There are certain phrases that, when I hear them, run straight up my back, evoking an instant tension deep in my soul. They are my "hot buttons." We all have them, I'm sure. Here at work, they break my heart.
Ours is a service-based business. We offer a service to our ITAs. Sometimes, for any number of reasons, people cancel. I know that we'll lose some ITAs, and I prepare for that. Every cancellation is important, and, when we receive a cancellation form, I look it over and take it seriously. It asks why, and includes a very brief satisfaction survey.
Usually, there's just a one-line simple sentence, like, "no time", or "in school" or something to indicate a change in lifestyle. And then there are those that hit my hot buttons. It doesn't happen often, but every once in a while, I'll see something like, "Not making money" or "Haven't used the service".
Please forgive the trangression, but... DUH! We offer a business opportunity. We provide support services, credentials, websites, booking systems, accounting and more for folks all over the country that want to be a part of the world of travel. We give them all of the support they need, so that they can build a business by marketing travel-even without experience in the travel business. On the inside, we have a full service call center with genuine, experienced travel professionals that offer guidance, work with the clients, book and manage travel sales, provide sales support and more. Its a great system and a great way to get into the travel business. We do not, however, include a golden egg.
All things considered, travel is probably one of the most marketable products in the world. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: every day, everywhere I go, I encounter people that react excitedly when they hear I'm in the travel business. It's been like this for over 20 years, and it never changes. So, how is it that anyone can think that it's not working?
We have many very successful ITAs that enjoy the income they earn by promoting travel. Several of our folks enjoy substantial travel benefits by promoting groups; earning higher returns and often free travel for themselves.
Any business takes work, time, and money and results are directly proportionate to investment. Our most successful ITAs are out there meeting people, making presentations, handing out business cards, managing thier database, keeping frequent communication, and working thier system. That's how they're successful.
Somebody hit my hot button today.
When Travel is your passion,
Gulliver's Travels is your
Work-at-home Solution!
(941) 328-6800
Call for Business Opportunity Information or
for Travel Services!
ITA #1153299
www.GulliversUSA.com/1153299
Tell us your read the blog!
Showing posts with label Group Travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Group Travel. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
Well, so much for that
Here we are, three weeks post election, and the economy continues to fail miserably. I guess I missed the mark with my prediction. Not that I believe(d) our new President-elect can solve these problems, but I did believe that the American people, so many of whom are completely entranced with Mr. Obama, would react with jubilation and optimism, creating an instant surge in consumer confidence. This, I thought, would bring about a swift reaction by infusing our economy with retail spending, creating a downline effect with impact on everything from unemployment to the stock market. Oh well; so much for that.
One sign of optimism is shining through the gloom; we've received a surge in inquiries concerning our business opportunities for Independent Travel Associates. This means that people are starting to reach out for the light at the end of the tunnel; looking for a new way to create income and enjoy the fun of the travel business. Good for them-and a hearty welcome to all of our new ITAs! This will be an exciting journey for you!
Back in Travelland, this is a slow time of year anyway. Anyone traveling for the winter holidays should have already booked by now. Other than that, people are thinking about holiday activities and spending, which, in this economy is making life rough for many of us.
Nonetheless, we are not without business and activity. Surprisingly, many folks are looking ahead to both the Inauguration and President's Day. The Inauguration is a big event this time around, due to aforementioned throngs of admirers. We have been chartering buses and booking hotels, though most of the hotels that are available are a couple of hours or more away from Washington DC. Still, when one travels from California or Texas, or various other far-flung areas, a two or three hour drive for festivities is a small price to pay-especially when that drive is saving you $500.00 per night or more.
President's weekend is always a popular getaway weekend-especially for those that live in the Northeast. The folks that are booking now are smart, and will be able to enjoy a stress-free getaway while their friends and families go through the last-minute scramble of trying to find anything they can book. Florida is a classic President's Day weekend destination with beaches packed on both coasts.
For those of you that have been around for a year or more, you know what is happening now; GROUPS! We're getting incredible cruise group specials now, and of course that includes Europe and Alaska; both of which must be booked in November if you want good dates, rates, and space. If you love escorting groups-or just traveling free-this is the time of year to grab your reservations, so do it now.
Ski has been pretty quiet for us this year; I'm not sure why this is, but I don't believe that America is sitting this ski season out. If expense is the problem, perhaps skiers need to look to less-expensive destinations such as North Carolina or New England, rather than the ever-popular Western destinations.
