“Why should I book with Fora when I could just book through my credit card?”
At Fora, this is one of the most common questions we get, along with…
“Aren’t the hotel perks the same? And what about that 5x points value? Why is booking with Fora better?”
And we’ve got answers. Read on to learn why booking travel with Fora means not only a smoother booking process, but also a more personalized travel experience.
Reason 1: Fora offers a highly personalized booking experience; credit-card bookings are made via an online booking site or call center.
When you book travel with a Fora Advisor, you’re working one-on-one with a real person who takes the time to understand your travel style, goals and budget. Your Fora Advisor provides highly personalized recommendations and supports you along the way, even while you're on your trip.
When it comes to your hotel booking, Fora Advisors take time to match you with the perfect stay, adding extras along the way.
“I was planning a client’s bachelor party in Chicago,” said Fora Advisor Daniel Goldstein. “They had specifics in mind — they wanted a hotel with a pool, were looking to stay in a suite and wanted to be in a certain neighborhood. They started with Amex, and got nowhere. I was able to find a property that ticked all the boxes.”
Booking via your credit card company means you’re sacrificing that level of personalization.
“It’s essentially [like booking on] Expedia,” said Daniel Goldstein, who has years of experience booking through Amex’s FHR booking platform (spoiler alert: he now only books with Fora).
Credit cards' option is waiting on hold to speak with a call center agent. And, with thousands of agents, you’re never getting the same person twice.
Plus, when you book with a Fora Advisor, you can relax knowing your requests are taken care of, like confirming a connecting room, adding a crib or triple-checking that your room is on the same floor as your teenagers. You won’t get that same care and attention to detail when booking through your credit card.
Reason 2: When you book with Fora, you get prioritized for room upgrades.
Credit cards often offer perks like free breakfast and up to $200 resort credit. But we’ll let you in on an industry secret: booking with Fora means you’re getting all the same perks, but you are prioritized for room upgrades (more on that below).
“My clients booked three times with Amex, and they never got an upgrade,” advisor Amy Haefeli recalled. “Since then, I’ve booked them two hotel stays. They got upgraded both times.”
Why the special treatment? Because the travel industry is all about relationships.
During our decades in the industry, our team has built meaningful relationships with hotels around the world (more than 6,000, in fact). We attend all the industry events and use our network daily to provide the best possible experiences for our clients. And while credit cards like Amex provide perks for card holders (at roughly 2,600 hotels, in Amex's case), there’s no personal relationship with many credit card travel agents. The partnership is with the credit card company as a corporate brand.
And it doesn’t stop at upgrades. Fora is part of nearly every major preferred partner program, including Four Seasons Preferred, Rosewood Elite, Hyatt Privé and Virtuoso Travel.
Preferred partnerships are not easy to get — these selective, invitation-only programs are developed and cultivated by hotels to reward agencies that deliver consistent, high-quality clientele at significant volume. Clients from Fora and other preferred agencies book higher room categories, spend more at the property and are more loyal than any other booking channel. And you reap the benefits of these established partnerships.
What does this mean?
Beyond getting priority above credit card companies for room upgrades, you’re going to be at the front of the line for VIP benefits. Booking with Fora ensures you’re seen as a valued client coming from a preferred partnership. Even before you arrive at the hotel, you’ll be a top priority and marked as a VIP, landing you above-and-beyond hospitality and service.
Reason 3: Booking with Fora means you have dedicated 1:1 support to handle all the details.
Your travel booking is more than just a transaction. Not only does your Fora Advisor customize a trip that’s perfect for you, but their services continue during and after your trip.
Since Fora Advisors have relationships and book directly with partner hotels, they are ready to double-check reservations, make sure all your requests are squared away and also problem-solve for you if something goes awry while you’re traveling.
When you book through a Fora Advisor, it’s basically like having a best friend who has the hotel’s General Manager on speed dial. No corporate back-and-forth, or waiting on hold with call centers.
“I’m always texting with my clients during their trip,” said Fora Advisor Daniel Goldstein. “I tell them: If they need anything, call me, beep me, if you wanna reach me.”
This level of attention and personalization is especially valuable if you’re interested in a multi-stop trip, or one that requires logistical planning (like a safari) or on-the-ground resources (like tours and transfers).
Reason 4: Booking with a Fora Advisor means you’re supporting a small business.
Fora Advisor Gaya Vinay
Our Fora Advisors are passionate travel lovers around the globe, from full-time parents to teachers to history nerds. As Fora Advisors, they are building a small business of their own because they find fulfillment in planning and booking incredible trips for others.
Whenever you book with a Fora Advisor, you’re directly supporting an entrepreneur who is turning their knowledge and love of travel into a career. And that’s vacation planning that we can feel really good about.
But wait…how should I use my credit card?
We carry various cards ourselves and love their benefits. Our advice? Transfer your credit card points to one of their airline transfer partners and use them for premium cabin flights around the world. When you work with a Fora Advisor who is also an expert on all the various rewards programs, they can help you maximize the use of your credit card hotel credit, fee credit or rewards points as part of an overall trip-planning strategy.
But save the travel bookings for your Fora Advisor. They’ll do all the legwork and unlock a smoother, more personalized and VIP experience.
Learn more about working with a Fora Advisor.
Ready to plan your getaway? Whether a weekend staycation or a customized itinerary, connect with a Fora Advisor for expert help.