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The Future of the Travel Professional by @wendykrichards

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by Wendy Richards-Edwardson | Featured Contributor

Costco is just one among many disruptors that the travel profession continues to monitor. There is no disputing the fact that bulk stores are changing the way travelers buy their vacations. Together with the Internet, it appears the brick and mortar travel agencies may soon be going the way of the rotary dial telephone.

Rebranding and Specialization

If your passion is helping people experience journeys of a lifetime, get ready for some great news. Travel agents of old have been reinvented and emerging as 21st century Travel Advisors. These independent entrepreneurs really know their stuff, genuinely love travel, and are thriving!

The rebranding of advisors has made it possible for us to draw a line in the sand. Here’s what you need to know:

Bulk Stores

Do you know what bulk stores are really, really good at? There’s a clue there. Bulk! Volume! It only makes sense that in order to keep those prices dirt cheap they have to sell a lot of the same stuff to make a profit.

Bulk stores don’t know what travelers want and in many cases, neither do consumers. Prospective buyers may not even be sure what questions to ask and no one is offering them assistance because they don’t know either. Most of these sellers of vacations are marketers, not travel consultants.

The big box stores offer cruises and vacation packages with juicy discounts, store and vacation credits. “Buy from us and we’ll give you $500 worth of free groceries.” Really? If trusting holiday time to Costco, buyers may indeed need those free groceries upon their return. If consumers want an “off the rack” vacation, let them have it. They are not your customer.

Enter the Dream Merchant

In today’s world, successful people are busy – really busy – and don’t have the time or inclination to research and plan a well put together itinerary that maximizes their all-important family time. Do you really think JK Rowling books her holidays through Sam’s Club (pardon the pun)? To these individuals, time is as valuable as currency and they are willing to pay to get what they want.

Enter the designer of travel. A Travel Advisor works on the same basis as an interior designer or architect. They are employed by the client, not the supplier. An interior designer gets to know their customer: what appeals to them, the family’s needs, what they don’t want, timelines and budget. They can’t create a dream home if they don’t have a clear picture of the people who will live in it. Step by step they put together a plan of action that the consumer sees the value in and is excited about!

As a successful Travel Advisor, not only do I charge fees but my clients expect it! The best is never free. From inexpensive getaways to lavish holidays, there is no such thing as one size fits all. Advisors are now tapping into exciting markets: expeditions, sports, yachting, genealogy, hiking, wine tasting, music cruises, luxury trains, history and architectural travel. You name it; someone out there wants you to make it happen!

The best Travel Designers are affiliated or employed by Destination Management Companies such as Canada’s Vision Travel Solutions and luxury consortiums such as USA Virtuoso who have standards that must be met by both agents and suppliers. Everything from virtual sales training, product and destination knowledge, and educational trips are offered and expected. Today’s sophisticated travelers rely on their advisor’s expertise in choosing sustainable and environmentally responsible partners.

Expanding into Concierge Service

Advisors have inside access to everything to do with the travel industry. Doesn’t it then make sense to have them make their clients’ reservations? Choice of cabins, suite views, tours, air, dining, cars, transfers, you name it. The big box stores are not going to suggest booking a cruise cabin on the side of the ship that will get their customer the best view of Monaco at night. Nor do they have the connections to get an enviable dinner reservation at The French Laundry in Napa.

Advocacy

The average traveler does not have the clout to wield influence should things go sideways on vacation. And in today’s world, it happens more often than you think. It’s hard to act as your own advocate when stuck in an airport terminal with thousands of others going nowhere. With boots on the ground everywhere, I have solved problems half way around the world! Call Costco when you arrive at Kilimanjaro airport and your luggage is sitting in Istanbul and see what happens!

Little Black Book – What Sets a Travel Advisor Apart

Here is something you can’t put a price tag on. You won’t find consortiums of small Scottish country inns, German castle stays and Italian boutique hotels offering their properties at big box stores. You won’t find adventure outfitters, tiny yachts and gulets for lease, and I can guarantee you, you won’t find my little black book of hidden gems of accommodation and destinations.

