The Power of Partnership

As a Luxury Travel Advisor, creating unforgettable journeys for our clients goes beyond simply booking hotels or arranging transportation. Rather, it’s about curating exceptional experiences that immerse our clients in the culture, elegance, and charm of a destination. A key factor in delivering these personalized, elevated trips is the strength of the relationships we build with our partners in the travel industry. Whether it’s hoteliers, tour operators, or other local experts, these connections are the backbone of our ability to design unique and highly tailored travel experiences.

During my recent participation in Gifted Travel Network 's Hotelier Lounge event, I had the privilege of connecting with luxury hotel partners across the globe. These types of events allow us as Travel Advisors to forge deeper bonds with the very people who help bring our clients' trips to life. Events like this are more than just networking—they’re about collaboration and trust-building, which directly impacts the quality of the experiences we can offer to our clients.

This event inspired me to want to share more broadly about the power of partnerships in travel, and why working with a Travel Advisor who has strong industry relationships is key to elevating your trips. Read on!

Exclusive Access to Unique Experiences

First and foremost, strong relationships with travel partners open doors to exclusive amenities and personalized touches that elevate a client’s journey from great to unforgettable. From securing upgrades to arranging behind-the-scenes access, these relationships give us the leverage to craft experiences that go far beyond standard bookings. Having direct, trusted lines of communication with hotel managers or local experts ensures that our clients are always treated with priority, receiving tailored services that reflect their personal preferences and needs.

For example, I’m currently designing a luxury honeymoon through Italy for a beautiful couple. They wanted to do a cooking class in Florence—always a must in Tuscany! Through our partnerships, we were able to take this request and design a truly once in a lifetime experience: Our clients will not only have a private cooking class, but they will shop together with their chef for the freshest ingredients at a local market, customizing the meal that they cook and seeing it be built from scratch. They also will get to create the meal in a family’s personal home! These are the kinds of experiences that create core memories for a lifetime, and they cannot be found online.

Enhanced Client Support

Luxury travel also requires seamless coordination and impeccable service; our clients expect a smooth journey from departure all the way through returning home. When things don’t go as planned—whether due to flight delays, special requests, or unexpected changes—a strong relationship with hotel partners becomes invaluable. The ability to contact a trusted partner directly for immediate assistance ensures that issues are resolved quickly, and our clients continue to have an exceptional experience, no matter the circumstances.

Our local partners, through ongoing collaboration, become extensions of our own service. Their deep understanding of our clients’ preferences and our shared commitment to excellence make sure that, even on the other side of the world, our clients feel well-supported and cared for.

Recently, I had clients traveling in Germany, and our local partners informed us a few days ahead of time that a festival was happening on the day of a planned tour, which would’ve created a hectic experience. We collaborated with them to create an alternative tour path that still highlighted the beauty of Heidelberg while avoiding crowds. Plus, they provided us with a specific driving route to share with the clients that directed them around all of the festival traffic. Our partners helped us arrange these changes seamlessly while the clients were already traveling—all the clients had to do was follow their new itinerary on their app!

Expanding Our Knowledge Base

One of the most rewarding aspects of these partnerships is how they help us grow as travel advisors. Connecting with hoteliers and other partners provides us with insider knowledge about the latest trends, renovations, and unique offerings at hotel properties and destinations. These insights are invaluable when advising clients on the best options for their travels. We are able to share firsthand information that goes beyond what's listed on a website, offering detailed, personalized recommendations that make a trip truly stand out.

One of my favorite new insights from the Hotelier Lounge event came from our meeting with Corinthia London . A remarkable property, Corinthia London has many well-known features like their exquisite spa and excellent afternoon tea. A lesser-known feature?…Their pub restaurant, Kerridge’s, has a Michelin star. Yes, you read that right—a Michelin star at a pub!

And if you want a slice of French charm stateside, head to Farmington, Pennsylvania. Home to Nemacolin resort, their reimagined Chateau is a Parisian chic hotel that offers guests refined luxury amidst all of the incredible activities on the 2,200-acre resort. They even have their own Patisserie!

In the luxury travel industry, relationships are everything. Through these strong connections with our partners, we can offer our clients exclusive access, enhanced support, and the latest insights that ensure every journey is meticulously planned and executed.

Partners, thank you for your collaboration, wisdom, and passion for excellence in travel—we are so grateful for you!

Cheers!

Abby McCormick

Travel Designer at MMarkham Travel