Thats good to know. Do you have a website that I can view the rates and book myself?
I think there has been some confusion with the rate. I am only interested in the Euro rate, as my credit card is international fee free. In my experience the advisors quote in the home currency of the hotel. I even had a call with one of the advisors so they definitely know I am local.
Regarding the rates, I am surprised as well. One is more expensive and one has a booking fee.
I always quote experienced clients in the hotel’s local currency because that is ultimately what they will pay at the property. I’ll only quote in a client’s home currency if I’m confident that’s their preference. Most experienced travellers do not require currency conversions.
Service and booking fees should also be communicated upfront, as every advisor operates their business differently. Some advisors do not accept bookings under USD 5,000 excluding flights, while many charge service or planning fees even for hotel-only bookings. A large reason for this is the amount of time spent researching, curating, and tailoring recommendations, only for some clients to take that information and book elsewhere. Imagine if that happened 10 times a day.
What many people don’t realise is that advisors are often not paid until after a client completes their stay. Some hotels pay commissions two to three months after check-out, while others delay payment further or refuse to pay entirely, yes, even some five-star luxury hotels. If a client books and then cancels shortly before arrival, the advisor also does not get paid despite the time already spent researching, planning, coordinating, and managing the booking.
A good travel advisor does not compete on price alone. The value comes from expertise, industry knowledge, personalised recommendations, access, advocacy, support, and time saved. Many advisors also invest significant time and money visiting properties and meeting hotel management in person to build relationships that directly benefit their clients. Otherwise, there are already plenty of websites offering the cheapest available rates.
Working with a travel advisor is a two-way street. Clients need to trust their advisor’s expertise, recommendations, and process, just as advisors need clients who value their time, knowledge, and work. Travel advisors are not simply customer service agents taking orders. They are professionals in sales, relationship management, planning, negotiation, and advocacy. Their role is to understand a client’s needs, curate the right options, and guide them toward the best overall experience, not just the lowest price. For this reason, I always take the time to get to know my clients better, including setting up a call to understand their travel style, preferences, expectations, and overall requirements. That allows me to make recommendations that are genuinely tailored to them rather than simply sending a generic list of options or whatever the most expensive options.
The majority of independent travel advisors you see on forums also do not have fully automated booking websites due to industry and supplier restrictions. Even platforms like Virtuoso primarily allow clients to browse hotels, view rates, and submit booking requests to an advisor rather than complete the process entirely online.
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