Incoming personnel are “multifunctional”: they know and go through all areas, from purchasing services, to selling them, to supervising on site, even in cases of emergency. They negotiate purchasing prices on a competitive basis, constantly check the quality of products, from hotels to transfer vehicles, secure sale allotments, and package services from providers to create purchasing benefits for customers as well.
Incoming agents act as organisers on site and are, thus, the extended arm of the operators. Last minute changes (change of transfer time, late check out, etc.) can be taken care of quickly thanks to great connections to service providers. The latter are chosen carefully, not only prices matter, but also the quality of their products and good cooperation.
Incoming agents provide all services as a one-stop-shop. This saves time and personnel because all puzzle pieces are put together through one booking which usually also leads to better prices. All the logistical work, from time management to coordinating the different service providers and taking care of the smallest details, is taken care of by the Incoming Agency. The administrative effort is reduced to a minimum because it is not only a one-stop-shop but also a “one-invoice-partner”.
The incoming agents are indispensable allies in cases of emergency; having a troubleshooter on site can often be crucial for the success of a holiday or event. A local incoming agent can help in many matters, from payment modalities to menu changes and flight cancellations, from floods to volcanoes. Every traveller who has experienced problems knows exactly how important reacting quickly and helping can be.
Finally, it also the Incoming Agencies’ responsibility to provide the necessary product training for their partners’ sales teams. Presentations, trainings, and fam-trips are organised to showcase the destination to the personnel of partner agencies. This also includes product preparation with perfect materials for the catalogue production (digital or analogue).
