stephan | Search Results | Travel Research Online | Page 2

Want to know the secret to getting more clients? Making millions in the travel industry? Being wildly successful? So would I. Unfortunately, there really isn’t a magic bullet or pill to take for instant success.

What I do know is it takes hard work, dedication, education, getting out there, patience, and a positive attitude. Read the rest of this entry »

When I purchased my home, I received an inexpensive bottle of white wine from my realtor. Nice gift? Not really. I have very specific taste when it comes to the wine I drink. Anyone who knows me knows I drink red and specifically Malbec. Not only that, I absolutely hate screw tops, which this one had. Needless to say, the bottle is on my wine rack unopened and collecting dust.

What does wine and travel have to do with each other? Plenty. Read the rest of this entry »

I have to admit, I tend to be an education junkie. I’ve always been that way — wanting to take every class possible in college and graduate school. I’ve even taken classes that didn’t count toward any degree. It wasn’t always easy applying what was taught in classroom to the workplace. If only things would be black and white, and never gray. We all know that isn’t reality, and even more so in the travel industry. Sure there are different aspects of the business and varying areas that we must learn. Some can be taught in a classroom setting or online, but there are some that you just learn from experiencing them first hand.

When this diary goes live, I’ll be on the last leg of a multi-week journey through Europe. Read the rest of this entry »

My father in law was the kindest, gentlest person I know; and very slow to anger. The only time I witnessed his irritation was directed at one of his grandchildren who had agreed to do something for him and blew him off. In no uncertain terms he told them that if they made a commitment they needed to honor it. It was not acceptable to say they were going to do something and not follow through with it.

He was a wise man and those words have stuck in my head. Honor commitments, promises and follow through. Read the rest of this entry »

Several months ago I was shopping with my daughter. We walked in a well-known store. We were the only ones in the store besides the two sales associates. Neither associate bothered to greet us, acknowledge us in any way, or even remotely show that they saw someone walk into their establishment. Instead they proceeded to talk to each other and completely ignore us. My daughter and I walked out disgusted and appalled by their behavior. Read the rest of this entry »

We all know what a professional looks like; but what about an unprofessional? You know, someone who arrives late, dresses inappropriately, talks more than they listen, snaps their gum and are basically disagreeable.

Is there more? Read the rest of this entry »

It’s been one year since I moved from being a home based agency owner to an employee of a brick and mortar agency. And, looking back on my decision a year later, I wouldn’t change a thing.

At some point you wake up and ask yourself “am I where I want to be? Am I doing what I want to be doing? Am I still passionate about my job?” The short answer to those questions is “Not really.” Read the rest of this entry »

Vienna has always been known for its dedication and love of the arts: from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s tenure there after his time composing in Salzburg to the modern-day fame of the Vienna Philharmonic. During the summer, Vienna transforms into a haven for music and art lovers, presenting dozens of festivals and events celebrating its pride in the arts. From youth festivals to magnificent opera, from grand orchestral performances to celebrations of centuries on horseback, there is a breath-taking performance around every corner. Let the Vienna Tourist Board share the best of their beloved Vienna with you this summer! Read the rest of this entry »

I have to admit this year has been very busy up until this month. I find myself behind in tasks that involve marketing, learning, and the dreaded office organization. However, as we all know, they are vital to our success even though our clients aren’t always directly affected by them. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s Friday. It’s the first Friday of the official summer. Let’s keep this short, sweet, and powerful. Your business is nothing unless you market it. That is pretty plain and simple. If people do not know you are there, how can they purchase from you? The answer is simple—market yourself. Here are five down and dirty ways to do just that! Read the rest of this entry »

There are a myriad of advertisements to entice people to become a travel agent, travel for free, and tap into the billion dollar travel industry. The reality is very different from the hype.

