Reach for the stars
With so much travel talent out there, how can you make your business stand out from the crowd? Katie McGonagle finds out
T
here are plenty of shining stars in the world of travel – one look at the shortlists for Travel
Weekly’s annual Agent Achievement Awards or many agencies’ own reward schemes shows just how much enthusiasm and ingenuity goes in to being successful in this sector. But with so much competition around,
whether from other frontline agents or from internet-based platforms, how do you make sure your business shines that bit brighter than all the rest?
SPECIALISE IN A SECTOR
One of the simplest ways to stand out is to pick a niche and make a name for yourself as an expert in that field. Not only will you develop more in-depth product knowledge and stronger supplier relationships by honing your skills in a certain area, but you’re also more likely to attract new business via word-of-mouth recommendations and more targeted marketing. If you’ve already got an affinity for family
cruises, love putting your all into planning luxury honeymoons or have business contacts that give you a foot in the door for corporate travel, you could turn that enthusiasm and expertise into the basis of your business. Customers will always respond better to someone with a genuine passion for
14 JULY 2024
SAM NEISHAM Neish Travel, part of 1000 Mile Travel Group
“After moving to the UK from New Zealand,
I spent nine years working in corporate travel until I started my money coaching business, Finding Cents, in 2022. I jumped at the opportunity to join 1000MTG and spend more time coaching while staying in the travel industry. I love corporate travel because I get to know clients more – I speak to them daily or weekly instead of once or twice a year when they plan a holiday. I have stayed in contact with a lot of clients and as they have moved to new roles, some have taken me with them. My advice for someone thinking about homeworking is to make sure they are OK working by themselves, have a good support system and enough money to cover expenses for six to 12 months. It takes time to get up and running, so that will save a lot of sleepless nights.”
what they do, plus you’ll get to focus on an area you truly enjoy. You could even earn higher commissions, because specialist bookings often attract a higher price tag. Claire Brighton, director of the Association of Touring and Adventure Suppliers (Atas), says: “The touring and adventure sector offers really strong commission levels, combined with a high selling price, which means agents are
TOP TIPS BUILD RELATIONS
“Create strong partnerships – this could be businesses to grow referrals and brand awa key suppliers to endorse products you spec and with customers. Little things go a long as birthday cards or in-room gifts on arrival this is something a customer will always rem
Abbie Heaton group manager, Personal Travel Consultants in partnership with Blue Bay Travel
travelweekly.co.uk
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