Marchev | Search Results | Travel Research Online

When the Rolling Stones sang “Time Is On Your Side” they were not talking to you or me. When Simon & Garfunkel suggested that we “kick on down the cobblestones while feeling groovy,” they obviously were not aware of the 24/7 thing soon to be coming into vogue.

Well, if nothing else, I believe I piqued your interest in wondering where Marchev is going to take this one.

I am certain that you can all benefit from today’s message. Read the rest of this entry »

Mike Marchev entered the travel industry in 1984 and has been sharing his sales, marketing and business development strategies with proactive travel professionals ever since.

Author of “Become the Exception,” the “More-On” business series, the “Travel Agent Success” series, the Mike & Nolan Show and now the “Sales Kit in a Box” programs, Mike is a frequent speaker at industry events. He makes a point to mix both content and entertainment in his down-to-earth, logical, believable and doable training sessions.

Mike writes regularly for TRO and The Travel Institute and has appeared in Travel Weekly and Agent @ Home Magazine on numerous occasions.

Mike has spoken to audiences in 18 countries and in over 75% of the United States. He has earned a marketing graduate degree and has taught sales and marketing classes at the university graduate school level. His latest focus is to help travel professionals sell and promote River Cruises while they represent the hottest trend in the industry. He is collaborating with AmaWaterways to help travel professionals take full advantage of River Cruising; find out more at http://www.mikemarchev.com/rivercruising.

Travel Research Online: What is the earliest experience in travel you can recall?

Mike Marchev: My dad was a true, dye-in-the-wool salesman who often took me on business trips. When air travel was involved I remember the plane was called an Eastern Airline Electra. That should position me with your readers as a “fossil.” (LOL) In addition to making his sales calls, he always found time to check out the local sights. We had fun traveling together. Read the rest of this entry »

Mike Marchev, MBA, CTC has been sharing his upbeat, down-to-earth, entertaining and motivational business-building programs with travel professionals since 1984. Customer Service is his “pet” topic. Mike is a frequent contributor to a number of recognized travel publications as
well as the author of Become The Exception, The 52-Week Sales Planner and “More-On” Marketing.

TRO: What are travel agents doing right today?

MM: This is a hard question to answer in that I am not privy to what they are all up to. I’ll answer from a different angle.

If a travel agent has targeted a specific market and identified their “niche” based on their strengths, experiences and positive track record, and they are (1) practicing emotional intelligence to the degree that they are adhering to the Rule of Seven without excuse or exception, and (2) actively seeking new and creative ways to blow their customers away with unexpected service, Read the rest of this entry »

The month of March has come and gone. In addition to heralding in Spring, March holds another exciting event for me. For us sports fans, it features March Madness. For those of you scratching your head, MM is a collegiate basketball tournament where 64 college teams compete in a “one and done” shootout where local betting is only surpassed by wagers during the Super Bowl Read the rest of this entry »

As I often do, when I find myself in need of a little reading material, I open up a cabinet over my desk and grab the closest book that catches my eye. I have no intention of rereading the book itself, but to turn a few pages and focus on the highlighted passages earmarked from my initial reading.

On this particular day, I picked up The Purple Cow by Seth Godin. I was immediately reminded of the necessity in today’s competitive environment to properly differentiate yourself from the myriad of choices today’s buyer has at their fingertips Read the rest of this entry »

Before elaborating on this most important topic, I would like to get something straight right from the git-go. If you are currently playing a role in the travel industry, you are probably up to your eyeballs in competitive situations along with a whole boatload of problems, issues, decisions, and challenges that affect your future well-being. Summing up this conundrum in a single word, I welcome you to the zany world of entrepreneurship Read the rest of this entry »

I was recently reminded of this sage advice when I came across a travel-related Facebook post while doing some research for an upcoming presentation. This particular “poster” was venting to some degree relaying to anybody who would listen (read) how unfair life was as she muddled through this particular situation from hell with the client from hell. That was two “hells” in the same sentence so no wonder this post caught my attention Read the rest of this entry »

Every book ever written on sales has a detailed chapter outlining the steps and apparent benefits of “closing the sale.” Ever sales manager promoted to the corner office reminds his team that they need to “close” more sales before the quarter’s figures are tallied.

