In tough times stick with established local travel businesses

“There are some precautions businesses and retail travel customers can take on-board to safeguard their travel transactions in the face of the current volatile business climate,” said Ms McKeon. “Corporate and other business travel customers should stick with a few fundamentals.

“Recent evidence suggests that you should be a little nervous about doing business with a mobile bank or one not properly licensed to operate in this state. And so it is with travel agents – stick with correctly licensed, well-established and respected travel companies to ensure that you enjoy the peace-of-mind of knowing your payments will be guaranteed and you get the travel products and services for which you have paid good money.

“The clear take-away message is to transact your travel business with established, correctly credentialed local companies operating from established premises that are part of the local business community,” she said.

Ms McKeon is acknowledged as the Central Coast’s most experienced travel professional. She has a long, well-respected reputation in the travel industry. She has initiated new travel businesses at several Central Coast locations and owned and operated eleven travel agencies during her career.

Ms McKeon said that unfortunately complaints to the NSW Department of Fair Trading about travel agents have been on the increase. “I understand that the bulk of these complaints have been directed at operators that don’t have fixed business premises, trade solely over the internet or are not registered as a New South Wales business.”

Ms McKeon said the travel industry has become much more challenging with online travel bookings, airlines cutting commissions, suppliers selling direct and some financial institutions also offering travel products. “The more progressive travel companies understand that success means staying ahead of the pack, anticipating changes in the business environment, planning accordingly, doing the marketing and delivering products and services to customers with experienced, professional travel consultants,” she said.

“My strong advice to businesses and other customers is to stick with NSW licensed travel companies operating from fixed premises. That way you will get the professional travel support and related travel products that can’t be matched elsewhere, plus other benefits that will drive your money further and avoid the disappointment and inconvenience of a ‘deal’ that goes bad,” Ms McKeon concluded.

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