Chapter
1
The
Travel Industry,
Opportunity of the 21st Century
The travel industry, opportunity of
the 21st century 1-1, The travel industry, beneficiary of technology
1-2, The travel industry, America’s #1 growth industry 1-3, The travel
industry, the entrepreneur’s dream come true 1-3, The travel industry, your
vehicle to success 1-4.
Chapter
2
A
Brief History of
Travel Retailing
How did retail travel agencies
evolve? 2-1, Then came computers 2-2, Personal computers, the end of an era 2-3,
Commission caps and electronic ticketing 2-3, Personal computers, the beginning of an era 2-4.
Chapter 3
Home
Based Travel Agencies
Of the 21st Century
Eroding storefront profits 3-1,
Inflation vs. productivity, 3.1, The culprit, domestic airline tickets 3-3, The
last straw, commission caps and cuts 3-4, Automation, the highway to change for
the home based travel agent 3-5, The entrepreneurial era 3-6, The evolution of
the independent contractor 3-7, What is so different about an independent
contractor? 3-9.
Chapter 4
Developing
a Business Concept
Commissions and overrides 4-1, 15
areas of opportunity to make lots of money in the travel business 4-5,
Sample income statements of home based travel agencies 4-8.
Chapter 5
Developing
a Business Plan
Define your expectations 5-1, State
your specific objectives 5-2, Project
your income 5-2, Project your expenses 5-2, Funding your business 5-3, Writing a
formal business plan 5-3, Sample business plan 5-4.
Chapter 6
Starting
Your Home Based Travel Business
Establish your business name 6-1,
Organizing your business 6-2, Obtaining
the proper licenses 6-2, Opening your business bank account 6.3, Your stationery
and business cards 6-3, Establishing an office for your home based travel agency
6-4.
Chapter 7
Setting
Up Your Books
What are the main revenue accounts
and where is their origin? 7-1, What are the common expense areas for home based
travel agencies? 7-4, What software is available to make the accounting task
easier? 7-8.
Chapter 8
Your
Home Office
Of the 21st Century
Home or office, which one is it?
8-1, Clearly define your workplace 8-2, Your home as a business meeting place
8-3, How to create your professional image 8-5, Communicate quality 8-6.
Chapter 9
Your
Home Computer
The importance of your home
computer 9-1, Notebook computers and how they can work for you 9-2, Desktop
computers 9-2, What kinds of other software do I need in my home-based travel
business? 9-8, Your office Suite 9-9, Desktop publishing software 9-9,
Database management, contact management and mail list management programs
9-10, The Internet 9-12.
Chapter 10
Selecting
Your Host Agency
Selecting your host agency partner
10-2, What are the key considerations when negotiating my host agency agreement?
10-3, Your independent contractor agreement 10-7, Sample host agency contract
10-11.
Chapter
11
Establishing
Your Agency
Relationship with Suppliers
Travel agent identification
numbering systems 11-1, Pseudo ARC numbers 11-5, Seller of Travel laws 11-8.
Chapter 12
Your
Automated Travel
Reservation System
Who operates the Computerized
Reservations Systems (CRS)? 12-1, Is it mandatory for a home based travel agency
to automate with a reservation system? 12-3, What kind of consumer reservations
software is there? 12-4, What
agency level systems are available and how do they work? 12-5, Terminal
emulation software 12-6.
Chapter 13
Setting
up Your Supplier Files
A complete guide to organizing your
travel business supplier files 13-1, Organizing your web based bookmarks and
files 13-2, Your cruise files 13-2, Suggestions on how to organize and
categorize the domestic destination files 13-3, Keys on setting up your
international files, miscellaneous destination and special interest information
13-6 through 13-15.
Chapter 14
Setting
up Your Travel Reference Library
What are some of the best reference
tools available to the travel industry? 14-1 through 14-8.
Chapter 15
Developing
a Marketing Plan
How to define your market? 15-2,
Quantify your marketing exposures. 15-2, Establish a marketing budget 15-3,
Newsletters, direct mail and other marketing tools 15-3,
Mapping out your marketing plan 15-5, Sample marketing plan 15-6.
Chapter 16
Developing
a Newsletter
The importance in consistency 16-1,
The development of the newsletter 16-2, Your newsletter’s content 16-3, Sample
newsletter 16-6, Mini newsletters 16-11, Sample mini newsletter 16-12.
