Next time you travel, pack some peace of mind
Have you ever noticed the extraordinary range of travel destinations available today? The planet has never seemed so small! There are myriad ways of travelling and it’s sometimes difficult to see our way through the maze. Offers are complex and expectations high.
An agency's performance will ultimately be measured by its ability to guide you throughout your entire journey, from the planning stage to the trip itself and all along the way - monitoring your satisfaction until after your return.
We all enjoy an array of choices – minus any headaches, of course. And that’s where professional travel advisors come in – to help you sort through the countless options, assess their relative merits,and select the best protection plans available.
And speaking of protection, only a handful of travellers know that by purchasing services from an agency that holds a licence issued by the Office de la protection du consommateur (OPC), they can benefit from FICAV (compensation funds for customers of travel agents) in the event a problem arises. That’s the case with CAA-Quebec Travel, which incidentally is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. As required by law, 0.1 percent of your travel cost will be charged at the time of payment for FICAV’s benefit.
Such funds are a good thing because they add to your peace of mind. Over the last 10 years, nearly 14,000 travellers have been compensated for such setbacks as an agency closing its doors before its clients’ departure dates, or an airline or hotel going out of business. To date, FICAV has paid $5.5 million to consumers, and as of March 2013, it reported an impressive surplus of almost $100 million.
Already, the government has sensibly reduced the required contribution, but while the OPC is expected to review some aspects of FICAV, a question arises: Is it actually possible to innovate in the consumer’s favour? It is no doubt an appropriate time to reflect on the industry in terms of today’s marketplace and the disruptions that many travellers have experienced in recent years. Clearly, FICAV’s first and foremost duty is to safeguard the contractual commitments affecting travellers. The OPC cannot act as a substitute for insurers; therefore, any contemplated change should be considered carefully. Such an effort is eminently worthwhile. How much it will actually achieve, though, remains to be seen.
Bolstering peace of mind is also a goal for the travel industry at large. An agency’s performance will ultimately be measured by its ability to guide you throughout your entire journey, from the planning stage to the trip itself and all along the way – monitoring your satisfaction until after your return. A travel advisor’s role can be extended to include – and why not? – coming to the clients’ aid during their time away from home. When all is said and done, isn’t that the ideal way to leave on a successful trip: without a worry in the world?
Richard Lachance,
President and CEO