dock in Jamaica. Advise your clients on how to avoid sitting through a half day of timeshare pitches when going to Mexico. Make sure to tell them to be cautious for pickpockets in Paris and gypsies in Barcelona, Spain.

Just as you see the signs that say “Don’t feed the birds,” also encourage your clients not to contribute to the beggars on the street. Warn them that they may see babies being used as a ploy. These are professional beggars who know what pulls on the heartstrings of tourists. We shouldn’t forget that this also takes place right here in the United States, and it is no different that the street people in San Francisco who exploit the use of a cat or dog. In fact, there is an intersection in my city that has a group of street beggars who hold up the cardboard signs and are there day after day. I have actually seen them gathered under a bridge holding what looked like a meeting. They practice the forlorn look and sometimes they are so organized I think they have formed a union.

Encourage your clients to take the time to break away from a tour to get a chance to know the locals and learn about their life and their customs. This also gives the foreigners a chance to learn about us and not just what the media presents. I was appalled when I went to Egypt and found that they had a television station that played the “Jerry Springer Show” nonstop 24 hours a day. It was very disheartening and sad to think that possibly many Egyptians and others in these parts of the world may have this vision and believe this is how we all are.

We as traveling Americans need to be role models and not be the classic “Ugly American”. We have all seen them -- demanding and arrogant. A smile and thank you is a universal language and will go a long way. We need to remind ourselves and our clients that, as travelers, we also have the opportunity to be Goodwill Ambassadors!

Anita Pagliasso serves as OSSN Western Regional Manager and as an executive board member for the Professional Association of Travel Hosts (PATH). To purchase her CD “Anita’s Toolbox for Home-Based Agents” -- which contains dozens of her most popular forms, letters, and guides -- or her book “How I Made a Small Fortune as a Home-Based Agent,” go to www.redticketproductions.com.

(Credit: Anita Pagliasso)