Do This One Thing to Find High-Net Worth Travel Clients

Not every travel advisor is lucky enough to have a network of high-net-worth connections on which they can build a luxury travel agency. In fact, most travel advisors don’t.

While putting luxury content on social media can be a first step in building your brand, if you don’t have high-net-worth friends, families, or followers you’re marketing will likely fall flat.

So, how do you find a network of people who can afford the types of trips you want to sell?

“Not everyone has access to people that are going to be able to spend that amount of money,” said Mike Salvadore, owner of 58 Stars, a full-service travel agency that specializes in luxury leisure travel, and an original member of Travel Leaders Network’s Luxury Leaders Alliance.

Salvadore, whose agency has had to sell a minimum of $1 million a year in specifically luxury travel to remain a part of the Luxury Leaders Alliance, told TMR the best thing an advisor can do is find ways to get involved in things that get you closer to meeting those people.

“Charitable [volunteering] is an incredible opportunity, not only to give back but to connect yourself with different types of people,” he said.

As an example, he talked about being the chair of the Wish Night Gala for the Make A Wish Foundation in Washington state and Alaska. Preparations for the gala require lots of volunteers and while those volunteers might not have a lot of money themselves, the people they’ll end up meeting and coordinating with most likely do.

“Because they’re part of the program, they’re meeting a lot of these people [the ones buying and donating items at the auction], and then can start building that rapport and connection with them.”

Other places advisors can look to volunteer their time as a committee member or event coordinator can include museums, theaters like opera houses and ballets – all places that people with money often donate their own time or financial resources.

“There’s a number of different ways, as long as you’re willing to put yourself out there… There are a lot of opportunities out there and you don’t have to pay money to become involved in.”