Chapter 17
Using
Direct Mail
Developing your mailing list 17-1,
Managing your mailing list 17-4, Bulk mail versus first class mail 17-4,
Developing a mailing program 17-5, Cooperative direct mailings 17-7, Sample
travel flyers 17-8.
Chapter 18
Travel
Advertising
Newspaper advertising 18-1,
Magazine advertising 18-2, Yellow Page advertising 18-3,
Other advertising media 18-3, Sample travel ads. 18-4.
Chapter 19
Travel
Promotions
What kinds of travel promotions are
there? 19-1, What opportunities exist in the community to promote travel? 19-5.
Chapter 20
Travel
Marketing Techniques
for the 21st Century
Portable automation - notebook
computers 20-1, Travel videos and how they help sell 20-2, On-line chat groups,
Usenet and mailing lists 20-3, Networking, voice mail and various other programs
20-4, Marketing via facsimile 20-5, Database marketing 20-6, Contact management
20-7, the World Wide Web and the Internet 20-8.
Chapter 21
The
Internet and the Travel Industry
The Web 21-1, Define your web opportunity 21-2, Plan your
website 21-3, Build your website 21-3, Opening your doors for business 21-5,
Market your web site 21-6, Maximizing your web opportunities 21-11.
Chapter 22
Cold
Calls, Canvassing
and Telemarketing
Cold calls, the secret to success
22-1, Meetings, seminars, classes
and other events 22-3, Canvassing, a quick way to establish your business 22-3,
Telemarketing for the nineties 22-4.
Chapter 23
Organizing
Your Marketing Files
Your passenger profile form 23-1,
Example of a client profile form 23-6, Your client action card file 23-8,
Example of a client action card 23-9, Client questionnaire and market survey
23-10, Example of a client questionnaire and market survey 21-11.
Chapter 24
Developing
Your Professional
Knowledge and Skills
Should I attend a travel school?
24-2, Can a travel video training help? 24-3, What travel industry training is
available? 24-5.
Chapter 25
Legal
Issues and Protecting
Your Business
Insurance for your home business
25-2, Credit card sales 25-2, Necessary disclosures 25-4, Filing a fictitious
business name statement 25-6, Obtaining a business license 25-6, Registering
your business with the state 25-7, Receipt of travel documents, notice to all
clients, agency disclosure, and agreement of sale 25-7.
Chapter 26
Home
Based Travel Agency
Travel Benefits
Who earns travel benefits? 26-1,
Travel agent registration programs 26-3, Typical travel agency benefits. 26-4.
Chapter 27
Tax
Benefits for Home Based
Travel Agencies
Your home office deduction 27-2,
I.R.S. Form 8829 “Expenses For Business Use Of Your Home” 27-3, Your
deductible automobile expenses 27-5, I.R.S. Form 4562 “Depreciation And
Amortization” 27-6, Travel and entertainment expenses 27-9,
General Business Expenses 27-9, I.R.S. Schedule C “Profit Or Loss From
Business” 27-10.
Chapter
28
Getting Connected
in the Travel Industry
Trade associations 28-2, Travel agent training and
certification 28-2, Travel agent trade publications 28-2.
Chapter 29
NACTA
The National Association
of Commissioned Travel Agents
What is NACTA? 29-1, What are the
benefits of membership? 29-2 through 29-5, NACTA membership application 29-5.
Chapter 30
ASTA
The American
Society Of Travel Agents
What is ASTA? 30-1, ASTA member
benefits 30-1 thru 30-4, Types of ASTA memberships 30-4, ASTA applications 30-5.
Chapter
31
ICTA
The Institute of
Certified Travel Agents
What is ICTA? 31-1, ICTA’s path
to professionalism 31-2, Overview of programs 31-2, Travel Career Development
31-4, Travel Agent Proficiency Test (TAP) 31-5, TRIP kit 31-6, Destination
Specialist courses 31-7, Certified Travel Associate (CTA) 31-10, Certified
Travel Counselor (CTC) 31-11, Contact ICTA and ICTA applications 31-13.
Chapter 32
A Checklist for Getting Started
Planning Activity 32-2,
Organizational Activity 32-2, Start Up Activity 32-2, Supplier Activity 32-3,
Establishing Your Monthly Operating Budget 32-3.
Chapter 33
Where do I go From Here?
www.HomeBasedTravelAgent.com
33-2, Cruise seminars 33-2, Selling Cruises, Don’t Miss the Boat 33.2
|
