Tropical Travelers — Up and at ’em | Travel Research Online

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Tropical Travelers — Up and at ’em

This year has been interesting to put it mildly. Our first large incentive group, new independent agents, revitalized website and first public speaking engagement are all 2010 happenings at my agency. I’ve made quite a few changes in my marketing plan. I have started utilizing social networking more and have been attending trade shows and industry events weekly. All are part of my new agency plan. The agency vibe has been a bit stagnate over the past few years and I felt it was time to put some new game plans into action. I’ve also ramped up my traveling this year in favor of touring as many locations and resorts as possible. My clients want the inside scoop and it’s my job to bring it to them.

My biggest challenge this year has been finding qualified independent agents who have a passion for the travel business. I do see some new and younger faces at the events I’ve been attending this year and that leads me to believe there is resurgence happening in the industry. For so many years, I had always been the youngest in the room. From talking to friends and friends of friends, I do find that most people are intrigued by my business and find it fascinating. Which is exactly why I have always been surprised that more young people aren’t interested in this industry. My goal is to help a newcomer to this business become successful, as someone did for me many years ago (thank you Sue Sheehan)!

The Tropical Travelers has once again been named Best of the Best by Travel Impressions–our fifth year running. We are extremely excited about this accolade and are looking forward to another great year with our favorite tour operator. In addition, we were just awarded a 3 Diamond status at Karisma Resorts. We’ve put in a lot of long hours this year and plan to keep the momentum going through 2011.

Having hired an SEO (search engine optimization) company a few months ago, I’m already seeing a surge in web traffic from online searches. In addition, we’ve started taking seminars on how to better approach social networking. There is a fine line between being good and being obnoxious and I want to learn as much as possible to stay on the right side of the line. I’ve begun sending out newsletters to my database with more regularity and have been seeing positive results from this as well.

Overall, I see a bright future for the travel industry. I feel that many people are inundated with too much information from the Internet and need a specialist to steer them in the right direction. I’m looking forward to leading them down that tropical path.

Jennifer Byrne is the owner of The Tropical Travelers (www.thetropicaltravelers.com) in Malvern, PA. For more information, you can contact Jennifer at jennifer@thetropicaltravelers.com.

Comments to this article are welcomed and encouraged, please utilize the comment form below so we can all learn and interact with each other!

  4 thoughts on “Tropical Travelers — Up and at ’em

  1. Geoff Millar says:

    Great article. I agree we need to get more young people involved in the travel industry. The one negative thing I hear the most from good aggresive young people, that would do well in the industry, is earning potential.

    A strategy that has worked well for us when taking on ICs is that we look at sales ability as the most important factor. We feel very strongly that we can teach people an industry but it is hard to teach people to become top sales people. It must work for us as we have 3 ICs that each produce over $500,000 in sales a year.

    I totally agree with people being inundated with information on the Internet. Our best clients are ones who come to us stating that they have been on the Internet and the only thing they have accomplished is driving themselve crazy with the amount of info out there.

  2. Very inspiring guidelines ! Congratulations on your achievements.

    Could you please share the contact for the SEO, I would like similar services.

  3. Thanks Rebecca! The name of the SEO company is SEO Brand Internet Marketing. They have been very helpful in getting me up to speed with a good marketing plan for this upcoming year.

    Geoff, you always have such great ideas and thoughts. What most people don’t realize is that earning potential is all based on them! There is great potential in this business. You do have to have a passion for this business…bottom line. If you have that, you will succeed. I would love to find more passionate travel people!

  4. Aaron says:

    I hope travel agents always remain part of the planning and booking part of the process for the end consumer.
    I’ve done my own itineraries with a combination of phone and Internet booking, but a recent package I purchased was done with an experienced agent, in his office, and it was great!
    Since I’m self-employed I have particular scheduling needs and ensuing dialogue with him and the resort reservation desk were crucial in making sure this was the right place and time to go within my limitations.
    That sort of give and take is far more difficult online or even on the phone without the experience and knowledge to back it up.

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