Become a Home Based Travel Agent

Holiday Message for Travel Agents
By Jan Shaughnessy

Thanksgiving is now behind us and it's time to start thinking of the holiday season.  Excitement is in the air.  There seems to be a big frenzy over the big sales at the stores.   Maybe some of you are already decorating your homes and starting the holiday baking.  Me, I'm in between two trips and busy doing wash and re-packing for a big 12-night Seminar at Sea.  I'm excited because I'll be visiting many new countries I haven't yet seen.  Normally, I would start my little holiday tradition of watching a holiday movie once a week from Thanksgiving up to Christmas.  Several years ago I wrote an article about the holiday movies and how they could relate to travel agents.  I thought it would be a good time to republish it with a little revision.  If you remember reading this before, then I hope you enjoy it again.  If it's your first time reading it, then I hope you can relate and are entertained. 

It's a Great Time of the Year

It occurred to me that so many holiday movies have strong messages about life--and many actually relate to travel agents, including those of us who are Home Based.  Here are a few:

"Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer." - We all know the song: "All of the other reindeer, used to laugh and call him names.  They wouldn't let poor Rudolph join in any reindeer games."  Hey!  Remember when other travel agents and suppliers used to laugh and call Home Based agents names?  They didn't want us playing in their games.  Then Santa NACTA came along and told the industry not to call us names!  Boy have things changed.  Now the Home Based agents are a big force in the travel industry.  Many suppliers even have Home Based channels and websites just for us.   Home Based agents ---we'll go down in history!

"It's a Wonderful Life." - What would your life be like if you hadn't chose travel as a profession?  Hmmm, I'm sure many of us wonder about that one sometimes.  Think of how you have touched so many lives.  Who would have been there to book all your clients' trips if you hadn't been their agent?  Would they have turned to the Internet?  You were there to answer their questions, provide suggestions, and match them up with the right cruise or tour.

It's because of you their dream vacation went perfectly and they came back with happy memories.  What agent doesn't like hearing those priceless words,  "Oh, thank you so much, it was the best vacation ever!"  At those times, I think it truly is a wonderful life being a travel agent. 

"White Christmas."  This one's my favorite.  Talk about a lack of communication though.  To summarize the plot:  Betty (Rosemary Clooney) loves Bob (Bing Crosby) but because of a misunderstanding, gets upset with him and is too stubborn to tell him why.  Betty leaves town, Bob goes after her.  Betty realizes it wall all a misunderstanding and they live happily ever after. 

How are your communication skills?  Do you listen to what your clients are saying?  Or do you cut them off in mid-sentence, thinking you know what they will say?  Do you let them tell you what they need and want?  Don't you hate it when a supplier does that to you?

How many times have you called a supplier and halfway through explaining a problem, they start to give you their answer, excuses or solution.  It's frustrating because most of the time you just spend more time explaining what you really need.   Listening is the hardest of all communications skills.  Perhaps everyone could use a refresher course on sharpening this skill.  Make that your New Year's resolution for 2010.  If you renew your listening skills (Then we could all live happily ever after like Bob and Betty).

"Holiday Inn."   - What a concept!  Wouldn't it be great to work only 11 days of the year?  Remember how Bing Crosby got tired of being on the road as a musician?  He bought a farm, turned it into an Inn and decided to work only on the holidays.  Think about it.  You would know the exact days you were going to work --Jan 1, Feb 14, etc.  Wouldn't that make your marketing plan so much easier to write?  In one day, you could block out all the group space for each holiday.

If you had all the set dates, wouldn't it make it easier to know when to promote each cruise?  Realistically, we'd be working more than just the holidays. But it certainly is a great thought---and a fun Christmas fantasy. 

"Miracle on 34th Street."  -  This article wouldn't be complete if I didn't mention the miracle of Christmas.   How could we not love sweet little Susan (a very young Natalie Wood), who wanted so much to believe in Santa Claus?  Her mother told her it was nonsense but finally softened and told Susan it was "OK to believe in your dreams." 

Have you ever shared your goals and dreams for your business with someone only to be told, "You're silly for thinking that way.  It won't happen."  I recently shared some goals I had with one of my cruise line Business Development Managers.  I told her they were probably silly.  As she listened she said,  "Well, I'm still waiting to hear what you think is silly."  It gave me the encouragement to make my goal a reality.  Why shouldn't we have goals and dreams for our business?

Where would we be today if the Wright Brothers had listened to everyone who scoffed at them?  Where would we be if Bell, Edison, and Ford hadn't followed their dreams?  Everyone needs goals and dreams to believe in.  They're our reason for being and our motivation to succeed.  Keep telling yourself, "I believe, I believe."

Peace on Earth, and to all a wonderful holiday season.