Dear Travel Agents/Advisors,

We have talked about the different skills that travel agents/advisors have to have to develop their businesses: the school of travel is not enough! You’ll also need some psychology, math, history, geography, science, grammar (in whichever language you will use to correspond with your client), technology (lots of computer skills), and some game strategy.

If you read every word in the last paragraph, you are probably thinking, where will I use and be good at game strategy?

Well, let me tell you, especially with over a quarter century of experience with this. (Wow! That sounds much more impressive than over 25 years, right?) We always need to keep some cards hidden up our sleeves because we never know what a prospective client will come up with after we present a full proposal to them.

They just remembered their 2-year-old grandchild that “they forgot” to mention, and now they expect that child to travel for free. Or, they got an airfare ticket on sale and need an extra hotel night but “can’t afford” to change their budget.

They are prospective clients, you worked hard on that proposal, and you want to make it happen!

Use the skills you’ve learned so well by playing games. Keep the upper-hand. Don’t bluff and show your “Royal Flush.” You knew you would win because you know how to count the cards.

I am not telling you to cheat, I do believe in karma! I am just explaining how to prepare yourself for some surprises and decide in advance how you will deal with them. By being a good game player, you can have your cake and eat it too, and at the same time, your prospective client is happy.

Food for thought, for sure!

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Dear Travel Agents/Advisors,

How many of you have a bucket list that you dream about? Everyone should have one! Otherwise, what is the purpose of life, right? LOL

Seriously, every client could and should have one, but most don’t have a clue where they should start. As a travel agent/advisor, you can help them create one, and also keep tabs on it for them. That way, you’ll know when it is time to reach out and send them the next travel alert, the next great promotion, or the next…..

Let me tell you how I started my bucket list. I have now been to 84 countries, and have a goal of 120.

As many of you know, I was born in Brazil and moved to Los Angeles over 31 years ago. The first time we decided to travel abroad, we wanted to go to countries where we understood and felt comfortable with the language, so we went to Spain and Portugal. We are both fluent in Portuguese and Spanish.

Our next goal was to see the whole of Europe, and we did it, most of it at least.

Then, my next wish was to see the 7 Wonders of the World, and I did.

After that, my next dream was to reach all continents.

Now, it is getting to my goal of visiting 120 countries.

And then what? Right now, I want to go to countries that are farther away from home since I have a good health and I am only 56 years old. On my bucket list for when I get much, much older is to get to all 50 states of the U.S., since I could get to many by car.

Well, have you ever written down your bucket list and why you want to do those things? For sure, this is a good exercise. It makes you humble, gives you gratitude and teaches you about yourself, your life. You’ll also learn geography, and maybe some history if you wish. Writing it all down keeps you grounded, while at the same time, allows you to dream.

Once you have created a bucket list for yourself, share that gift with your client. Help them to create their own bucket lists. It will teach you and your clients a lot about each other. I can guarantee you, you will then have a client for life, because you’ve shown them how much you care for them.

A bucket list is the gift that keeps on giving.

Will you try?

With love and gratitude,

Rosana

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Blogs @www.travelwithrosana.com

 

 

Dear Travel Agents and Advisors,

I’ve talked before about prospective and established clients’ expectations, and how travel agents/advisors deal with them. This seems to be one of the most common problems we discuss with regard to the success of one’s business.

Now, I want to focus on the expectations you have for yourself and your own business. How do you refer to yourself? How engaged are you in building your business? Where do you see yourself in one year from now? How about 5 years? And 10 years from now? Most importantly, how nicely do you treat yourself, and forgive yourself for mistakes?

I highly suggest that you educate yourself a lot. This can be through courses, FAM Trips, online classes and definitely by reading self-improvement books. You need to respect and take care of yourself first; before you can become an awesome travel agent/advisor and become the best in your field.

Knowing how to set limits, be respected while respecting your clients, valuing your time and valuing your client’s best interests are the keys to your success. It is a combination of math, chemistry, science and some history all tied up with lots of psychology. The secret is that you don’t need a fancy degree to succeed, just be your best self and give 100%.

I am cheering for your success and believe you will achieve it. Just keep your own expectations in check.

My best wishes!

Follow me at:
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Instagram @travelwithrosana
Blogs @ http://www.travelwithrosana.com

Dear Travel Agents,

I want to talk to you about the price of kindness and how you might find yourself on both sides of the act: receiving and giving.

Sometimes kindness gets into people’s way: some may think your action is because you are trying to “buy” someone’s love or even worse, you don’t have enough self esteem and are a people pleaser.

Even more difficult is how to explain acts of kindness on social media. Here, it is even harder not to be misunderstood. Every action you take trying to be kind might later be used to take advantage of you.

I make it a point to be very supportive of travel agents and friends about their businesses and personal lives. With almost 5k friends, sometimes is hard to embrace everything I see on Facebook. But, I have tried, and even participate in some chain posts that make sense to me. I just participated in one because I liked a comment I saw on a travel agent/friend’s page. It ended up that the post I “liked” was not true, but was instead her amusing way to get people who liked her comment to follow a chain in honor of “2019 Autism Awareness Month.” By liking her post, I was then “it!” I had to choose one of 16 silly statuses, and then post it on my Facebook page, all to raise awareness of autism.

I usually don’t follow chain posts, but this was for a great cause and my soft heart could not ruin it, so I posted: Just won a chance audition on America’s Got Talent!

Many liked, commented and asked questions, but I suddenly felt awkward. For a moment, I regretted liking my friend’s post, but I know she is very kind – like I am.

I went back to her post and looked to see who commented and liked her post and saw that only 2 people were “following” the chain.

What is the price of kindness? I HAVE NOT just won a chance to audition on America’s Got Talent, but maybe my talent is kindness.

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Blogs @www.travelwithrosana.com