TravelResearchOnline.com Blog

An unfortunate temptation in marketing your travel business is to scurry from one tactic to the next looking for the next magic “trick” that will make clients come streaming through the door. The lure of the newest, the latest and great marketing gimmick is strong, but often comes at the expense of fundamentals.  Thus, you [...]

A key objective of marketing your travel planning practice is assuring a flow of new clients through the door. Retention of your existing clients is absolutely necessary and challenging in and of itself, but the acquisition of new clients provides for growth. If you are not taking measures to acquire new clients, attrition of your [...]

Travel is a “repeat buy.” Many clients will travel on a schedule approaching every one or two years and some much more frequently. It is important to stay ahead of such clients by anticipating their needs. There is no reason to wait for the client to come to you with a trip to research. It is far [...]

From earliest childhood, we are taught to listen to stories. We develop a real, active  interest in the lead character of a tale. No doubt some people tell stories better than others. But the one story you should spend time writing and polishing is your own. Why are you in travel? What do you do? [...]

Creative thinking requires raw material. If you find yourself in need of fresh ideas or a new perspective in your travel practice, one of the best ways to generate intuitive insight is to browse through magazines, the internet or even stock photography at random. As ideas, images and unrelated concepts enter your mind from these [...]

The most difficult marketing hurdles travel agents face are the misapprehensions of their clients. Every opportunity you have for repeat business, testimonials and referrals depend on your clients’ satisfaction with your services. Misunderstandings will act as an impediment to client satisfaction. Many consumers do not know exactly what a travel agent does. Especially if the [...]

No travel consultant escapes the trap: friends and family who travel will ask for your assistance. You are the family “travel agent” and, as such, fully exposed to requests for “discounts”, “good deals” and “freebies.”  Just beyond your gene pool are the neighbors, acquaintances and friends who want and need your professional assistance.�
Friends and family [...]

This week we have been speaking about positioning your travel agency through an variety of methods. We discussed a service orientation and an emphasis on the personality and credentials of the travel consultant. Each of these paths to positioning your travel agency are based on the relationships you establish with your clients - on a solid [...]

A large part of your identity as a travel consultant is made up of the credentials you earn over time. The word “credential” comes from the Latin credentialis (giving authority), derived from credentia (trust). Credentials are a third-party attestation of competence and skill. Typically, credentials have two sources. The first are the credentials you earn [...]

Deciding what to spend on your travel agency’s 2010 marketing plan is a key consideration whether you are a multi-office operation or a home based practitioner. At every stage of growth, a marketing budget is essential. Firstly, budgeting will enforce the discipline necessary to actually calendar your marketing efforts. When spending real dollars, travel agents become [...]