Hey all! Wanted to give a quick status update. Haven’t had a Friday update in awhile. Check out what’s new with the travel industry, life as a travel agent, and more.
101 Series Blog Posts
I recently started a category of blog posts called “101 Series.” These posts are designed to help newer agents in this industry. Or if someone is interested in making the switch I hope they find it informative. I’ve had several people reach out to me on Instagram and other various channels asking me what steps it takes to be a travel agent. My latest blog posts under the 101 series can be found here:
- Planning A Destination Wedding
- I’m so very proud of this. My very first destination wedding, y’all. For those who don’t know planning a destination wedding is like the Super Bowl. What we’ve been practicing for. Coordinating ~20 wedding guests arriving on different days, some staying at different resorts. It was quite the challenge but I enjoyed it. I’m excited for the opportunity work on more destination weddings. They’re a ton of fun!
- How to Become A Travel Agent
- This post is especially helpful to newer agents. I would start with this post if you have any questions
In the next week or two, I’ll be putting out another 101 series blog post about various rewards programs for you to enter into as a travel agent. There are SO many and you won’t want to miss it. The commission agents make off of sales is nice and all but why stop there? Enter your eligible bookings into the various rewards programs and earn cash, gifts for your clients, gifts for YOU, free nights stays, etc. I’m working on compiling a huge list of the different companies and tourism boards that offer some type of rewards. Stay tuned!
Upcoming Trips
I have quite a few upcoming trips that I’m very excited about.
- St. Lucia – August 2018
- Slight update: I’m heading to my next FAM (familiarization) trip in just a few weeks. I’ll be visiting and touring the 3 Sandals properties: Sandals Regency La Toc, Sandals Grande St. Lucian, and Sandals Halcyon Bay. It’ll be my first time in the Eastern Caribbean so you can imagine my excitement. I just wish I had booked additional days so I could see more of what that island has to offer. For those who are newer here and do not know what a FAM trip is, it is a sponsored/paid trip for travel agents to become familiar with what they are selling. Whether it’s getting familiar with a particular destination (sponsored by a tourism board), or getting familiar with a particular property (sponsored by a resort/hotel), or getting familiar with a particular tour (sponsored by a tour operator). It’s a GREAT way to become knowledgeable on what you are selling. You can review my experiences on different FAM trips here.
- Las Vegas – August 2018
- This is NOT a sponsored FAM trip. This is a trip for leisure. Sin City. What happens here stays here… I’m so excited for this trip. Going with some friends and plan to take a day trip to out to Red Rock Canyon. I’ll be staying on the Strip so plan to take advantage of all the local places like casinos, etc. This will be a group trip that is based around the Facebook group I started, called Earth Shuttering Travel (which I encourage you to join!). Earth Shuttering Travel is a group based around fun, like minded people who enjoy traveling with others. The added value is the fact that a professional photographer, James Loving, will be joining the trips. So you have beautiful photos. Check out his Insta (@jamesloving and Facebook). He’s very talented and I’m excited to partner with him and see where this group goes.
- Turks & Caicos – September 2018
- In my offer letter from my boss, I’m contracted for 1 FAM trip per year…. but last year she paid for me to go to Bahamas AND Jamaica and now this year she is paying for me to visit St. Lucia and Turks & Caicos. I have the BEST BOSS EVER. Get you a boss that values your education and training. Someone that wants you to succeed at sales. I’ll be visiting Beaches Resorts, one of the few all inclusive options in Turks & Caicos (most properties are European plan). I’m so excited to gorge out on all the good grub, do some swimming in Grace Bay Beach. You name it. Also, I plan to visit Jojo the famous dolphin there. Apparently this dolphin lives in the wild, but when tour boats go out she comes and says “hi.” If you’re lucky…
Travel News
So there’s some new travel news just to stay on top of:
- Reflect Resorts is a new brand of properties taking over the former Krystal Grand properties in Cancun, Los Cabos, and Puerto Vallarta. They will now be a part of the AMResorts brands (which also manages Zoetry, Breathless, Secrets, Dreams, Now, and Sunscape Resorts).
- New Secrets Resort coming to St. Martin. Never thought I’d see another all inclusive pop up in beautiful St. Martin/St. Maarten
- Dominican Republic no longer requires you to purchase the tourist card when you get there. This is sort of old news, it was effective as of April 2018 but I’m very excited for it. Was such a pain before. Now that tourist tax is added into the cost of the airlines for convenience. Which is literally how every other country has done it
- The youngest person to travel to every country is giving away his air miles on Instagram. Full story here.
- The Eiffel Tower is having major lane delays. And tourists are not happy about it (rightfully so!). Basically, the Eiffel Tower workers have been on strike over a new visitor access policy, causing long queues.
Client Bookings
I have many client bookings in the works: a bachelorette trip this coming spring, girls trip on a cruise, Italy birthday extravaganza, Vegas friends trip, couples birthday trip to San Francisco, honeymooners heading to the Caribbean, a cancer survivor’s relaxing getaway, and so much more. Lots to celebrate. I’m also working on my very first African Safari trip that I’ve booked with a U.K. based tour operator called Just You. I’m so excited for my client. Hope she gets to see the Big 5.
I’m also working on a big 60th birthday bash in the Caribbean. I love when birthdays are celebrated, especially big ones like 60. Just to be around people you love, what could be better? Well, being around people you love on a beautiful beach at an all inclusive resort I suppose is better. đŸ™‚
Well, that’s it for now. Until next time…
Improving Financial Literacy Among Travelers
I came across some interesting articles I wanted to share with you. As someone who travels pretty often both for work and for leisure, it’s important that I set aside a particular budget for each trip to stay on top of my personal finances.
The U.S. News & World Report team recently created a guide aimed at improving financial literacy among travelers. The guide breaks down when a no foreign transaction credit card makes sense for travelers, their benefits, as well as strategies to save money when traveling abroad.
Here is a link to the guide. Definitely check it out!
