12 things to do in the first 12 months while you’re waiting for the next inquiry to come in
When you’re a newer travel advisor, waiting for an inquiry to come in can feel like a discouraging lull…but it's actually the perfect time to set the stage for future success. What should you be doing in those first 12 months to ensure you're ready to impress when the next client reaches out? In this free webinar, learn strategic steps on how to make the most of your downtime and how to set yourself up for success for when that downtime is no longer available!
Enjoy a free replay of this webinar! You can skip around to various parts of the session:
00:00:27 New advisors ask "what can I do in the first 12 months of business", but the reality is that even seasoned advisors still do these things, too
00:02:26 Why lulls in business are actually the perfect times to set ourselves up for success
00:04:25 How to develop expertise as a travel advisor
00:11:22 Identify who you first/next client is and where they want to travel
00:14:35 Consider what your clients are spending on their trip
00:18:40 How to narrow down destinations (don’t try to plan too broad!)
00:23:45 Logistics to consider (big picture) based on destination as you start researching
00:27:20 How to identify the best supplier partners and hotels per budget per destination
00:35:00 Develop your image as a travel expert by knowing the unique options to present to clients that they can’t find themselves
00:41:30 How to collaborate with other members of The Hive/travel advisors and learn from each others’ expertise
00:44:00 Sharing of template to fill in with destination planning for ideal client
00:48:00 Demo of how to apply these concepts on The Hive
00:50:01 Researching Ireland trip with $500-$1,000 daily budget
Twelve Things to Do in the First Twelve Months While Waiting for Your Next Travel Inquiry
Travel advising is as much about expertise as it is about planning the perfect getaway. During those inevitable lulls between inquiries, advisors have the opportunity to sharpen their skills and prepare for future success. Here are some key insights and strategies for building expertise and effectively planning memorable trips.
how to become a travel planning expert without even booking a trip
You can become an expert without planning 100 trips, but you can't plan 100 trips if you're not an expert.
So you’ve started a travel business. You are excited to start sending clients around the world…when they actually start inquiring about your services. That lull that many new travel advisors experience is often inevitable, and can be…discouraging.
However, during those inevitable lulls between inquiries, travel advisors have the exciting opportunity to prepare intentionally for future success. (And I’ll share a secret with you: many seasoned travel advisors would love to have moments of lull to regroup!)
How can you effectively prepare yourself and become a travel planning expert, even before you book your first trip?
Here are some key insights to use your downtime creatively and strategically, instead of waiting passively for the next (or your first!) inquiry.
No client? No problem!
Before an actual person fills out your inquiry form, you can start your journey to expertise. Love it or hate it, this is where having an “ideal client avatar” in mind can guide you.
Think about someone you want to plan a trip for. It can be an actual friend/co-worker/family member who recently traveled. Did you find yourself looking at photos of their trip and thinking, “I wish they’d asked me to plan that trip…”
You’ve just found yourself your ideal client avatar! So next, ask yourself, where is that person going to book their next trip?
Once you have this information in mind, you have already started completing the list of 12 things you can do to prepare for your next inquiry…
the 12 things you can do to prepare for your first client
Identify target audience and their most common trip inquiry
Pick 3 total investment ranges that are aligned with your clients (pro tip: go watch the instant replay of the webinar, as we cover each of these in a lot more detail!)
Pick 5 countries that you’ll be planning most often for these ideal clients
Identify supplier partners in each destination who will be most suitable for your clients
Identify 4-5 hotels for each destination in each budget range that your clients will love
Research logistics and seasonality for each destination (when should you go? When should you not go? How do you travel around the country?)
Research the different regions of this destination - where to stay, should you consider a split stay, etc
Research the “must dos” in each destination - top sites to visit, unique experiences, etc
Research the niche / optional activities - things that will great for clients with specific interests, but not for everyone
Describe how you would compare / contrast each of your top destinations for clients who are undecided, ie St Lucia vs Turks & Caicos, Mexico vs Costa Rica, Italy vs Greece, etc.
Find 3 new advisors with whom you can connect, collaborate, and cheer on!
Join The Hive to search more efficiently, save all the notes / information you’re gathering, and to collaborate so you can learn from others’ research.
start becoming an expert with The Hive
If you’re ready to become a travel expert, the Hive is an invaluable resource for travel advisors, offering a complex search feature, note-taking and storage with tagging, and collaboration with other travel advisors.
With The Hive, you can filter searches by destination and niche categories that are not available on any other travel planning tool. This makes it easier than ever to craft detailed, personalized proposals that align with your clients' desires.
Plus, The Hive’s notes feature allows you to store and share information among colleagues, enhancing collaboration and ensuring you’re always equipped with the most up-to-date insights.
The insights shared in this webinar underscore the potential for success in the travel industry for travel advisors at any level in business, paving the way for profitable and satisfying client experiences.
Want to learn more about The Hive and how it can support your travel planning business? Check out a recorded demo or jump right in with a free 6-week trial!
