Does anyone give a gift to their TA?

[Gingee]

I was wondering if anyone gives their travel agent a gift when they go on a cruise? The reason is because I just ordered something small for my TA for their cruise. I know the people outside of being a TA but its not like we are close friends - just work acquantainces. (sp?)

[winnyd]

We did once to a Local TA .She did an exceptional job for us.It required numourous changes.I gave her a box of Chocolates after the Cruise. Now we use the Web.Our latest TA is 2,000 miles away in Florida We're from Canada. The only apreciation I can do, is use her services again & reccomend her to our traveling friends.Our Florid TA has already changed our Cabin from front to rear because of info from these posts

[Steamboatin]

Yes we normally bring our local TA a gift back from the cruise or escorted tour from one of the countries/cities we have visited. We happen to bring the same type of gift back each time and she does use them. Often when we visit her at the office unannounced she will show us the one that she is using that day which we had given her from a previous cruise/tour.

 

We have booked 16 cruises and 3 escorted tours with her and she is an excellent local TA. She works for a national organization that allows its members to book cruises paying only a $25 deposit per person per cruise booked.

[Gingee]

$25 for a deposit? Wow I would book lots of cruises ahead of time.

 

I am just sending the silver small photo albumn with the name of the ship on it to their room.

[madhouseinc]

The person who helped me sooooo much for the last 159 days in planning this will also be on the cruise. Plan on sending a bottle of wine to their table.

[NAS-KARR]

Hell No !

CIAO,

[Princess-of-Quite-alot]

Yes we normally bring our local TA a gift back from the cruise or escorted tour from one of the countries/cities we have visited. We happen to bring the same type of gift back each time and she does use them. Often when we visit her at the office unannounced she will show us the one that she is using that day which we had given her from a previous cruise/tour.

Well, what's the gift?:confused:

[JLC@SD]

My gift to my TA is my allegiance to her....:)

[Spikesgirl]

We bring back something small for our TA because she really does jump through hoops for us. We have never had a glitch or a problem with our agency and we've always been treated as if we are their most valuable client.

 

When we we SE Asia this past summer, we brought her back a cloisonne pin of a ship. She still had it on her desk the last time we were in there.

 

Charlie

[lougee1043]

i could use any ta --imo the ta should be giving me a gift for using her and not someone else

[Keith1010]

We do not always do this but we just gave a gift to our newTA for our upcoming cruise. I suspect that very few do this so it is likely not the norm. So, do it if you want to but not because you think lots of clients do this since I do not believe that is the case.

 

Keith

[paul929207]

I always find the cruise and dates we want, find the lowest price online and then call my TA to book it. I don't feel a gift is necessary and don't give one.

 

Paul

[Nitra]

I used to work as a vacation travel agent, now corporate event planner, but I received so many gifts. We were only allowed to accept things up to a certain value by our company policy.

 

Some things I have received,

a hammock from Mexico

a liquor lei from Hawaii

gift certificates for Neiman Marcus and other nice stores

pin from Italy (very pretty small cameo type but with a carved flower design)

coffee mugs

magnets

key chains

gift baskets

and so on

 

I loved each one, it was so nice to be remembered, but I was one of those agents that went above and beyond for my people. Guess that is why I am still with the same company 10 yrs later but have moved up thru the ranks to what I do now.

[MamaParrotHead]

I sent my PVP a Christmas gift. A gift card and a tin of homemade Christmas cookies. :) I'm totally OCD and he's super nice, pleasant, courteous, prompt (in returning my calls), no matter how many times I call or questions I ask.

[bplazo]

We usually give a bottle of wine.

[Bunnynme]

We had a travel agent that we always used when we lived in NY. We always got her something when we returned from a cruise. Maybe some wine, chocolates or a souvenir from one of our ports of call. She always ordered us a bottle of wine that we received onboard along with a cruise credit from her. She treated us well. This cruise we booked directly through NCL with our Personal Cruise Consultant who has indeed been wonderful.

