In the fast-paced world of travel advising, staying ahead means more than just keeping up—it’s about delivering exceptional service, maximising productivity, and making every client interaction count.

The good news? You don’t have to do it alone.

With the power of AI and a few strategic productivity hacks (from a few of my favourite authors), you can impress your clients, boost your efficiency, and elevate the success of your agency beyond anything imaginable.

The Power of AI-Curated Itineraries

David Allen, author of “Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity,” suggests that your mind is for having ideas, not holding them.

Picture yourself crafting an itinerary for a journey through Rome, Florence, and Venice. Leveraging ChatGPT’s data analysis capabilities, your itinerary undergoes a comprehensive examination, uncovering opportunities for enhancement and personalisation. Drawing from a wealth of data, ChatGPT suggests amazing hidden gems and unique experiences tailored perfectly to your client’s specific interests. Now that is efficient and definitely getting the job done – fast!

This curated approach elevates your service from mere itinerary creation to highly thoughtful curation, offering your clients a bespoke travel consulting experience that leaves them feeling like you really know your stuff!

Provide Personalised Recommendations with AI

James Clear, the author of “Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones,” underscores the value of continuous improvement.

Is it possible for you to break away from the habit of using Google search for answers?

Instead, harness the power of ChatGPT as your new knowledge base. This shift will absolutely accelerate your ability to provide personalised recommendations to your clients.

With ChatGPT, you can enquire about famous recipes aligned with your clients’ itineraries or learn about famous individuals, historical events, or intriguing facts that will leave a lasting impression on your clients. The possibilities for innovative ideas and information are limitless.

Watch How AI Crafts Personalised Packing Lists

Donna McGeorge, author of “The First 2 Hours: Make Better Use of Your Most Valuable Time,” emphasises the importance of utilising your peak productivity times.

So imagine it’s coming up to European booking season.

And let’s say your most unproductive time of the day is at 4 p.m.

Well, why not turn this time of the day into your most productive time of the day?

Simply feed [prompt] ChatGPT with your client’s gender, travel itinerary, number of days, and dates, and ask it to generate a packing list. You could even personalise it based on their preferences, for example, adventure gear for the explorer or elegant attire for the cruiser. Watch ChatGPT create unique packing lists for your clients in seconds.

How productive is that? A simple edit here and there and email it to your clients.

ChatGPT can even help you write the email, yes, it really can.

This is magic and it will set you apart from others.

Top 3 Takeaways

1. Embrace AI as a Tool: AI is not a replacement for human expertise but a powerful tool to enhance it. Use AI to create unique information and free up your time for more meaningful interactions with clients.

2. Set Clear AI Goals: Define your objectives with AI. Whether you want to personalise itineraries, create packing lists, or improve productivity overall, having clear goals will guide your implementation of AI.

3. Continuous AI Learning and Improvement: Instead of ignoring the advancements in AI, embrace them. AI is a permanent fixture in our lives, so take the time to understand its capabilities and discover how it can enhance your travel business. Integrate AI solutions into your workflow to maintain a competitive edge in the industry.

By embracing AI and implementing strategic productivity hacks, you can become a travel superhero, a travel agency owner, manager or advisor who not only saves time but also creates magic for clients and builds a thriving business.

So, what are you waiting for?

Welcome AI into your travel advisor toolkit and watch your client satisfaction soar!

Oh and if you love all things productivity, those 3 books by David, James and Donna I mentioned, are gold. Enjoy.

And if you haven’t yet joined us inside the Specialist Travel Training Directory, head to the home page and click on the ‘Request Industry Access’ button. It’s FREE and offers industry training programs, webinars, memberships, discounts, and more. Open only to travel and tourism students and professionals.

Author, Sonja Leicester, 29 March 2024

The Travel Trainer