TravelPulse Canada is proud to support Travel Advisors around the globe. Our "Tales From The Front Lines" series was originally designed to give consultants a voice during the COVID crisis and bring professionals together. Now, as part of our ongoing effort to continue to support travel advisors, we’re bringing it back as a feature on the issues that matter to you most.
We hope you enjoy our new installment.
Christine Guy is fairly new to the travel industry; having finished a tourism course at the end of 2019. She was just starting to work with a local host agency in Calgary in April 2020 when … well, we all know what began at that time.
“The pandemic was kind of beneficial to me as an advisor because of the fact I didn’t just jump in without enough knowledge,” she tells TravelPulse Canada. “I ended up doing all of the supplier trainings that were available and learning a lot.”
Fast forward to 2023 and as part of Travel Best Bets, Guy is focused on growing her business, while maintaining her full-time career at her local hospital where she works in the surgery booking department. The struggle is real– it’s a delicate and difficult balancing act trying to manage her full-time hours which pays the bills (for now) with growing her travel business that is her passion.
Guy’s situation is not unique. Whether travel advisors are just starting out or more experienced ones who had to temporarily leave the industry for non-travel jobs, many are being put in the position of balancing investment in themselves and in their business while continuing in a job that pays the bills. Trainings and registration costs within the industry can quickly add up and make a sizeable dent in generated income when you’re not a full-time agent.
What can agents do now, that will help grow their businesses and help in that delicate balance of continuing their full-time jobs while growing their travel business?
Gary Gzik, speaking at the 2023 TTAND conference in Costa Mujeres, Mexico. (Photo Credit: Dan Galbraith)
For advice, we went to Gary Gzik, an industry favourite largely due to his engaging and inspiring talks at The Travel Agent Next Door conferences and always has a lot of great advice for agents.
“There are many things agents can do that require only an investment in their time,” says Gzik. “Be consistent with social media to build an online presence – be genuine and real, and post 3 times a week. Make sure to showcase your expertise though reviews and valuable content. Comment on other articles, repost with your own thoughts.”
Gzik says to always create a focus, it’s important to define who you are selling to and create valuable content around it.
“Engage through understanding key days throughout the year, for example, national shop for travel day, national tourism day, national plan for vacation day, national cheap flight day, there are lots!”
Gzik says there are also more tangible ideas to consider as well. It’s also important to attend networking events, the “business after 5” with the local chamber type events. and ideas such as offering free resources like creating downloadable free packing list templates that are on your social site will help. It’s important as part of the creation of your overall brand to create and stick with it – people will recognize you this way.
And what to do when things happen and you’re feeling less motivated?
“Make time to celebrate your wins weekly. Call an accountability buddy. Carve out time on a Friday afternoon or Monday morning to celebrate good things and challenge each other to get more wins that week.
Don’t forget that as you grow your business you need to be mindful of your self-care too. Treat yourself as important as you treat your clients.”
Topics From This Article to Explore
