When Travel Agents become Beggars

The phone rings and a voice says ‘ Hello can I speak to you’. You know the voice since you have heard the same many many times over the last 5 years that you have been handling reservations for the hotel. Past experience says that this is not a courtesy call even as you roll your eyes heavenward at the sheer desperation in the voice. Sure enough this is a telephonic appeal to make some non-available rooms appear out of magic. The soft little voice on the telephone begs silently and then more loudly and you groan aloud for the voice is asking for the impossible. Why is it that the Travel Agent never calls with good news, never thanks you at the end of a season for your efforts and never remembers you except when they want a room. The nature of business? Perhaps yes, but then why is it that when things are not going their way, the aspect of business relationship suddenly crops up as omni-important and you are expected to turn the world upside down for the same.... [Read More]

The above are the experiences of a Senior Reservation Manager in the Indian Five Star Deluxe Hospitality business and I am sure shared by many others bitten shy.