Travel Agent Chatter | Friday 15

In this special Host Week edition of the Friday 15 (episode 141), Steph chats with Nadine of Nova Travel Solutions as they answer questions from you, our sweet HAR community. Questions : 1. For those looking to start a podcast to bring in potential clients to our agency, what are some tips you've learned through your podcast Nadine that other advisors can implement? Some of the "wish someone would...

In episode 140 Steph co-hosts with Christine Hardenberger of Modern Travel Professionals. They tackle the following questions, all about getting started or starting fresh with a new agency this week: Questions : 00:00 | Welcome to Friday 15 01:13 | Disney & Universal criteria for advisors 07:52 | What to ask hosts when switching 16:10 | Starting an agency with a partner 1. I'm a new-ish agent,...

In episode 139 Steph chats with April Swales of Uniglobe Travel center and they answer questions from you, our awesome HAR community. Questions : 1. Can an agency change your commission level without notifying you or sending you a new contract to sign? Shouldn't there be some kind of agreement or acknowledgement from the agent before that happens? What if a host changes to a monthly fee -- shouldn...

In episode 138 we chat with the lovely Lindsay Taylor of Travel Leaders 365 as they tackle three questions from an astute listener named Tim M. Thanks, Tim! Thanks to you all for your great questions from week to week. Questions : 1) How to navigate clients’ loyalty programs: what are the logistics of ensuring they receive loyalty benefits, qualifying nights, miles/points? 2) Being an Agent vs. an...

In episode 137 Steph has a new co-host! Join Scott Wismont, owner of Rainbow Getaways, as we dive into great questions you’ve been kind enough to submit. :) Questions : We break down if hosts and consortia look down upon advisors that are part-time, including what % of advisors are full time. And when we hear from an advisor with a background in entrepreneurship who is struggling to make a go of t...

In episode 136 Steph's co-host is Eduardo Cartaya with G Adventures. :) Questions : What's their relationship with Travel Leaders Network like when it comes to commissions? What does Eduardo see successful new advisors doing that listeners can start emulating? We need to know the secret sauce! And Eduardo breaks it down for us why single supplements are often so spendy. (Hint: It's not because the...

Mary chats with Katie Williams from Tern. We discuss when the best time to invest in a CRM and/or travel itinerary builder, how effective using supplier advertisements are for agencies, things to consider when taking on a business partner, and our listener Michael sent us over his fees and wants to know what we think about them! Here's a list of helpful resources for today’s episode: ( Learn more...

In episode 134 Steph chats with Eduardo Cartaya from G Adventures about what family options G Adventures (and other resorts/operators) offer for advisors looking to focus on families. We also dive into what steps G Adventures takes to vet their on-the-ground partners and ensuring they're keeping the dollars in the local community to improve the welfare of those who live in the destination. Lastly,...

Here's a list of helpful resources for today’s episode: ( Register for HAR’s Host Week event! ) ( Submit questions, sign up for reminders for the F15, along with that week's questions we'll be covering! ) https://skillbridge.osd.mil/industry-employers.htm?section=2  ( More info on DOD’s Skill Bridge program ) ( HAR’s travel jobs board ) ( Sign up for weekly job alert emails from HAR’s travel...

Welcome to Friday 15! In episode 132 Steph chats with Lori Speers, CEO and Owner of Levarte Travel about previous Friday15 questions, Disney & charge fees, and new agent “Must Haves”. Here's a list of helpful resources for today’s episode: https://hostagencyreviews.com/hostweek (Register for HAR’s Host Week event!) https://hostagencyreviews.com/friday15 (Submit questions, sign up for reminders...

Welcome to Friday 15! In episode 131 Steph chats with April Swales, Director of Marketing & Sales from Uniglobe Travel Center about what a FIT is and how to specialize in it, getting an IATA & CLIA number as a new independent agent, and helping clients get a US Passports. Here's a list of helpful resources for today’s episode: ( Submit questions, sign up for reminders for the F15, along wi...

Welcome to Friday 15! In episode 130 Steph chats with Chad Burt, co-owner of Outside Agents about leads through online marketing, honing in on a niche, and setting income goals. Here's a list of helpful resources for today’s episode: ( Submit questions, sign up for reminders for the F15, along with that week's questions we'll be covering! ) ( Register for HAR’s Host Week event! ) ( Sign up for Goo...

Welcome to Friday 15! In episode 129 Steph chats with Jenn Lee, VP Industry Engagement and Support for Travel Planners International about travel certification, hosting outside of the US, and developing your brand. A list of helpful resources for today’s episode: ( Submit questions, sign up for reminders for the F15, along with that week's questions we'll be covering! ) ( Register for HAR’s Host W...

