For many Canadians planning international trips, full-service travel agencies continue to offer advantages that online booking platforms cannot easily replicate. While self-booking tools have grown in popularity, they often leave travellers responsible for managing complex itineraries, coordinating multiple carriers, and resolving disruptions on their own. A licensed travel agency, by contrast, employs certified travel consultants who can assess a client's budget, travel history, and personal preferences before recommending packages tailored to individual needs. In Canada, travel agencies registered with the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO) or similar provincial bodies are held to consumer protection standards that independent online platforms are not. If a booking is cancelled or a supplier goes bankrupt, TICO-registered agencies must provide compensation or alternative arrangements to affected clients. This regulatory backing gives travellers a meaningful layer of financial protection. Beyond logistics, experienced consultants often have direct relationships with hotels, tour operators, and airlines, allowing them to secure room upgrades, flexible cancellation terms, or exclusive rates unavailable to the general public. For first-time travellers or those planning high-value trips such as honeymoons or multigenerational family vacations, this expertise and access can represent significant savings and reduced stress over the entire journey.

According to the passage, what is one advantage of using a TICO-registered travel agency over an independent online booking platform?