For an agency, handing a group to a DMC means handing over much more than a programme: it is its own reputation with its clients. Brochures often look alike. The answers to a few precise questions do not. Here are seven to ask before you choose.
Why does the choice of DMC matter so much?
Because once the group has landed, the DMC is the one holding the trip together. The agency is far away; the DMC is on the ground, with the travellers, the drivers and the hotels. A good choice is rarely noticed. A bad one shows straight away.
Which questions should you ask before choosing?
1. How fast do they answer a request?
Responsiveness at the quote stage often predicts responsiveness during the trip. Ask for a precise timeframe. At ET Voyaj, we answer within 48 hours at most, 72 hours in high season.
2. How much of the country do they cover?
A DMC based in a single city often hands the rest of the country to others. Check that it operates directly in the regions of your programme: imperial cities, Atlas, desert, coast.
3. Who provides the vehicles?
An own fleet or longstanding partners mean vehicles that fit the job: coaches for the cities, 4×4s for the desert, minibuses for small groups. Ask how the drivers are chosen, too.
4. Are the guides official?
In the medinas and at the sites, official guides are the standard for groups. A good DMC works with regular guides, chosen for the language and the profile of the group.
And on the ground, what should you check?
5. What happens when something goes wrong?
This is the most important question. Who answers? Who steps in on the ground, and how far out? On the desert route, for example, ET Voyaj can count on someone able to handle a repair or an emergency.
6. Can they show real references?
Ask for examples of programmes already operated for groups like yours: same size, same type of clientele. They say more than any brochure.
7. Which terms, in writing?
Deposit, balance, group cancellation terms, billing currency: better to clear everything up before signing, and in writing.
The best DMC is not the one that promises the most, but the one that answers these seven questions clearly.