Well, the wait for wealth continues, but in the meanwhile we can still live the travel dream.
When Travel is your passion,
Gulliver's Travels is your
Work-at-home Solution!
(941) 328-6800
Call for Business Opportunity Information or
for Travel Services!
ITA #1153299
www.GulliversUSA.com/1153299
Tell us your read the blog!
One sign of optimism is shining through the gloom; we've received a surge in inquiries concerning our business opportunities for Independent Travel Associates. This means that people are starting to reach out for the light at the end of the tunnel; looking for a new way to create income and enjoy the fun of the travel business. Good for them-and a hearty welcome to all of our new ITAs! This will be an exciting journey for you!
Back in Travelland, this is a slow time of year anyway. Anyone traveling for the winter holidays should have already booked by now. Other than that, people are thinking about holiday activities and spending, which, in this economy is making life rough for many of us.
Nonetheless, we are not without business and activity. Surprisingly, many folks are looking ahead to both the Inauguration and President's Day. The Inauguration is a big event this time around, due to aforementioned throngs of admirers. We have been chartering buses and booking hotels, though most of the hotels that are available are a couple of hours or more away from Washington DC. Still, when one travels from California or Texas, or various other far-flung areas, a two or three hour drive for festivities is a small price to pay-especially when that drive is saving you $500.00 per night or more.
President's weekend is always a popular getaway weekend-especially for those that live in the Northeast. The folks that are booking now are smart, and will be able to enjoy a stress-free getaway while their friends and families go through the last-minute scramble of trying to find anything they can book. Florida is a classic President's Day weekend destination with beaches packed on both coasts.
For those of you that have been around for a year or more, you know what is happening now; GROUPS! We're getting incredible cruise group specials now, and of course that includes Europe and Alaska; both of which must be booked in November if you want good dates, rates, and space. If you love escorting groups-or just traveling free-this is the time of year to grab your reservations, so do it now.
Ski has been pretty quiet for us this year; I'm not sure why this is, but I don't believe that America is sitting this ski season out. If expense is the problem, perhaps skiers need to look to less-expensive destinations such as North Carolina or New England, rather than the ever-popular Western destinations.
Well, the wait for wealth continues, but in the meanwhile we can still live the travel dream.
When Travel is your passion,
Gulliver's Travels is your
Work-at-home Solution!
(941) 328-6800
Call for Business Opportunity Information or
for Travel Services!
ITA #1153299
www.GulliversUSA.com/1153299
Tell us your read the blog!
Monday, September 29, 2008
The Scoop on Making Money
How do ITAs make money, and how much money do they make? These are questions that I have faced many times, and no doubt, will continue to encounter whenever someone is considering joining our organization.
It would be easy for me to just roll off generalities and averages, but doing so would not give a fair or accurate representation. The truth is, we have some ITAs that are making a living as such, some that are supplementing their income, and some that are making little or nothing. How much an ITA earns depends on a few important factors:
o The amount of time put into their business
o The amount of investment put into their business
o The level of organization of their business
o Whether or not they have outlined and implemented a comprehensive business and marketing plan
o Whether or not their business and marketing plan was well-founded and realistic
o The type(s) of business they are targeting
… and there may be more. The fact is that, we offer a Business Opportunity. We provide support, materials, information, education, services, resources, and more-all designed to help ITAs develop their individual business. However, each ITA is responsible for doing the work. Like any business, results are proportionate to efforts.
There are some things that can be done to sway momentum in one’s favor, though.
At Gulliver’s Travels, we are now encouraging our ITAs to write a Business and Marketing Plan, and to submit it to us for review. By writing a business and Marketing Plan, our ITAs are taking the time to really think through their business and decide what is important to them. We are then able to work together for better success. Once we receive it, we will check to see if it is well thought-out and the expectations attainable. We will then send an evaluation with suggestions that we feel would be helpful. Based on these plans, we will send news, specials, training events, FAMs, and other relevant information the right ITAs for maximum return.
The first thing we encourage our ITAs to do is to specialize. Having a niche, or specialty lends credibility and creates an instant comfort zone for customers in that audience. A niche can be anything from a sports interest to destination specialty. Some niches just develop naturally over time. This is because within niches, an agent is able to benefit from the best-and most affordable-advertising: word-of-mouth. Other niches have to be developed with expertise and time.