There is more to being a travel agent than printing business cards and having a slick website. Much more. Being a travel agent is work; it’s a job. There is no magic bullet to get clients, no free travel, and certainly no path to instant riches. On top of that, you need ongoing education to ensure you are selling the right products, matching them with your client, and keeping up with changes in hotels and destinations. Read the rest of this entry »

How many of you have a good business and marketing plan? If you are serious about growing your travel business, it’s important to have one even if you work your business part-time. A business plan helps you stay organized, on track, and holds you accountable. Some components of a business plan include your value proposition, an operational plan, and financial plan. It doesn’t have to the size of a college textbook. Keep it simple. Read the rest of this entry »

Being a one-person operation, how do you juggle it all? I mean we are running a business with all the behind the scenes tasks that come along with being self-employed. We are the face of our business, working directly with clients, potential clients, and peers, and then there is our personal life. I struggle with how to accomplish all of this daily, and I am sure many of you do as well.

Now that things have finally slowed down a little, I’ve been thinking about where my time is being spent. It can get a bit overwhelming at times. I have difficulty just keep up with the requests, consultations, and reservations. With a limited number of hours in the day, something has to get pushed aside, but what? How do you prioritize what is most important, next important, and so on? Read the rest of this entry »

So, you still want to be a travel agent, travel the world and make a lot of money. Not so fast. There is a lot to learn before you are ready for that first client.  Before the commissions and fees start to roll in, you really need to know a little bit about yourself and how you fit into the industry. What’s next? Let’s start with the basics–where, when, how, what and why. Read the rest of this entry »

Love to travel? Want to get paid to travel? Travel for free? Sounds exciting doesn’t it? Like the serpent offering Eve the apple in the Garden of Eden a lot of these offers are very tempting. Travel is sexy, travel is fun, travel is something a lot of us aspire to do. These ads hit all the right buttons–love, free and get paid. Buyer beware–If it sounds too good to be true it usually is. Read the rest of this entry »

In my last diary I talked about lessons I had learned while serving on jury duty. Focusing on how we can relate those, to what we do in our businesses. This diary is a continuation. I want to dig further into what makes a stronger connection with your clients. Sharing that experience was completely unexpected, and made me think that there was more I could do to deepen that connection. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s funny how life works sometimes. It seems that mine has now come full circle. It seems that not too long ago, I was an independent contractor working for a couple of host agencies. Not happy with the status quo, I made a business decision to become fully independent. I obtained my own CLIA number and ran my very own agency. Now, as the IC Team Sales Leader for a retail agency, I find myself instructing, mentoring, and guiding people who were just like me. Read the rest of this entry »

Who would have known, or even thought, that I would walk away with some valuable lessons learned by serving on jury duty.

At the end of last month I was called to perform my civic duty and appeared at the courthouse for jury duty. I had hoped that I would not be selected and could continue with my normal busy January. Well, that didn’t happen and before the end of the 1^st day, I was selected as a juror on a civil case. I’m not going to lie, I really was dreading the rest of the week. Since I was selected, I thought I would make the best of it. It turns out I would witness several “traits” that are key for any service profession to be successful. Read the rest of this entry »

A big “hello” from Tulsa, Oklahoma – where it is currently colder than it should be, and farther from the tropics than I would like it to be.

First I’d like to say that I am honored to be writing for the TRO Travel Agent Diaries. I am in great company and hope to live up to my current and past colleagues!

Before I go into “my innermost travel life” details, let me start by providing a background of where I started, and it has nothing to do with travel. Read the rest of this entry »

Dear Stephanie,

I’ve installed Google Analytics like you suggested and I’m unsure of what analytics are the most important. Which ones should I pay more attention to?

– Kelli S.

Hey Kelli!

Glad you have Google Analytics up and running, even if you aren’t exactly sure what you’re looking for… yet! The data you’re collecting is extremely valuable and the longer the history, the better. Read the rest of this entry »

Dear Stephanie,

I am redoing my logo but not sure where to start. What are some things I should be thinking about?

– Jessica S.

Hey Jessica!

Congrats on the logo revamp!

My first advice is to make sure you use a professional graphic designer – don’t fall prey to the DIY logo maker sites. Just like travel agents bring their expertise to the table, so do graphic designers. If you can find a local graphic designer, I’d keep it in the community; if not, take a look at 99designs.com, a website where designers compete in design contests for your business. Read the rest of this entry »