Become a Home Based Travel Agent

Nancy Norris

An Interview with Community Member Nancy Norris
By Tom Ogg

Each month from now on we will introduce our readers to one of the exceptional members of HBTACommunity.com. Active community members share a wealth of experience and knowledge and we want to recognize them by interviewing them to share their story with you. This month we start with one of the Administrators that makes HBTACommunity.com work for over 7,000 travel professionals. I spoke with Nancy Norris and here is the interview.

How long have you been in the travel business and what did you do before entering the field?

I retired from teaching after 32 years and officially began my career as a travel agent in September, 2001.

What motivated you to get into the travel business?

I think I had always been an “amateur travel agent”. From early on, one of the favorite aspects of my vacations was the planning and research that went into any of my trips. Throughout my career as a teacher, I became the resident “go-to” person when colleagues were looking for a holiday break or summer vacation. Although I had made the decision to retire from teaching, I was ready to embark on a new career. I wanted something that would be as fulfilling, one that would allow me to capitalize on my strengths and one that would feed my passion for travel. Being a planner, after reading Tom and Joanie Ogg's book, How to Start a Home-Based Travel Agency, I knew I was ready to follow a new career path as a travel agent.

Do you specialize in selling any particular product?

Based on my knowledge, personal experience and interest, I began my career as a cruise specialist. Although I still consider myself a “cruise expert” and that is my primary specialty, as I have gained more experience and knowledge I have expanded my expertise to include honeymoon destinations. This new “specialty” arose out of opportunity and necessity. Not only do commissions on mainstream cruise lines continue to erode, but former students and their friends (who are now getting married) comprise a significant portion of my client base.

You seem to do a lot of community work in the travel industry. How do you find the time?

Good question! First of all, much of the work I do is for online communities and forums. As a self-professed Internet junkie, I love spending time online. I consider it fun to enjoy my morning coffee or sip a glass of wine in the evening while tending to my moderating tasks. Besides, the work I do I consider as a return on my investment. I have found that my knowledge and understanding of the industry grows exponentially, the more time I invest in the travel industry community. Therefore, I don't look at what I do as time-consuming work, but as a way to educate myself while having fun.

As one of the Administrators for HBTACommunity.com, do you have any advice on how agents can maximize the benefits they may obtain from the community?

Participate, participate, participate! Engage yourself in the community by sharing your opinions, offering solutions and making contributions to ongoing discussions. The success of this community is based solely on the activity of its members. For new agents, don't be afraid to ask questions. Often times, what appears as a very basic question can generate a wealth of suggestions that spark “new ideas” for even the most experienced agents. I would also suggest that members use this site as an educational resource. When a topic, product or destination of interest is discussed, copy and paste the pertinent posts into personal files you can access when needed.

As you move forward, do you have any future goals or a “bucket list” of things you have yet to accomplish?

Wow, do I! Although I have been on over 50+ cruises, there are cruise lines (and ships) I have yet to sail. I also have a personal goal of visiting at least 100 countries before my traveling days are over and I am only about three-quarters of the way there. In addition to being a travel agent, I am also a travel journalist and would like to devote more time to this endeavor in order to take advantage of opportunities to publish my work.

What changes do you see coming in the travel industry?

I expect that technological advancements will continue to have a substantial impact on the industry. There is already evidence that the travel industry is experiencing a metamorphosis. Social media marketing will be a necessity and as consumers have more tools at their fingertips, cross selling of related products will be the norm. Smart phones and the ever increasing number of available apps will not only revolutionize how we sell travel, but how we experience travel. Mobile booking, mobile alerts, mobile city guides and mobile GPS will empower consumers and enable “on-the-spot” personalization. Websites will need to be redesigned to become “mobile friendly”. Agents will need to find ways to go to the consumer and stop thinking they will come to them. Our world is shrinking and there is no better example of that realization than “Google-Earth”. With the advent of "Google-Earth”, destinations off the beaten path or never heard of before will beckon to be explored by the adventure traveler and offer a whole new market in the travel industry.

After reading some articles by Jonathan Tourtellot, who is credited with founding the “Geo-tourism” movement, I also believe that a decline in our natural resources, global warming and a more eco-conscious society will affect future travel. Climatic changes will have an effect on vacation destinations and their tourist seasons. There will be an increase in tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place and its people. Some tour operators and suppliers are already moving in that direction, and I think consumers of the future will be looking for ways to build a relationship with the place they are visiting. Travel with a purpose will become more prevalent. Rather than asking their clients, “Where do you want to go?” agents should ask, “Why do you want to go?”.

As an experienced agent, do you have any tips for agents new to the industry?

●Stop trying to sell a product, sell yourself. Your unique talents and expertise are what set you apart from the online booking engines and why a consumer will choose you.

●Speaking of expertise, before you jump head first into the field, you would be wise to take some time to gain knowledge and first-hand experience in a specific travel niche of interest, BEFORE you embark on a travel career.

●Don't try to be all things to all people. You cannot possibly know everything about all destinations and aspects of travel. Find a niche and sell what you know.

●Immerse yourself in the industry. Take advantage of all learning opportunities, including the HBTACommunity.