Ageism

Whether you are 25 or 65, clients choose their advisor based on relatability, knowledge and trust. I am over 50; my clients are over 40. I like to travel well and so do they. Ageism is not a factor and that is fabulous news in our youth oriented world!

THE BOTTOMLINE:

The profession of Travel Advisor is thriving! It has become more specialized, challenging, interesting, exciting and ultimately, very profitable. There is nothing more rewarding than having clients return from an outstanding vacation and telling you that it was you who made all the difference. When can we book the next one?

Remember these very important words: Travel sells itself. You are selling YOU.

How I gave up my corporate marketing career for world travel an entrepreneurship by @symphonyvas

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For seven years, Stephanie Conway worked in public relations and marketing for powerhouse brands like Samsung, Audi & T-Mobile at agency level in both the US & UK. Corporate life gave her everything: financial stability, an enviable Instagram feed, Glamorous party invites, Sleepless nights.. Until eventually, the lifestyle caught up with her and at just 28, she felt burnt out. So in 2019, she quit her stable agency career to give into her wanderlust and explore the world.

Now, the Northern English girl with both UK & US passports has rebranded herself as a marketing virtual assistant and digital nomad, currently residing in beautiful Bali. Her IG handle @symphony.va, has over 5 thousand dedicated followers and a feed that shouts #travelgoals. Here, Stephanie tells us how she learned to quit her 9 to 5 and live her best life on her own terms.

I grew up in the UK, then at 18 got accepted into a university in Los Angeles. After graduation, I loved the weather and lifestyle so much that I forged a career for myself in brand marketing and events, working on global marketing campaigns for brands and celebrities.

I spent several years living and working in LA living my best life, eventually became a US-citizen. But a death in the family brought me back to the UK to support my family whilst everyone emotionally tried to get back on their feet. I had such a strong resume that I managed to secure a marketing job within the first week of coming home. But after living in constant sunshine for so long, the English winter weather really slowed me down. I woke up in darkness to go to work, then came home as the sun was setting. I felt like a vampire and my body went into shock from the lack of vitamin D.

“Why not me?”
Through my job, I worked on campaigns with top influencers, securing brand partnership deals, helping them make a ton of money to travel and be fabulous. I was constantly watching social feeds filled with beautiful digital nomads living their best lives on beaches whilst I was stuck in an office with unflattering fluorescent lighting, wasting away. “Why can’t I be where THEY are?” I constantly thought to myself.

Whenever I’d have a bad day at work, I’d fantasise about taking off to Bali, sitting on a beach and enjoying a refreshing coconut. Eventually, the living in constant darkness pushed me over the edge. I asked myself, ‘Why don’t I just bite the bullet?’ I had no dependents, my family were all doing well and I didn’t need to be in the UK. So I began to learn about how to translate my marketing skill set to working freelance for small business and entrepreneurs. This would enable me to live a laptop lifestyle and travel to whichever country I desired. I had already moved to the US by myself. I just knew I could do it again.

I knew that people would try to talk me out of it. I didn’t tell anyone I’d quit until I booked my one way ticket to Bali—only a couple of friends at the time knew. I was the most nervous to tell my mum. I worried that from the outside looking in, what I was doing seemed crazy and irrational. Tears welled-up when I told her, but she was so supportive. She always has been, and I don’t know where I’d be without my mum’s love and support. She’d witnessed the burnout happening and knew I wasn’t happy. With a mumsy, “Well, you’re still young and it’s your life” she approved.

Since setting up @symphony.va, I have made my way around different countries within South-East Asia. My personal favourite is the Indonesian archipelago for the pristine beaches and ease of access to fresh coconuts! Plus there’s such a low cost of living, which has allowed me the time and space to grow my company authentically and organically.