For years we’ve told our ITAs to sell group travel-and for good reason. Why knock yourself out on a booking for just one couple, when you can do the same booking for 10 or 20 or more couples at once? It’s good sense, and the customers benefit, too. Dealing with groups can be difficult, though. To start with, a “group” is hard to find, and even more difficult to secure. Also, once the booking is made, enforcing payment deadlines and coordinating requests can often feel like trying to herd cats. Group business is good and it’s profitable; but that doesn’t mean it’s easy.
Our ITAs should watch for our new “Guide to Groups” which is being written now and will be posted in the Back Office soon.
Another type of business that can be lucrative is corporate accounts; but be careful! Not all accounts are created equal, and there are considerable differences that make some business accounts profitable while others are a bane. This is another forthcoming publication that our ITAs will soon be able to access.
We have many other secrets for our ITAs, too, which they can find posted in the Back Office. We are constantly developing new materials and publications to help them. This way, they have real information that they can apply as they grow in their travel business.
We don’t have any agents that have made a Million Dollars (yet), and chances are slim that doing so will become a trend; but we won’t count that out, either. For the time being, we feel successful when an agent sets realistic goals and we help them achieve them, whether they’re making $4,000 a year or $40,000 a year.
When Travel is your passion,
Gulliver's Travels is your
Work-at-home Solution!
(941) 328-6800
Call for Business Opportunity Information or
for Travel Services!
ITA #1153299
www.GulliversUSA.com/1153299
Tell us your read the blog!
It would be easy for me to just roll off generalities and averages, but doing so would not give a fair or accurate representation. The truth is, we have some ITAs that are making a living as such, some that are supplementing their income, and some that are making little or nothing. How much an ITA earns depends on a few important factors:
o The amount of time put into their business
o The amount of investment put into their business
o The level of organization of their business
o Whether or not they have outlined and implemented a comprehensive business and marketing plan
o Whether or not their business and marketing plan was well-founded and realistic
o The type(s) of business they are targeting
… and there may be more. The fact is that, we offer a Business Opportunity. We provide support, materials, information, education, services, resources, and more-all designed to help ITAs develop their individual business. However, each ITA is responsible for doing the work. Like any business, results are proportionate to efforts.
There are some things that can be done to sway momentum in one’s favor, though.
At Gulliver’s Travels, we are now encouraging our ITAs to write a Business and Marketing Plan, and to submit it to us for review. By writing a business and Marketing Plan, our ITAs are taking the time to really think through their business and decide what is important to them. We are then able to work together for better success. Once we receive it, we will check to see if it is well thought-out and the expectations attainable. We will then send an evaluation with suggestions that we feel would be helpful. Based on these plans, we will send news, specials, training events, FAMs, and other relevant information the right ITAs for maximum return.
The first thing we encourage our ITAs to do is to specialize. Having a niche, or specialty lends credibility and creates an instant comfort zone for customers in that audience. A niche can be anything from a sports interest to destination specialty. Some niches just develop naturally over time. This is because within niches, an agent is able to benefit from the best-and most affordable-advertising: word-of-mouth. Other niches have to be developed with expertise and time.
For years we’ve told our ITAs to sell group travel-and for good reason. Why knock yourself out on a booking for just one couple, when you can do the same booking for 10 or 20 or more couples at once? It’s good sense, and the customers benefit, too. Dealing with groups can be difficult, though. To start with, a “group” is hard to find, and even more difficult to secure. Also, once the booking is made, enforcing payment deadlines and coordinating requests can often feel like trying to herd cats. Group business is good and it’s profitable; but that doesn’t mean it’s easy.
Our ITAs should watch for our new “Guide to Groups” which is being written now and will be posted in the Back Office soon.
Another type of business that can be lucrative is corporate accounts; but be careful! Not all accounts are created equal, and there are considerable differences that make some business accounts profitable while others are a bane. This is another forthcoming publication that our ITAs will soon be able to access.
We have many other secrets for our ITAs, too, which they can find posted in the Back Office. We are constantly developing new materials and publications to help them. This way, they have real information that they can apply as they grow in their travel business.
We don’t have any agents that have made a Million Dollars (yet), and chances are slim that doing so will become a trend; but we won’t count that out, either. For the time being, we feel successful when an agent sets realistic goals and we help them achieve them, whether they’re making $4,000 a year or $40,000 a year.
When Travel is your passion,
Gulliver's Travels is your
Work-at-home Solution!
(941) 328-6800
Call for Business Opportunity Information or
for Travel Services!
ITA #1153299
www.GulliversUSA.com/1153299
Tell us your read the blog!
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