Travel Agent Chatter | Friday 15

***View the video, transcript, and show notes at: https://har.news/vol37 "She believes she could. So she did." This is what Kentucky-born advisor Ashley Young has tattooed on her arm. While she's new to travel, she's determined to be successful and make an impact in the world with her business. Part of that giving back is finding the right on the ground vendors that will a) give her clients a uniq...

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! I have submitted 2 applications to host agencies I’d like to join, however they aren’t taking new agents right now. I have another meeting with another host and I’m not sure what to do. I’m new and need to get started. I’ve been waiting to hea...

This week’s Friday 15, we're welcoming Gina from Uniglobe Travel Center. 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 st...

This week’s Friday 15, we're welcoming Geoff from KHM Travell Group. Let’s have some fun, plus some questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us! I joined a host agency because I wanted access to support, tools, training and supplier relationships, but sometimes I wonder if I’m actually taking advantage of everything that’s available to me. What are some of the resources you see successf...

This week’s Friday 15, we're welcoming Jackie from Nexion Travel Group. Let’s have some fun, plus some questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us! I’m a brand new advisor. I have a friend who I thought would be fantastic at this as I was researching being a travel advisor. When I told her about my business idea, she wanted to partner. We had previously wanted to start a business togeth...

(274) Marketing? Trust & New Leads? Switching Hosts? This week’s Friday 15, we're welcoming Chelsea from OASIS Travel Network. Let’s have some fun, plus some questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us! I'm a newbie to the travel industry and I just started my business. I'm getting very close to choosing a host agency and I’m super excited to get started. I have a question about mar...

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! How do you work with clients who have a limited budget but expect a five-star luxury experience? What strategies do you use to set realistic expectations without losing the client, and when do you know it’s time to politely decline the booking?...

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! I feel like I’m busy all the time, but I’m not necessarily making more money. How do I figure out what I should actually be spending my time on? How far in advance should I be talking to clients about their next trip? I feel like I’m always wa...

This week’s Friday 15, we're welcoming Carolyn from KHM Travel Group. Let’s have some fun, plus some questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us! I’m still pretty new and don’t have a huge client list yet. What would you focus on first to actually start getting consistent leads? How do you get comfortable charging planning fees when you’re a newer advisor and still feel like you’re lear...

This week’s Friday 15, we're welcoming Josh from Global Travel Collection. Let’s have some fun, plus some questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us! How do you follow up with a potential client without feeling like you’re annoying them? How many follow-ups is too many? I’d love to start selling groups, but honestly, they intimidate me. What’s the best way to get started with groups wi...

This week’s Friday 15, we're welcoming Jenn from Travel Planners International and Vacation Planners. Let’s have some fun, plus some questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us! When advisors quote net rates, where does the markup actually get calculated? The picture I keep getting is a spreadsheet open next to whatever tool built the itinerary, and I'm curious whether that is most peop...

This week’s Friday 15, we're welcoming Gina from Uniglobe Travel Center. Let’s have some fun, plus some questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us! While I have years of experience building my own travel plans for business, and leisure, I want to become a travel agent. The number of hosting agencies is overwhelming. Which one do you suggest, and why? - Chris Hi! I've done some domestic...

This week’s Friday 15, we're welcoming Laura from WorldVia Travel Network! Let’s have some fun, plus some questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us! I'm currently researching host agencies, and one thing I keep coming back to is whether I'll actually get the support I need at a larger host. I love that larger hosts often have more resources and training, but I also worry that I'll jus...

This week’s Friday 15, we're welcoming Amy from KHM Travel! Let’s have some fun, plus some questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us! With airfare remaining one of the biggest travel expenses, what are some legitimate ways travel advisors can maximize value for their clients? Are there particular consolidators, supplier partnerships, or booking strategies you recommend? If you were bu...

This week’s Friday 15, we're welcoming Simon from Global Travel Collection! Let’s have some fun, plus some questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us! I don't have a big network of friends and family to sell to. Where do successful new advisors actually find their first paying clients? How do you attract luxury clients if your current audience isn't necessarily affluent? Is it a market...

This week’s Friday 15, we're welcoming Chelsea Martinez from OASIS Travel Network! Let’s have some fun, plus some questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us! If I join a host agency today, what are the biggest mistakes you see new advisors make in their first six months that slow down their success and what would you encourage them to focus on instead? There seems to be a new travel te...

This week’s Friday 15, we're welcoming Jenn Lee from TPI and Vacation Planners! Let’s have some fun, plus some questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us! I'm trying to decide between joining a host agency or a franchise. They both seem to offer training, support, and supplier relationships, so what are the biggest differences that someone new to the industry should really understand b...

This week’s Friday 15, Steph Lee is back! She’ll be cohosting with Jenn Lee of TPI and Vacation Planners. C'mon over and dip in to these great questions with these awesome ladies of industry. I never knew my agency had a commission scale. [percentage increased as income increased] I asked to see it once i learnt about it and noticed I had met the goal in 2025 for a 5% increase in commission. They...

This week’s Friday 15, Steph Lee is back! She’ll be cohosting with Andrea of Outside Agents! Let’s have some fun, plus some questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us! 1. How does an agent who doesn’t travel in luxury themselves, break into the luxury market? I’m not understanding how I can visit the properties and know about them if I’ve never traveled there. —anonymous 2. I’m interes...

This week’s Friday 15, Steph Lee is back! She’ll be cohosting with Phil and Samantha Hammond of Jus Adventures! Let’s have some fun, plus some questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us! I watched some of HAR Wired last week, thank you. My question is what do you suggest should be the first technology investment I make once my agency is set up? —Anonymous I’m a new travel agent and hav...

This week’s Friday 15, we're welcoming Gina McGinnis from Uniglobe Travel Center! Let’s have some fun, plus some questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us! I understand some suppliers don't pay the host until after the travel date, but I've found some suppliers like FareBuzz, Celebrity Cruises, Virgin Voyages, and Allianz pay the month after the sale or after the final payment it's ma...

It didn’t start with a niche, it started with a perspective. And in just a few short years, Karen has turned that perspective into a fast-growing travel business that’s on track to hit $1M in annual sales in 2026. Since entering the industry in 2022, Karen has built her business around accessible travel, not as a checkbox, but as a core part of how she serves every single client. As a wheelchair u...

This week’s Friday 15, we're welcoming Lori Speers from KHM Travel Group! Let’s have some fun, plus some questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us! Can you talk about the practice of DMCs presenting quotes in gross vs net commission, and is it preferred or acceptable to request one over the other? - Carrie I am a travel agent (since 2012) and own my own agency (since 2016). I am think...

Welcome to this week's Friday 15 podcast! This week Shayna's live on location at ASTA, with Carolyn Okon from Exodus Travels. And thanks to our sponsor Outside Agents for making this episode possible. Here's the questions: I am an ICF certified Travel Coach, and when I pursued my certification I intended to building an online coaching practice to help women in major life transitions (career change...

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...