Welcome to Friday 15! In episode 128 Steph chats with Chad Burt, co-owner of Outside Agents about linking a landing page, host agency website, and our host week event. Here's a list of helpful resources for today’s episode: ( Submit questions, sign up for reminders for the F15, along with that week's questions we'll be covering! ) ( Register for HAR’s Host Week event! )  ( Virtually attend Ad...

Welcome to Friday 15! in episode 127 Steph chats with Connie Miller, Chief Relationship Officer/Business Development for Your Travel Center/Montecito Village Travel about hotel views on takeover bookings, competing with discounts, and 7 Day Setup Accelerator Course. Here's a list of helpful resources for today’s episode: ( Submit questions, sign up for reminders for the F15, along with that week's...

Welcome to Friday 15! In episode 126 Steph chats about qualifying customers booking air, sub agency contract, and payment gateway. A list of helpful resources for today’s episode: ( Submit questions, sign up for reminders for the F15, along with that week's questions we'll be covering! ) ( Register for HAR’s Host Week event! ) Hosted advisor report ( Stats on air traffic control )  ( What to...

Welcome to Friday 15! In episode 125 Steph chats with Carolyn Sekerak, Director of Marketing Strategy and Community Engagement about finding a host with one-on-one relationships, business structures, and pinpointing a niche. A list of helpful resources for today’s episode: ( Submit questions, sign up for reminders for the F15, along with that week's questions we'll be covering! ) ( Register for HA...

Welcome to Friday 15! In episode 124 Steph chats with Jackie Friedman, President of Nexion Travel Group about the advantages of joining a host, the best travel agent education, and going from salary to being an IC. A list of helpful resources for today’s episode: ( Submit questions, sign up for reminders for the F15, along with that week's questions we'll be covering! ) ( Register for HAR’s Host W...

Welcome to Friday 15! In episode 123 Steph chats with April Swales, Director of Marketing and Sales for Uniglobe Travel Center about Travel MLMs, choosing a Host, and multiple company names. A list of helpful resources for today’s episode: ( Submit questions, sign up for reminders for the F15, along with that week's questions we'll be covering! )  ( Call for Host Week event speakers is open!...

Welcome to Friday 15! In episode 122 Steph chats with Keith Waldon, owner of Departure Lounge about travel business hierarchy, help with vision impaired IC, and travel agent testing. A list of helpful resources for today’s episode: ( Submit questions, sign up for reminders for the F15, along with that week's questions we'll be covering! )  ( Call for Host Week event speakers is open! Submit y...

Welcome to Friday 15! In episode 121 Steph chats with Lindsay Taylor Lauer, Director of Luxury & Hosting for Travel Leaders 365 about booking groups, payments done in installments, and ticketing vs. non-ticketing. A list of helpful resources for today’s episode: ( Submit questions, sign up for reminders for the F15, along with that week's questions we'll be covering! )  ( Call for Host We...

Welcome to Friday 15! In episode 120 Steph chats with Jenn Lee, VP of Industry Engagement and Support for Travel Leaders International about how to go about finding a travel advisor mentor, leveraging your Facebook marketing (page vs. group?), and choosing between Sole Proprietorship and LCC! A list of helpful resources for today’s episode: ( TAC episode where advisor uses a FB group for her clien...

Welcome to Friday 15! In episode 119 Step chats with Lori Spears, Owner of Levarte Travel about gaining trust as a new advisor, reducing IC Misclassification w/Planning Fees, and FAM trip qualifications. Here's a list of helpful resources for today’s episode: ( Submit questions, sign up for reminders for the F15, along with that week's questions we'll be covering! )  ( Call for Host Week spea...

Welcome to Friday 15! In episode 118 Mary chats with Chad Burt, Co-Owner of Outside Agents about startup investment decisions, startup investment on tech, and sales minimums for FAMs. Here's a list of helpful resources for today’s episode: ( Submit questions, sign up for reminders for the F15, along with that week's questions we'll be covering! )  ( Call for Host Week speakers is open! Submit...

Welcome to Friday 15! In episode 117 Steph chats with Lindsay Taylor Lauer, Director of Luxury & Hosting for Travel Leaders 365 about how travel agents deal with visas, website links, and how to break up with your host agency. Here's a list of helpful resources for today’s episode: ( Submit questions, sign up for reminders for the F15, along with that week's questions we'll be covering! ) &nbs...