Travel Agent Chatter | Friday 15

This week’s Friday 15, we're welcoming Vanessa from Global Travel Collection! Let’s have some fun, plus some questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us! I am an IC with about 2 years in the business. I'm considering going out on my own because I'm not happy with my situation for many reasons. How do you know it's the right time to make this change? What do you see as the pros and cons of staying an IC and being independent?I’m finding it can sometimes feel awkward or intimidating to confidently charge fees, upsell experiences, or position yourself as a premium service. What advice would you give to advisors who know they provide value but still struggle with the sales side of their business?There’s so much pressure right now for us to constantly be posting on social media, building a brand, creating content, and trying to stay visible online. What marketing activities are actually moving the needle for advisors today versus what’s just creating noise and burnout?Guide to charging fees - https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/travel-agents-guide-to-charging-fees

This week’s Friday 15, we're welcoming Samantha from Jus Adventures! Let’s have some fun, plus some questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us! Hi!! I am a new agent (8 months) working on planning my first group trip and I want to build a girls trip to New Orleans and offer a package price and then clients can sign up to go. I have checked with Traveljoy and it appears that I am able to take payment through Traveljoy, for them to hold and then I can pay each supplier with a virtual card instead of charging the client 10 different transactions. Traveljoy would then the merchant of record and I feel this is safe. I tried getting a quote from a DMC and it's just not working out how I want and I feel like I don't have much control, so I really would rather piece it together myself since it's domestic anyway. I just feel like this would be so much more seamless for the client. Is this okay to do? Any tips or advice would be very much appreciated. (Feel free to cut/paraphrase if you decide to air this!) Thanks so much! -TiffanyI feel like I always have a question for you but you are the best at answering them. Here is my latest question. I have a new client that is a pretty big spender. I booked her on three cruises for February 2027. She is interested in booking a pre-hotel stay and possibly insurance but I have not heard back from her in a few weeks, she said should would take care of all of that later. I don't want to annoy her because she said she usually books a few cruises a year and I really want to keep her as a client. How often do you suggest I just check in with her without sounding like I am reaching out to add on to her sale? Thanks again!! Travel Dad MattI'm wondering about the economics of creating a trip for a client using a DMC or tour operator rather than piecing it together on your own? How do the commissions compare? Has anyone seen a good resource comparing the revenue of both routes? I focus on luxury FITs and land/sea itineraries primarily in Europe, East Asia and South American. I get that using a DMC to have a local person available for emergencies is helpful, perhaps even essential, but if I just book my clients through a DMC or tour operator am I limiting my income potential? And what does my client need me for if the DMC is doing all the work? - LaurieRESOURCES:What is a DMC? https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/what-is-dmc-destination-management-companyBooking Groups - https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/supplier-want-you-know-booking-groups

This week’s Friday 15, we're welcoming Katy from Explore Worldwide! Let’s have some fun, plus some questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us! A lot of us hear ‘tour operator’ and ‘DMC’ used interchangeably, and it can be hard to know who to go to for what. From your perspective, how should advisors think about working with an adventure tour operator versus going direct to a DMC?For advisors who are trying to grow their business, what are some of the biggest opportunities you see when it comes to selling adventure travel? Are there simple ways newer advisors can start incorporating it without overhauling their entire business?Adventure travel can mean a lot of different things, from soft adventure to more physically demanding trips. How can advisors make sure they’re matching the right client to the right trip, especially when they’re still learning how to qualify clients properly?RESOURCES:What is a DMC? https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/what-is-dmc-destination-management-companyWhat is a Tour Operator - https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/what-is-tour-operator

This week’s Friday 15, we're welcoming Bill from KHM Travel! Let’s have some fun, plus some questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us! I'm a new-ish agent, under 3 years experience, and I have been entertaining the idea of venturing out on my own. I am currently with a host agency. I am curious about how this would work with suppliers and if this is a good idea.Do agents typically manage their workflow with their host agency provided CRM program only, or are there other project management platforms that are popular with travel agents?I keep hearing everyone talk about FIT. So what is it and how does someone specialize in it?RESOURCES:https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/travel-preferred-supplierhttps://hostagencyreviews.com/travel-agency-softwarehttps://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/fit-travel-meaning

This week’s Friday 15, we're welcoming Jennifer from Dugan’s Travels! Let’s have some fun, plus some questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us! What I'm still not clear on are things like this: how do I present options and prices to a client, and give them time to make a decision? Am I supposed to reserve all of the options first to guarantee the price, and then cancel the discarded options afterward? Or do you just present it and hope the prices don't change in the meantime? Are there other good places to find tips or suggestions for effective booking practices? I keep noticing offers from my host agency/consortia/vendors that would provide perks for my clients and bonus commissions for me.. after it is too late to claim them. How do other agents manage the flood of consumer and agent incentives so they can make recommendations that are good for their clients and good for them? - VinceI am looking for a host agency and I have never had one before. I have compared a tonne on your site and I am feeling overwhelmed. What are the main things I should be looking for in a good host agency?