Final answer:
The Summer Retreat Travel Agency should opt for an internal job posting to save costs and quickly hire a new booking agent since it leverages existing employees' skills and streamlines recruitment, as opposed to costlier external methods.
Step-by-step explanation:
The best course of action for the Summer Retreat Travel Agency to save costs while quickly filling the booking agent position is to complete an internal job posting. This method is cost-effective as it involves minimal expenditure in terms of advertising and recruitment processes. By posting the job internally, the agency can harness the potential of current employees who are already familiar with the company's culture and operations. An internal candidate might require less training and can be onboarded quickly, thereby also minimizing the opportunity cost of having the position vacant.
External options such as performance testing, external apprenticeships, or hiring consultants would incur higher costs and typically take longer to execute. Internal job rotation and shadowing are more suited for employee development rather than immediate recruitment needs. Thus, focusing on an internal job posting strikes a balance between cost, speed, and tapping into the existing talent within the company.