Looking Back with Travel Market Report, Part Two: From How-To’s to Profiles
by Robin Amster
Well-rounded, tuned-in and thirsty for knowledge: those are prerequisites for successful travel agents. For Travel Market Report that means readers who want reaction to crises, primers on legislative developments that affect business, news about our Canadian colleagues, profiles of fellow agents, how-to’s on sales and marketing, and stories on the rise of the home-based/independent agent.
“The future is very bright with caveats—each agent must find their own solution to the marketing and messaging dilemma and must also have a distinct and unique value proposition. Those who do will be well positioned to succeed.”—Scott Koepf, senior vice president of sales, Avoya Travel
“Staying relevant to our customers [is a major issue]. What new things do we bring to the relationship? What can we give the customer that they can’t get for themselves online?”—Colleen Gillette, owner, New Paltz Travel
“We are seeing a growth in home-based markets and host agencies. The business model of providing the home-based agent the license, technology and resources to operate more efficiently is on the rise. The brick and mortar agencies who are agile enough to take advantage of new markets, niches and the technology to drive it have been very successful.”—David McCaig, president, ACTA
Here’s what Travel Market Report had to say about independent contractors . . .and the rest.
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR ISSUES
Independent Sector Moving in New Directions
The closure of hundreds of brick and mortar agencies over the past two decades has fueled the development of the independent agent.
THE INDUSTRY—AND AGENTS—IN CRISIS
Case Studies in a Crisis: Agents Act Quickly After Hurricane
How did agents react when Hurricane Odile slammed into the Mexican resort of Los Cabos?
Travelers Remain Calm in Face of Ebola Crisis
How did the Ebola scare impact clients?
ADVOCATING FOR AGENTS
Agents Say Villa Rental Firm Owes Them Thousands
Travel Market Report details a scam that affected scores of agents.
THE LEGISLATIVE SCENE
ASTA Battles State Plans to Tax Travel Agent Sales
ASTA takes on numerous state tax proposals that would have cost agents thousands of dollars.
HOW TO’s
Get off the Highway into a Niche
Agents need to develop a niche to be successful.
Advice to Agents for 2012: Keep it Personal
The personal touch is indispensable when it comes to developing relationships with clients.
8 Easy Ways to Sell More River Cruises
The popularity of river cruising is on the rise—here’s how to sell the cruises.
Use Employee Reviews to Drive Performance
How to make the best use of employee reviews.
CANADA’S TRAVEL INDUSTRY
ACTA: Fighting the Good Fight in Canada
ACTA steps up its advocacy work for Canadian agents.
AGENT PROFILES
Frontline—Meet Laurie Reitman: The RX was Travel
This agent transitioned from medicine to travel.