Travelling around South-East Asia has taught me a lot about other cultures and I’m constantly overwhelmed by the hospitality and kindness of the local people that I meet here. There’s such a beautiful sense of community that I’ve never experienced before here, and I can only hope that it has made me kinder.

As I navigate this new life, however, I’ve made some adjustments. When you leave something that’s as stable as a regular pay-check, you take a risk. It’s scary, but you have to have faith in yourself and your ability to build your brand. I’ve also had to find ways to make new friendships while maintaining the ones back in the UK & USA. I’ve even started weekly #girlboss meet-ups to help fellow digital nomads meet up and set goals to hold one another accountable and make new friends. I’ve also learned to be patient as I’ve realized that creating a brand, while trying to live off my passions of traveling and marketing, takes hard work. Plus being in Asia, you never know what’s around the corner, which is always so exciting.

Most importantly, I’ve learned that I don’t have to follow in anyone else’s footsteps to consider myself successful. It’s better to try and fail than to spend your life wondering “what if?” Our successes and failures are all part of the rich tapestry of life!

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Stephanie Conway is a digital nomad who gave up her 7 year corporate career working on global marketing campaigns for powerhouse brands like Samsung, Audi & T-Mobile for world travel. She founded Symphony Virtual Assistant Studio, which provides marketing virtual assistance for small businesses and entrepreneurs. Stephanie currently resides in South East Asia, runs a goal-getter meet-up for digital nomads in Bali and was recently featured in Forbes for her journey to becoming a digital nomad. When not living the laptop lifestyle, Stephanie loves yoga, diving and surfing her current tropical home of Indonesia.

How to Plan for Summer Travel as a Business Owner by @CorpNetNellie

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by Nellie Akalp

Are you planning to take time off this summer to rest, recharge your batteries, or just spend more time with your friends and family? Here are some tips to help you take a family vacation, weekend away or girls’ trip while still staying on top of your business. 

Delegate 

You might be used to keeping a tight leash on all aspects of your business, but if you ever hope to get some “me” time, you need to start building a bench of employees who can take over when you’re out of the office. Make a point to keep your eyes out for employees with the drive and motivation to learn. Self-starters want more experience and ask for more responsibilities. You could even have your staff fill out a survey about what they like and don’t like about their jobs. Then ask what they hope to learn from working at your business and what aspects of the business they would like to know more about. Once you have some feedback, test the waters by delegating some of your daily tasks or the duties related to their interests. The more daily operations you can hand over, the easier it will be to sneak away for a few days and know your business will be fine.

Crosstrain

Your staff may be excellent at their specific job duties, but you’re limiting them (and yourself) on how much more they can contribute to helping your business grow. Cross-training employees to do each other’s jobs (or even part of each other’s jobs) boosts productivity, allowing your business to run smoothly when someone, including you, is out of the office. Again, you can use staff surveys to see which other areas of your business your staff is interested in.

Partner Up

The more alliances you make as a business owner, the more you can offer your customers and the more tasks you can take off your plate, freeing up some time. Strategic partnerships can help you manage projects more efficiently, allowing you to take time off. Customer satisfaction will increaser since they know their business is being taken care of, even when you’re not there. 

Communicate

Make sure you let your employees and customers know the dates you’ll be away far in advance so there are no surprises. If appropriate, introduce clients to the person you’ve designated to be in charge while you’re gone so the client isn’t left feeling neglected. If you must leave in the middle of an important project, set up dates and times you’ll check in to keep everyone on the same page and on track. 

You can also make sure you’re communicating by using some of the helpful apps available on the market. From accounting to messaging to project management, your employees and clients will feel like you’ve never left (if that’s what you want). Don’t make the mistake of downloading the app right before you leave on vacation. Give yourself plenty of time to play around with the app to properly learn all its functions and options and then teach your staff how to use it, too.

Bottomline

You’re never going to get the rewards of a much-need summer vacation unless you can really check out and refuel your brain. Do whatever you can to get away from the business, even if it’s just a long weekend. Time off is important for your health, your business and your staff.