Why tour operators are more valuable than ever

By August 20, 2025 Travel

You wrote to write your e -mails and make your online food business. But are you one of the growing number of travelers who use AI to plan – even book – your vacation? In the age of the age, it is tempting to ask Chatgpt to do everything. Do high-end travel agencies and expert travel operators still have a place on the market?

“We already see it in inquiries that come with us,” says Tom Powers, founder and MD by Pura Aventura. “Self -confident claims of what customers want to see, where they will stay. It is obviously generated automatically what does not matter in itself. The problem is that you contact us as a specialist, but do not ask about an expert opinion. You come to a conversation with an incorrect sense that you have specialist knowledge while you have actual information, some ideas, some suggestions, no more.”

Tour operators have real knowledge on site, the AI not (Dorsia-Reisen)

Tour operators have real knowledge on site, the AI not (Dorsia-Reisen)

AI could present confident answers, but it is a data unit, not an expert – which means that it is always as good as the information he finds on the web. The results could be biased, outdated or obviously wrong, and they are definitely incomplete. It is easy to forget if you live in an online-obsessed society, but there are still many parts of the world in which sights, restaurants and accommodations do not have any website.

I am convinced that over -tourism reaches such extraordinary peaks, precisely because of this type of “more” more process that results from AI

“AI is only as amazing as the outcome you enter,” continues the forces. “Where there is a lot of content, there will be excellent work to find it and present them to you. However, it also does a great job in which you recommend almost everyone else. I am convinced that over -tourism reaches so extraordinary summits, precisely because of this type of” more “to achieve another process”. “” “

In contrast to the dependence on AI in publicly available data, tour operators are really specialized in real, on site. They also ask questions and push back in a way that AI does not do and has a conversation to understand exactly what the potential customer may seek. Often that cannot know yourself exactly.

The

The “right” stay is not necessarily the one who is highest online. It is the one who suits you best (Keller Hohenort / Red Savannah)

According to George Morgan-Grenville, CEO of Red Savannah, AI can produce a reasonably reasonable travel route in a certain goal. It cannot know whether this route is correct for this specific traveler.

“Even the simplest booking requires detailed (probably never) available online. Take a resort in the Maldives. How do you know whether the selected place is the right place? Will the view from your villa be the dazzling ocean blue (as you hoped) … or from another island with industrial buildings (which never occurs on you)?”

In essence, Travel is an emotional experience that is based on and around human relationships: between them and fellow travelers, people who meet them on the ground, and the agent or operator who enables. Your perfect travel route is as unique as you, and it takes another person to understand how you can get you to really combine with the “history” of the goal.

Agents and operators are both money for money and unforgettable experiences (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Agents and operators are both money for money and unforgettable experiences (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

For some travelers, perceived costs are a factor for leaving agents and operators, but the prices are often similar to the whole if they book independently of one another. This is because these experts have intimate relationships with suppliers and work in a scale that enables them to effectively buy flights, hotel rooms and other services.

“We have spent decades of building a black book with contacts all over the world – be it a hotel manager who ensures a room upgrade for local fixers who can guarantee tables in the best restaurants,” says Alison Zacher, global managing director of Scott Dunn.

These experts know how and when to book the best prices and often negotiate other advantages such as free transfers, late check-outs or free childcare sessions. If you book with you, you have the bonus of additional support and a few hands should go wrong, as well as an Atol insurance benefit that guarantees you a strong list of consumer rights.

Ultimately, it is a value equation, Zacher continues. “The efforts to book all the individual aspects of a vacation itself is extremely time-consuming. For everyone who leads a busy life, with work and family obligations, hourly or weekly planning in load.

And of course, who wants stress to be part of your vacation experience? Ultimately, traveling through pleasure and visiting remains a place for human connection, expertise and experiences in real life somewhere in the meat. Power makes it perfect. “What you can’t find when Claude or Chatgpt pok around on the side streets of Costa Rica who spend an interesting night or look for a cool place to eat. We do it.”

Six of the best travel representatives and tour operators

Get access to a black contact book via the right agent or operator (George Leith / Scott Dunn)

Get access to a black contact book via the right agent or operator (George Leith / Scott Dunn)

Scott Dunn

Best for: Local contacts

For almost four decades, Scott Dunn has been calling tailor -made and tailor -made holidays. The travel experts work around the clock to research and book every detail. The employees make several trips a year to build on site, beyond the “yo-fiction” knowledge and expand their black contact book, which offer guests a unique insider experience.

“All over the world, our guests, our guests travel to, are our network of expert guidelines in order to share the perspective of a local period,” says Zacher. “In Cambodia, this means diving in Phnom Penh’s lively Street Food scene with Vanarith NOP, a young local guide who fishing with his grandparents in the jungle of the Province of Koh Kong and built up native plants.”

Scottdunn.com

virtuoso

Best for: Find the perfect agent

Virtuoso is a collection of almost 5,000 leading travel consultants and experts from over 100 countries and combines them with leading travel agents in their region or with the special kind of specialist knowledge they long for.

Your network members arrange everything from high -ranking hotels, luxury cruises and targeted travel routes that are tailored on the way on every step.

virtuoso.com

Tiny travel ship

Best for: Family

During maternity, Frankie Collinson and Becky Pennison-Bate’s trouble finding family-friendly holiday experiences that met their role models in front of the baby. In 2022 they founded the @tinytravelship Instagram account and combined with their parents to share first-hand with detailed ratings of family vacation.

Three years later, it is developed in a digital directory and a travel agency that specializes in “Parent Angrein” ferry (in which adult tastes are not compromised for the Little). You know everything from the best family rooms to allergy protocols and will never forget to book the age -appropriate car seats for your airport transfer.

Tinytravelship.com

Dorsia Reisen

Best for: beach luxury

Dorsia Travel was founded in 2017 and specialized in ultra-exclusive beach destinations and extraordinary exclusive usage properties, especially in the Caribbean, in the Indian Ocean and in Africa.

It does not charge fees for the design of its plush trips, which can range from a private Island Fantasy short vacation on the Seychelles to a safari including great migration. You know that you will be in good hands because the owners Tom and Lucie Cahalan are on the road for about four months a year and have personally checked their recommendations.

Dorsiatravel.com

Pura Aventura

Best for: Positive effects

Specialists in Central and South America, Spain and Portugal, B Crop Pura Aventura, focus on offering remarkable experiences that easily step on earth.

Your travel routes work to strengthen local economies, to consider the local cultures and to avoid disturbing natural habitats. Regardless of whether you immerse yourself in the Galápagos or in the Azores when you immerse yourself in the Galápagos, you are guaranteed to be a responsible and inner track.

pura-aventura.com

Red Savannah

Best for: Sun and sea

Red Savannah describes travel as a “journey for the soul” – which is why it is so important in his black book of the best hotels, villas, yacht and well -being of the world of the world that range from Mexico to Mozambik.

The team has 400 years of collective experience and can even advise high-specific travel routes such as Polar Expeditions on the Antarctic and Riding celebrations in Kenya.

Redsavannah.com

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published.

Sign in

Sign Up

Forgot Password

Cart

Your cart is currently empty.

Share