When TravelPulse Canada suggested we meet with Travel Agent Next Door agents Beverley Edgar, Brittany Rayner and Consuela Lewis over lunch, we didn't realize they had just met at the conference. The three seemed like they'd been friends for years - that premise is something founder Flemming Friisdahl said was a large reason for holding the conference this year in person.
It is also the first TTAND conference for all three, who are new to the industry; they all started just before the pandemic hit.
Edgar says that attending was inspiring and gave her the confidence she needs to move forward selling travel as we emerge from the past year and a half. She had just joined TTAND in early 2020 before the pandemic hit.
"I've learned so much from where I was to where I feel now; my confidence level is a lot higher after this conference. I'm thinking ok, I can do this," explains Edgar.
Rayner agrees.
"I joined in April and up until now, everything had been online, but being here in person and learning from other agents have been like most beneficial for me," says Rayner. "I really value everyone's advice and there's specific things that they bring to the table and they're all unique and different.
That's been the biggest thing about attending this conference, I can learn from other people who have done it. Everyone has their own version of what has worked for them and hearing that is what's really beneficial."
"I've been really, really impressed by this conference," says Lewis. "You're targeting what sessions you need to help your business, and then we can arrange dinner or drinks with a travel agent or supplier and say hey, I'd love to know what you're working on and learn from them."
Those sentiments are exactly what The Travel Agent Next Door Founder Flemming Friisdahl said is TTAND's drive to succeed; the 3 W's.
"It has to be a win for our business partners, a win for suppliers and a win for The Travel Agent Next Door. It's not about being right - it's about getting it right, which we do by listening our agents and by getting feedback from agents."
Business will no doubt be brisk for these three new agents, and we wondered what key learnings they were going to take home and apply to their businesses this year.
"For me it's getting more engaged in my local community," says Rayner. "Somebody said in one of our meetings, that to succeed we need to do new things seven times; hand out our cards seven times or mention I'm a travel agent seven times for example, and that can make you feel like you're repeating yourself. And even though it feels so deflating, I'm going to continue to keep that rotation going because the I know the next time they want to travel they might think to call me."
Both Edgar and Lewis say they're going to be more active on social media.
"One thing I've learned here at this conference is the importance of putting yourself out there on social media," says Edgar. "Even if you're not traveling, you probably you need to be out there showing your expertise. It's something I'll be putting more effort into for sure."
"I went on a FAM in August. And the increase from that skyrocketed; I had no one interested in traveling until I travelled. And I'm here and I've had, I want to say eight to 10 people reach out on my social media and say, I'm interested," says Lewis.
"The support from TTAND and other agents here has been huge for us. It's emotionally moving and being together and having people who are saying, I'm here to support you - it's huge."
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