Certified Travel Associate Practice

What are preferred suppliers in the travel agency context?

1. Probing

2. Prospecting

3. Qualifying

4. Travel agencies have written agreements with suppliers known as the preferred supplier agreement. Agencies depend on suppliers to develop products and services and select suppliers.

The correct answer is: Travel agencies have written agreements with suppliers known as the preferred supplier agreement. Agencies depend on suppliers to develop products and services and select suppliers.

Preferred suppliers in the travel agency context refer to those vendors with whom travel agencies have established formal agreements, often termed as preferred supplier agreements. These agreements serve to streamline the selection process for travel agencies when they recommend products and services to their clients. By working with preferred suppliers, agencies benefit from negotiated rates, exclusive offers, or additional support, which can enhance their overall service offerings. This relationship allows travel agencies to trust that they are presenting high-quality options to their clients, as the preferred suppliers have been vetted and deemed reliable. The use of preferred suppliers also helps agencies maintain consistency in the products and services they provide, aiding in customer satisfaction and loyalty. The other options relate to different aspects of sales and customer engagement—probing involves questioning to uncover customer needs, prospecting is about identifying potential customers, and qualifying is assessing leads to determine if they are worth pursuing. While these are important functions in sales, they do not directly define the nature of preferred suppliers in the travel industry.