Become a Home Based Travel Agent

I think it is fair to say that all home based agents pride themselves on providing service. When I talk to new agents, they most often say that the reason that they will be different from the rest of us is that they will provide exceptional service. I politely inform them that that statement is what differentiates most home based agents from other types of booking avenues. They also quickly learn that their 'service' motive is likely similar to all of ours, which is what makes us so different and sought after.

But I would offer to many: how do you know that you are providing exceptional service? What are your benchmarks to make sure that you are delivering? If you haven't thought of this, then now is the time to spend a few minutes, as we enter our new, and likely challenging, sales year.

A simple and truthful answer to this question is "when was the last time a client specifically mentioned to you that your service was exceptional"? If you have never heard this, or it has been a while, I suggest to you that you may not be delivering the service that you think you are. Client feedback is brutally honest. If you aren't successful with your service commitment, you are likely not seeing as much return business as is possible. If your client base isn't growing as quickly as you think it should be, your current clients may not be recommending you with the fervor that you would like. Remember - for most of us, our best and most successful advertising medium is our own client base.

However, if you are getting those client comments about your service - unsolicited - you can be reassured that you are on the right path. Plus who among us doesn't like to be told that we are doing a good job in a business that we know and love. Be objective - self criticism can be painful, but quite productive!

When you send a package out, what is included - this is your persona - and reflects your service!

This 2009 calendar year will be an exceptional challenge, and I am sure that our numbers will significantly dwindle, as they did after 9/11. This is basically survival of the fittest. How fit are you?

Russell A. (Rusty) Pickett, ECC

Russell A. (Rusty) Pickett, ECC is a retired career Naval officer, having spent more than 26 years as a Submariner. He served in a variety of assignments across the country including Headquarters staffs in Washington DC and Norfolk, Virginia . He was Captain of the nuclear attack submarine USS L. MENDEL RIVERS (SSN 686) homeported in Charleston, South Carolina, as well as Submarine Training Facility, Charleston South Carolina and Navy ROTC at the University of Notre Dame. As a result of his military experience, Rusty has traveled extensively around the world. He has enjoyed nearly three dozen cruises throughout the Atlantic and Pacific, the Antarctic and the rivers of Europe!


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