A Vacation Planner helps people to plan and book travel arrangements. Job duties include obtaining client information, designing cost-effective travel packages according to customer specifications and delivering memorable experiences to clients. Vacation Planners can also promote accommodation upgrades and extra nights when they are available. The qualifications needed to get a Vacation Planner job vary, but experience working in the travel industry is often required. Many people who work as Vacation Planners have post-secondary education, such as a vocational school course or certification from a hospitality school.
The advantage of planning a trip is that you know exactly what to expect and have everything mapped out. This can be helpful for travellers with a limited amount of time and budget or those who prefer a more structured itinerary. However, it can also be overwhelming and frustrating for travellers who end up with unexpected or unforeseen circumstances that disrupt their plans.
For example, if you’ve planned your trip around the best restaurants in town and your trip is interrupted by a power outage or the restaurant closes for renovations, you might feel frustrated at having to go somewhere else or not getting to eat that restaurant’s signature dish. Travelers without a well-planned itinerary, on the other hand, can easily enjoy a new experience or be surprised by something that they hadn’t expected.
If you are a natural planner, spending time finding out about things to do and places to see can be a lot of fun. It’s almost like pregaming before you actually go out to a party! It can give you a sense of anticipation that makes the actual trip more exciting. People who just show up and don’t plan anything can be disappointed if their expectations are not met or they find that the best restaurant in town is closed for the holidays.
Vacation Planners can help people avoid peak travel times by booking flights, hotels and activities during less busy periods. They can also suggest alternatives that are more affordable or enjoyable in other ways, such as renting a car instead of using public transportation or visiting a destination outside of the main tourist areas.
Another important aspect of the Vacation Planner role is setting and communicating policies on employee vacation leave. The employer can encourage employees to take vacation days during off-peak travel seasons and make it clear that granting leaves during peak times is more difficult.
During onboarding, Vacation Planners can set expectations by letting new hires know that the company has a first come, first serve policy for granting vacation time and making it clear that the team will be unable to accommodate last minute requests during peak travel season. They can also recommend that new hires plan their holiday requests early to ensure that they have a full pool of vacation days to choose from when the time comes. The team can also share policies on their intranet or document management system so that it is easy for employees to access and understand their entitlements.