Next to overcoming objections and up selling, closing is a very popular topic in the world of sales these days. But, could there be a better way? I believe there is. The answer? Opening Sales Read the rest of this entry »

In home-based businesses, sales professionals have been stricken with a disease called “quit-itis.” Although most people desperately want to succeed, they let their fears and misguided beliefs hold them back only to convince themselves that the logical next step is to give up. But it doesn’t have to end this way for you Read the rest of this entry »

I was recently reminded how a true professional can really make a difference. Last month, while driving on the highway, I found myself flirting with disaster. Not knowing a worn ball bearing from a left-handed steering strut, I wasn’t sure what was happening when my steering wheel started to shimmy. My car suddenly veered to the left and the steering wheel was shaking wildly Read the rest of this entry »

I was reminded of this simple yet profound truth on a Zoom meeting I recently conducted. The lesson today is very important. Please listen to what I am about to share with you.

As I always do, I asked my coaching students for their recent good news/bad news stories. I do this so we can all learn from each other’s experiences … both good and bad.

The topic that day was distribution, and more specifically, how we can spread the word beyond our current communication list. I began by offering an idea that once worked for me Read the rest of this entry »

Someone once told me to remember that elephants don’t bite… mosquitoes do. This is a unique way of reminding us that it is the little things, when overlooked, will do us the most harm.

I was recently reminded of this when a former business acquaintance “reached out” and gave me an unexpected phone call.  It had been a while since we last communicated which was a result of two busy people trying to make ends meet. It was good to hear his voice again Read the rest of this entry »

Using a popular dating sequence as a model to work from, the process might begin by accepting a safe invitation to a movie. Following the success of that single gambit, you might suggest a trip to the hamburger stand or ice cream parlor. Good vibes? An intimate dinner might be the logical next step in the process, followed by a little “Texas Two-Stepping or some fancy “Boot-Scooting.” Read the rest of this entry »

Among many other “goings-on” in life, I can’t explain where I come up with my nightly dreams. They are extremely detailed and often times creative. And I am neither detailed nor creative.

Nonetheless, there I was in my latest dream entering a coffee shop I frequent regularly. I might add that this particular dream is a recurring one. (Something else I have yet to come to grips with.)

I entered and as I usually do, greeted the owner by name Read the rest of this entry »

Some wise man once went on record to say, “The purpose of a business is to create customers.” If my memory serves me correctly, it was Peter Drucker, the well-esteemed Master Guru of Management. But I misquoted Big Pete. He actually said, “The purpose of a business is to create and KEEP customers.”

There is a major difference between these two quoted assertions. Allow me to explain Read the rest of this entry »

I am often asked where my ideas come from. I am quick to point out to the one asking the question that this is an interesting inquiry. Answer: From living every day and, sometimes, paying attention to the humor in it all.

This morning, however, the title of this article came from a quote from a travel agent who specializes in African Safaris as I was clicking my way aimlessly on my laptop enjoying my second cup of coffee Read the rest of this entry »

If I got one thing straight during my eight years of sitting in front of the nuns of Notre Dame back in the fifties and early sixties, it was that all things considered, telling the truth was the right thing to do. Quizzes, tests, and exams were built around the concept. (True or false?) Overnight sleepovers featured the popular game. (Truth of Dare?) We were taught early on (via fictitious stories) that, if you didn’t tell the truth, your nose would grow Read the rest of this entry »

The year 2023 has come and gone and there isn’t much, if anything, you can do to change the outcome of your actions or inactions. The results, as they pertain to your business, are “in the bank” so to say.

What you can do, and you have just about all the ammunition you need, is to make 2024 a year for the record books. But, I caution against any unchained optimism.

It is common for you, me, and virtually every hard-working entrepreneur to jot down a few New Year Resolutions designed to fatten their wallet and keep their bodies in Read the rest of this entry »

It recently dawned on me that many travel advisors do not have a firm handle on what they do.

Of course, there is planning and researching, booking and the like… but what do you really do?

I asked myself this very same question recently and came up with an answer I could actually identify with. Perhaps my imaginary late-night interview might help you.

If I was ever interviewed on a Late-Night Talk Show, it would unfold something like this Read the rest of this entry »

You might recognize these three words as the popular motto of a very successful sports company. Nike is the name of the company, and I must admit that the slogan took off quickly and is easy to internalize.

You might have guessed by now, however, that I am about to take exception to this motivating mantra. As a brand-new year stares us in the face, I am asking you to step back for a moment to think about the challenges, opportunities, and success stories that lie ahead Read the rest of this entry »

To blatantly state the blinding flash of the obvious, another year has come and is nearly gone. What you did or did not accomplish in the year 2023 is now yesterday’s news. I’m sure you have a few things you can be proud of… and a few more things you wish you had addressed.

But as the British duo Chad and Jeremy reminded us in song back in 1964, Yesterday’s Gone, “But that was yesterday, and yesterday’s gone.” Read the rest of this entry »