[Gingee]

We did get some roses on our last cruise from our travel agent but it was the first time. It would have been the second cruise that we booked from them.

It was also a 30th anniversary trip for us so that might have been the reason also.

[CruiseZapper]

we did, one time, never even receive a thank-you. so we don't anymore, still use her, she's a great TA, just not on the thank yous'. now we just thank her, pay, and leave, but if i need to know anything and give her a call she always returns our call.

[DaisyGirl55]

Back in the day before the Internet became what it is, we always used a TA for cruises, airline tickets, rental cars. Our TA was super, and it was always neat to go to our room on the ship and find some flowers, or a welcome basket from her. We always reciprocated by gifting her with a small item, or a certificate for lunch after we returned from our trip.

 

Nowadays, we do most of our booking either ourselves online, or with a web based agency. No more face to face, very little contact other than the initial booking, and a few conversations around final payment and ticket time. As we do not have a person that we deal with ace to face, we no longer gift anyone.

 

If, however, our online agency did an outstanding job, all arrangements met my requests, and there were no problems with my booking, I will generally use the same agency for future cruises. I will also recommend the agency to others who are planning a cruise or trip.

[Buffettfan 225]

After our last cruise, I sent a small 3-D ship that had a clear acrylic picture frame for her to use. I knew she was building a home so mailed it to her and she said emailed a great heartfelt thankyou for the surprise. While she is with a large company, she works from her home. They always said it is a small world when as I found her on internet- we live 30 minutes apart!

We are now booked on second cruise thru her.

[CBussey64]

Yes we normally bring our local TA a gift back from the cruise or escorted tour from one of the countries/cities we have visited. We happen to bring the same type of gift back each time and she does use them. Often when we visit her at the office unannounced she will show us the one that she is using that day which we had given her from a previous cruise/tour.

 

We have booked 16 cruises and 3 escorted tours with her and she is an excellent local TA. She works for a national organization that allows its members to book cruises paying only a $25 deposit per person per cruise booked.

 

 

Are you able to share that organization with us or even privately (coloradosweetheart at comcast dot net)

[newmexicoNita]

As a TA, I will answer from my side: I have a couple of loyal clients that always give me little things; maybe playing cards, wine, nic nacs, coffee, etc. Nothing expensive but just to know they appreciate what i do is nice. I did get flowers a couple of times. I cetainly never expect anything and as someone said "their loyalty" is gift enough, but it is a nice thought. NMnita

[HawaiiCruisers]

Giving a gift is of course a very personal choice. Often we will give a travel agent a small item of appreciation. A few years back we booked a cruise through one of the cruise mega agencies and because we were new to cruising it was all confusing to us. We booked the least expensive inside and was grateful for all the assistance the TA gave us that I sent a bunch of flowers to her, we arrived in Los Angeles a day before our cruise and met the TA took her to lunch. When we got to the ship our inside lower deck cabin had been upgraded to an Outside upper deck cabin, on two seperate occasions during the cruise we received a bottle of wine at dinner compliments of our TA. We found out after the cruise that our cabin had been upgraded by our TA. Sure they likely did not pay for the upgrade but being nice had our name in front of them. We travel and always bring extra gifts with us for those who were nice to us that we meet along the way. Things such as Macadameia Nuts, Hawaii chocolate, etc.

 

When we return if we had an exceptional time we will again send the TA a small gift of appreciation.

[jcanino]

The best gift a client can give me is to tell their friends about the excellent vaction they had and that I was the one that gave them wonderful customer service and a great value for the price they paid. This is a gift that I receive all the time and never grow tired of receiving it.

[newmexicoNita]

The best gift a client can give me is to tell their friends about the excellent vaction they had and that I was the one that gave them wonderful customer service and a great value for the price they paid. This is a gift that I receive all the time and never grow tired of receiving it.

you are so right about that: BTW, I notice on your profile you have the name of your company or the location whatever listed: I think that is against the policy of CC. Just an FYI.