Going the extra mile for travellers

Trafalgar Travel Limited recently expanded its services with the addition of two new posts which will expand their offerings to customers.

"We employ about five summer workers annually, " said Michelle Roper, executive manager, during an interview with The Gleaner at the agency's New Kingston office.

Among them are two recent graduates of the University of the Technology (UTech) - Juleta Edwards, 23 and Talsia Reid, 25 who work in the visa and passport department of the multi-award-winning travel services provider.

"This experience has been fun and I have learnt a lot. I now have a better understanding of things. The staff is warm-hearted and welcoming, and we all work as a team," Edwards told The Gleaner during a recent interview.

"The company offers a comfortable environment for all employees, which is well appreciated," Reid added.

Senior manager Sandy Collings also expressed delight with the new members of the team.

"Having them here is a pleasure; they are brilliant, eager and quick to learn .The mindset, ideas and the suggestions they bring add to the growth and development of the company," she said of the new recruits.

Collings told The Gleaner that Trafalgar Travel is among the largest travel agencies in the Caribbean and the only one with a designated information technology department. She pointed out that when they started in 1995, the demand for visas and passports was not as great as it is today, neither was the application process as technical. A Sunday Gleaner report last year, revealed that Jamaicans spent up to J$3 billion on United States visa applications annually.

Company evolved

According to Collings, many of those applicants who have computer literacy challenges request help from the agency and that is where the two new team members come in.

"Demand for this service has grown significantly, and when a professional is handling the job, the client is more comfortable," Collings said.

"This company has evolved so much in the last decade; it has been dynamic, meeting the needs of clients, and feedback from the public has been tremendous. We assist in services such as visa and passport renewals, booking tickets for flights and cruises, and we make hotel reservations. We may also pay online fees for persons without a credit card," she told The Gleaner.

Trafalgar Travel Limited sells travelling solutions to customers and corporate entities and also manages house accounts for corporate companies.

If a client has a specific number of workers travelling for an assignment, the agency will give professional advice on how to save on expenses.

They also provide visa counselling and consultation sessions, and guide clients through applications, and notify customers when visa and passports need to be renewed.

"Visas and passports take little time to complete, while to book travel schedules may require a good amount of time, so it is best to book at least two weeks in advance," advised Collings.

For more information, visit: www.trafalgaronline.com.