When I was growing up there was a travel agency in Cloverdale on 176th Street, next to the dry cleaners. It was a good place to go for brochures for those pesky school reports we had to do on far off destinations.
Back in the mid-70's the agency was purchased by a couple who became friends with our parents and was called Cloverdale Travel. Or something as equally simple. I remember the wife's name, Ann, but for the life of me I can't recall her husband's name. They retired about 15 years ago and moved to the Okanagan. My father keeps in occasional contact with them.
After they closed, Maple Leaf Travel, that was formerly inside Cloverdale Mall moved into their location. I noticed they closed down at the end of 2009. There are renovations being done to the store, but I don't know who's taken over the lease or what kind of business is going in there.
Are travel agents becoming a thing of the past? Many years ago I took a 6 month travel agent course. I wasn't interested in becoming a travel agent. I wanted to work for a tour operator - the middleman company that puts together air and hotel packages and sells them to travel agent's customers. During my schooling and for the few years I worked in the travel industry I learned a lot of things. For the most part travel agents are not well paid. I was surprised that most of them earn minimum wage and maybe 1% of the commission the travel agency earns on their bookings. Perks are free or reduced travel and accomodations and tours.
I worked for tour operators (Air Canada Vacations and the long since defunct Silverwing Holidays) and I spent a lot of time on the phone with travel agents. I will say that some travel agents genuinely loved their jobs, knew what they were doing, and were an absolute pleasure to deal with. Unfortunately too many travel agents hated their jobs, but then again, most employees are not too happy with low level paying jobs. Too many travel agents screwed up their passenger's trips. I could get into one nightmare after another. What I learned most of all was that if I could avoid doing so, I would not use a travel agent.
With the advent of the Internet and the ability to search out cheap travel, it appears that many others are no longer using travel agents. Last year BCAA announced they were closing down the travel agencies in their offices, thus putting many travel agents out of work. BCAA moved with the times to now do their bookings over the phone and Internet, so a few agents are still working for them at the head office.
I suspect the Internet has been the downfall of many travel agencies closing down. Lack of customers plus the airlines and tour companies lowering how much commissions they pay out for bookings had a lot to do with it.
We booked with a travel agency last year. One over on Vancouver Island. I've never set foot in their building. My father gave me an ad about a cruise deal to Alaska and we called the company who'd blocked off some cabins and been given a very good rate by Holland America's Zuiderdam. We booked and paid. They sent us an invoice over email and also regular mail and gave us our booking number and instructions to go to Holland America's web site to download our boarding documents. I believe this travel agency deals in cruises only - though they can book air flights if needed to departure ports - and able to block space at lower prices.
Some travel agencies still exist, though a lot no longer have storefront offices. They work out of homes and make their living through Internet and phone sales. Some people still prefer the comfort of having someone else make the plans and book everything necessary for their holiday.
A quick search of the Internet can usually find the information you need to make travel arrangements. There are also many discussion forums on the Internet about travel and people can post and ask questions which can be answered by persons with experience at that destination with suggestions about who to book with.
Our next destination is an 18 day Panama Canal repositioning cruise. Booked directly with the cruise ship offering specials. Cheap flight to Fort Lauderdale and an overnight hotel, thanks to expedia.ca
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