5 Steps to Entrepreneurial Success in Travel

“If you are selling travel, you have an entrepreneurial spirit,” Jeremy McLeod, Business Leader, Expedia Cruises, told the crowd during a morning session on the opening day of Travel Market Place Vancouver.

“You might see yourself as someone who has a traditional sense of running a business or taking the risks, but you have the spirit and the drive of an entrepreneur.”

McLeod was giving a presentation to advisors on how to develop and grow their business, step by step. A former top rated figure skater, McLeod experienced an injury and spent his recovery on a six-month cruise contract. That period turned into six years and then he became a travel advisor, before joining Expedia Cruises.

“My goal was six months; get in, get out, get back on the ice,” he said. “But I fell in love with travel. I fell in love with the connection that we make with cultures, with the community I had on board and with the guests. I was hooked.”

McLeod broke down his steps to success in an inspirational and insightful way for advisors.

“As you embark on your journey, remember that every step, no matter how small, this part of part of something meaningful.”

He says to build your foundation, advisors have to gain the experience and knowledge that will be essential to your expertise. McLeod credits his move to Inuvik to work as a home-based agent, for teaching him how to become an entrepreneur.

“All I knew was that it was minus 50 degrees and dark day and night and people wanted to get the heck out. I had this opportunity to sell travel; I just had to figure out exactly how to grow my business.”

Bridges are typically envisioned as structures that connect two different locations to get from point A to point B. McLeod points out that it’s the process of building a bridge;  the challenges and setbacks encountered, that strengthen its foundation. It’s also where the significant learning happens.

“You will face setbacks, you will have two steps forward, one step back. But every setback you have is a chance to make the foundation stronger on your bridge. This is why many people get stuck, we see obstacles as road blocks.  But what if we say them as stepping stones instead?”

A third tip McLeod says is to not be afraid to take the leap.

“This is one of the scariest moments in entrepreneurship. For me, it was when leaving skating to join the cruise industry. Then it was becoming a travel agent. And later, it was when I joined Expedia Cruises as a manager. With each leap, I thought ‘what if I fail, what if I don’t succeed?’ But here’s the thing – you have to embrace the fear, The more you embrace and lean into it, the more magic can happen. And that’s really where your the growth begins.”

Once an advisor has taken the leap, McLeod highlights that the key to entrepreneurship is understanding the importance of connections. Building strong relationships with clients and with partners within the industry is essential to fostering a sense of community.

“Building strong, authentic relationships is key to your business,” McLeod says. “How do you want people to feel when they embrace your brand or company? It’s all about connection.  You want to make them feel that everything they do, is an extension of you.”

“For the travel advisor, the journey is never over, real power and success lies not in a sale, but in the continuous journey of building relationships and connections. That’s exactly what you signed up for when you became a travel advisor.

Because at the heart of it all business is personal. It’s about building a tribe, a group of people who will not only support you when you need help, but will lift you up when you need it.”