Search Travel Market Report

mainlogo
www.travelmarketreport.com
  • News
  • Packaged Travel
  • Cruise
  • Hotels & Resorts
  • Destinations
  • Retail Strategies
  • Niche & Luxury
  • Air
  • Training & Resources
  • Who We Are
    • Brian Israel
    • Briana Bonfiglio
    • Dan McCarthy
    • Dori Saltzman
    • Jennifer Arango
    • Kelly Fontenelle
    • Keri-Anne Slevin
    • Louis Intreglia
    • Tom McCarthy

Training Is Key to Retaining New Talent

by Richard D'Ambrosio / September 06, 2017
Training Is Key to Retaining New Talent

Photo: Shutterstock.com


Across the travel industry, everyone is talking about the good news, the boom in bookings though travel agents. But as their business grows, travel agents find themselves scurrying more than ever to find and nurture and train new talent. That’s why ASTA chairman Jay Ellenby is making the training and recruitment of new travel agents one of his highest priorities for 2017.  

At yesterday’s “The Top 5 Ways to Attract and Retain Great Talent” breakout session, Philip Banks, president of 12-agent Legacy Travel in Dallas, TX, said a focus on providing a lifestyle that attracts agents, and communicating a stable income growth path, has helped him achieve a remarkable record in retaining his staff. Since 2010, he has lost only five agents, including two who wanted to be stay-athome moms.

His agency has been recognized by the Dallas Business Journal as one of the Best Places to Work in Dallas for 2016.

“We aren’t necessarily looking for young people, but because our industry pays lower salaries, we see that younger people are more interested in becoming agents,” Banks said. So he makes up gaps in salary with at least one vacation each year, 401K matching, fun employee events, and other perks like massages and health club memberships.

To retain young talent, agencies “need to be set up to welcome new people,” Banks said, including a warm welcoming and a training program that sets them up to succeed and gives them the skills to earn a competitive salary. Training on travel technology in particular can be very intimidating.

“The training process can be very difficult, and that can lead to new hires leaving early,” Banks said. “My business won’t survive if we don’t nail those first few weeks and the training process.” Since their compensation is based on production, agents at Legacy Travel begin to earn a very competitive salary after 1824 months, Banks said.

“Our employees are pretty well paid. It’s a mathematical equation, so it is really obvious for someone to figure out what it takes to make a lot of money.”

  1
  0
Related Articles
ASTA Happy with 2017, Excited for the Coming Year
Documentation is Key to Protecting your Travel Agency
How Small Can a Travel Agent Niche Be?
Future of Travel Agents on Display at ASTA Entrepreneur Competition
American Society of Travel Agents Announces National Board of Directors
Longtime Travel Luminary Susan Tanzman Passes
Luxury Car Rental Firm Sets Commissions at 25% for Travel Agents
ASTA Global Convention Shines Spotlight on Travel Agents
Skift Draws Ire of Travel Agents for Criticizing ASTA SeaWorld Reception
ASTA China Summit Is 'More Than Just an Expo'
Travel Jobs
  • {{job.title}}

    • {{job.location}}
Visit travel.jobs
OUTLOOKS & WHITE PAPERS
Trends in River Cruise, 2023
European Travel Trends 2023
Winning in The Tech Era: Essential Insights for Travel Advisors
View All
PREVIOUS THIS WEEK ARTICLES
Title Sponsor Visit
{{article.Title}}
View
Previous Partner Sponsored Articles
Title Sponsor Visit
{{article.Title}}
View
Previous Industry Insider Interviews
Title Sponsor Visit
{{article.Title}}
View

MOST VIEWED

  1. The Best Black Friday and Cyber Monday Travel Deals for 2023
  2. The Ten 'Most Christmassy' Towns in the U.S.
  3. U.S. State Department Warns Travelers About GPS Dangers in South Africa
  4. The Worst Airports for Holiday Flight Delays
  5. What Will Be the Biggest Travel Trends of 2024?
  6. Royal Caribbean Monitoring Haiti Violence


  1. Here Are the New Cruise Ships Debuting in 2024
  2. Dondra Ritzenthaler to Join Azamara as CEO
  3. Iceland Travel Update: Southwest Earthquakes Heighten Risk of Volcanic Activity
  4. The World's Most Expensive Flights
  5. Here’s What Travel Advisors Are Least Thankful for This Year
  6. How a Talent Shortage Is Threatening Agencies, and Why Underqualified Advisors Aren't the Answer
TMR Subscription

Subscribe today to receive daily in-depth coverage, analysis of industry news, trends and issues that affect how you do business. Subscribe now for free.

Subscribe to TMR

Top Stories
Video: One Travel Advisor's Favorite Villas
Video: One Travel Advisor's Favorite Villas

Villas are gaining steam as a vacation option for consumers looking for luxury vacation options

Read...
MasterAdvisor Series by TMR November 16th at 1pm: Tips for Finding and Hiring Luxury Advisors and ICs, Presented by Explora Journeys
MasterAdvisor Series by TMR November 16th at 1pm: Tips for Finding and Hiring Luxury Advisors and ICs, Presented by Explora Journeys

There is a hiring crisis in the travel industry now, particularly for those agencies looking for qualified, or potentially qualified, candidates to join their travel agency. What can agency owners do and what tips do others have for finding the right candidates? 

Read...
ASTA Rebrands Annual Convention to Launch Travel Advisor Conference
ASTA Rebrands Annual Convention to Launch Travel Advisor Conference

The four-day event will focus on teaching business skills to advisors at all levels.

Read...
MasterAdvisor 79: Why Some Consumers Choose Villas Over Hotels
MasterAdvisor 79: Why Some Consumers Choose Villas Over Hotels

What travel advisors should know about adding villas to the products you sell. 

Read...
Windstar Knows the Way
Windstar Knows the Way

Discover small ports and destinations few visit in a way only a Windstar cruise can offer.

Read...
The Travel Industry Is One Step Closer to the End of Junk Fees
The Travel Industry Is One Step Closer to the End of Junk Fees

Junk fees are, in the Federal Trade Commission’s view “prevalent” throughout the economy. 

Read...
OUTLOOKS & WHITE PAPERS
Trends in River Cruise, 2023
European Travel Trends 2023
Winning in The Tech Era: Essential Insights for Travel Advisors
View All
Advertiser's Voice
//services.travelsavers.com/AMGService.svc/REST/GetImage?ImageID=c0852062-a67c-ee11-adc6-005056a855ed
Swan Hellenic: Beyond Ordinary
About Travel Market Report Mission Staff Advisory Board Advertise
TMR Resources Webinars Calendar of Events Outlook/Whitepapers Previous Sponsored Articles Previous This Week Articles
Subscribe to TMR
Select Language
Do You Have an Idea Email
editor@travelmarketreport.com
Give Us a Call
1-(516) 730-3097
Drop Us a Note
Travel Market Report
71 Audrey Ave, Oyster Bay, NY 11771
News |Packaged Travel |Cruise |Hotels & Resorts |Destinations |Retail Strategies |Niche & Luxury |Air |Training & Resources |Who We Are
© 2005 - 2023 Travel Market Report, an American Marketing Group Inc. Company All Rights Reserved | 243 South Street, Oyster Bay, NY, 11771 USA | Telephone (516) 730-3097| Terms and Conditions
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy