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Whether you are a new travel advisor or have been in the industry for years, it’s always important to take time to examine your small business and re-focus. The following seven tips will help get your agency on track for its best year yet.

1. Determine your “why.”

Knowing and following your reasons for becoming a travel agent is essential for success. Your “why” will help you formulate your goals, which will shape your business plan. Your business plan will help drive the daily activities of your agency.

2. Set specific, achievable goals.

Once you’ve established your “why,” setting goals should come naturally. Your goals will be much easier to achieve if they are realistic and precise. Rather than telling yourself you want to gain more clients, write down an exact number. If you want to up your sales numbers, set a specific target, whether it’s $50,000 or $500,000. If your goals aren’t measurable, you won’t have any way to know if you’ve reached them!

3. Brush up on the basics.

No matter what your goals are, make time to strengthen your business’s educational foundation. The basics somewhat depend on your specialty: If you sell cruises, make sure you review the latest trends and products, and get an idea of new ships you can be promoting. If family travel is your focus, refresh your knowledge of your favorite suppliers’ family-friendly products.

4. Attend at least one networking event a month.

Networking possibilities are everywhere — online, in your community and at in-person travel industry events. Even your children’s football games could turn into opportunities to connect with prospective clients, if done right. Make sure you’re always thinking of your business and are prepared to talk about your value when it comes up in conversations.

5. Try at least one new marketing strategy or technique.

This doesn’t have to be a major investment of time or money. It could be just contacting your local newspaper about writing an article with expert travel tips. It could be compiling an email list of your prospective clients and sending out a weekly or monthly newsletter with trip ideas. It could be broadcasting via Facebook Live on a regular basis. Whatever it is, commit to it and remember to evaluate its effectiveness.

6. Set aside time to unplug.

Your reason for joining the travel industry is hopefully tied to something meaningful and positive, like traveling more, spending more time with family or feeling rewarded by others’ happiness. However, it’s easy to get caught up in the grind, especially when you wear many hats as a travel business owner. Taking a vacation of your own is necessary, not just for the research, but to remind yourself of what is important and to recharge your battery.

7. Give back with heart.

At the core of a travel agent’s role is the desire to make a difference, to bring joy and ease into others' lives. But the impact we can make doesn’t stop at booking great vacations — it extends to the communities we serve. Giving back is not only great PR for your business; it’s a way to nourish your soul. And the best part? It often costs nothing more than your time and compassion.

Whether it’s volunteering with a local organization, lending a hand in a charity fundraiser or simply offering your wisdom and encouragement to a new agent finding their way, every act of kindness matters. You don’t need grand gestures to make a meaningful impact — sometimes, the smallest acts of generosity speak the loudest. So, whenever you can, take the time to help others. It’s not just about sending the right message; it’s about being the kind of person who truly makes a difference.


About the Author

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Rick Zimmerman is the President and CEO of KHM Travel Group, one of the country’s leading host travel agencies. Rick joined the travel industry fresh out of college where he worked as a travel agent for a small agency in Cleveland, Ohio. After a 25-year career in the construction industry, Rick returned to his travel roots and helped found KHM Travel Group in 2005. Rick is an active advocate of the travel agent community and serves on multiple travel-related Advisory Boards.


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LINDA H | 09/14/24 - 10:53 AM


LINDA HERRON - TRAVEL WITH LINDA - INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR (KHM TRAVEL GROUP)

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