No one wants to imagine worst-case scenarios on vacation, but helping clients prepare for unexpected events abroad is essential to their safety and your credibility as a travel advisor. By equipping clients with practical knowledge and resources, you can help them stay safe and navigate any situation confidently.
Emphasize Safety Precautions Before Departure
Safety starts with preparation. Ensure clients know potential risks in their destination, from political tensions to weather-related hazards. Encourage them to check the State Department’s travel advisories and sign up for STEP (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program), which provides location-based alerts and connects them to embassy resources. These small steps can offer big peace of mind.
Prepare Clients for Crisis Management
Teach clients how to respond to emergencies. Encourage them to keep a physical and digital copy of important documents like passports, visas, and insurance cards. Review basic communication strategies with them, such as knowing local emergency numbers and having a backup contact plan. If clients travel in groups, recommend establishing a rendezvous point in case they get separated. Educate your clients on the definition of an emergency, and make them aware that you are there for them. Ensure they know that missing towels in the suite is NOT an emergency, but that a fire in the hotel the prior day that made the suite unavailable certainly is!
The Importance of Travel Insurance
Discussing travel insurance might seem routine, but framing it as essential protection against trip disruptions, medical emergencies, or evacuation needs can make clients more likely to opt in. Be sure clients understand what their insurance covers so they’re not caught off guard by limitations. Position insurance as a key component of safe, worry-free travel.
By proactively discussing safety and crisis response, you show clients you’re invested in their well-being beyond a fee or commission. When they know what to do in an emergency, clients can enjoy their trip with added confidence, knowing they’re prepared. A little foresight can go a long way.