Dear Travel Agents,

I now want to talk to travel agents who plan travel with groups of people.

For those with lots of experience with this, we all know that when we first offer a date and a destination it seems so easy to gather a big group. Everyone is so excited about the destination and/or the date. Everyone says, “COUNT ON ME!”

Yes, right! LOL!

The next step is collecting the money. Suddenly the group of excited people becomes much smaller! “I thought you said two years from now.” And another person says, “I just heard from a friend of a friend of my cousin that the destination is not safe!” We could all write a book as thick as the Bible full of excuses.

Finally, we’ve gathered a group and start the planning. If we all live in the same town, it is fun to get together for the planning. Maybe go to a restaurant with food that is typical of the destination and get a person who will teach us all about the itinerary, and answer questions about packing and how to travel abroad. Meeting the group is fun, and helps to build camaraderie, especially if some people will be rooming together.

As the date of the trip approaches, many people get excited and happy, but some will get anxious. Anxiety can bring more questions for the organizer. Smile, take deep breaths and answer all of their questions. If the questions seem silly, send them a link so they can read more and learn. Reading and learning helps with anxiety because the person will be spending time and focusing on something other than his/her own anxiety.

Once traveling starts, remember that travel and life are not perfect, so learn how to deal with the unexpected. Again, take deep breaths, smile and remember that everything can be solved. Everyone will be watching you, because you are the organizer. Keep a smile on your face and remember that joking is always the best way to deal with people. People respond better to happy people.

In my next blog I will write a list of things that could possibly go wrong, and how to deal with them. But always remember: NO ONE WANTS TO DEAL WITH A SOUR FACED PERSON, SO KEEP SMILING!

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Dear Travel Agents,

I have been working and mentoring travel agents for over 26 years, and I know that for many of them, it can be very uncomfortable to ask about a budget in order to prepare an itinerary.

First of all, the word “Budget” sounds cheap or poor or discounted, as if using a coupon. But actually, even the richest people have a budget in mind when spending money or purchasing anything.

Imagine going to buy a purse. Some people go to Target and have a budget of $100. Others who are more affluent can go to Hermès and still have a budget of $5,000, so the Birkin for $15,000 will not be a choice. Does it mean they are cheap? No, it is simply a matter of priorities.

For example, if someone who is well-dressed comes into Hermès and I am their salesperson, I should first ask what they are looking for when they ask me for a purse instead of offering a Birkin and expecting the customer to buy it so I can make the commission.

The same thing happens in travel. Please do not ASSUME, but EDUCATE.  Ask if they have a budget and if they say NO, ask questions to better learn what they are looking for, and what their taste is before you spend time working on an itinerary that could end up being a waste of time for everyone. Avoid the situation that often happens when you later learn the prospective client has gone to someone else.

There is much more to be discussed about budgets. Feel free to pick my brain!

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Dear Travel Agents,

I know you are a travel lover, for sure. You love life and believe in enjoying every minute of it. We definitely have that in common, and I admire you!

Let me share something else about myself. I love wine. I developed this love in my late 40s and my husband and I started to learn as much as we could about wine. We are not wine snobs, but we now appreciate good wine. We live in Los Angeles and belong to 4 winery clubs in Paso Robles and Napa Valley. As much as I love to travel, I also love going to those wineries, and to other ones for wine tastings. Honestly, I get tipsy very easily, so I buy more than I drink, LOL!

Why am I sharing this information? I am not trying to sell you wine, nor impress you with our wine collection, because it is not very big. We don’t save our wines for the future; we bring them out and share with friends and family. In the same way that we enjoy our lives by actively traveling, even our wine is not for the distant future. Life itself is meant to be lived to the fullest every day.

We open each and every bottle of wine, even the more expensive ones, and enjoy them now. Tomorrow is another day. Today is a blessing, why not celebrate it?

Cheers to you my friend!

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Dear Travel Agents,

I love traveling the world and count every new country, that is what I live for.

Truth be told, I am not a beach person.

I was born in Brazil and everyone believes that as a Brazilian, I love dancing samba and laying on the beach. As a little girl, my skin went from freckles to blisters, making me hate going to the beach. Meanwhile, my mom basted me with suntan lotion, and asked me to go in the water and stay in the sun as much as we could for Vitamin D.

This December my husband and I decided to spend Christmas and New Year’s on a cruise to the Caribbean. It was the best decision we’ve made! We visited 7 islands and had so much fun; from hiking, to visiting the islands, to learning the history, seeing the sights and most important parts of the islands, visiting the waterfalls, and most importantly, meeting the friendly people of the Caribbean.

Tourism is their principal industry and unfortunately, some islands have been severely damaged by hurricanes.

I went also to some beautiful beaches, after slathering myself with tons of 110% sun block and making sure I was under an umbrella. I tried going to the water, it’s so clean, but the water was still on the cool side for me (or maybe, because of my bad traumas as a little girl, LOL!) I was happy with a pina colada and reading a book.

I met wonderful people in this cruise, apparently they’ve been coming to the Caribbean at the same time for years and know each other. There is a party every night, and awesome shows. We came back feeling so relaxed, feeling good for helping the industry, and for giving a little towards rebuilding some of the islands that need it.

We’ve signed up again for next year! Come meet us for Christmas and New Year’s on Celebrity Silhouette for an incredible tour to the Caribbean islands. You will love it!

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Dear Travel Agent,

It is the beginning of another year and people are already talking about stress and anxiety. They have New Year’s resolutions to lose weight, quit smoking or stop enjoying certain kinds of foods. They want to exercise more; but they are all creating more stress instead of relaxing and enjoying the promise of the new year.

Then, they hear about the hormone Cortisol, which is sometimes called the “stress hormone.” That’s because levels of cortisol in the body spike during times of high stress.

Did you know that being in AWE helps decrease this hormone?

It is true! Just admiring a beautiful sunset or sunrise, seeing one of the 7 Wonders of the World, listening to the ocean, feeling the breezes on a sunny beach, being in contact with animals during a safari, admiring a painting at The Louvre, watching the migration in Kenya or Tanzania, being splashed by some water from a waterfall and discovering amazing destinations around the world put us in AWE. This causes our cortisol levels to go down, our tensions relax and we feel better.

I am not a doctor, nor I am trying to give any medical advice. Call your doctor and ask about the “stress hormone” and confirm whether he/she recommends that you travel to an incredible destination and be in AWE to reduce your stress level. A good doctor will tell you to go. Then call your Travel Agent, give them your budget and tell him/her what makes you happy and smile, and a great trip will be planned for you!

Promise that this year, instead of rushing to fulfill a New Year’s resolution, you will be nice to yourself, and be a little selfish, and take care of yourself first.

To a trip of a lifetime in 2019, and to celebrating life this year!  You deserve it!  Cheers!

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Dear Travel Agents,

Happy New Year!

Welcome to 2019! How is your business doing? How will your business grow this year?

Allow me to give you some guidance. Some ideas on how to promote yourself to your clients, and prospective ones, just in case you aren’t doing that already.

In a world where everything is shopping and consulting online, even travelers think that they will find a better deal through online search engines, instead of spending time talking to a real person with the title of Travel Agent.

Well, let’s make a list of what a search engine or an online program CANNOT do for a client, or a prospective one:

• Search engines DO NOT CARE for anyone
• Search engines DO NOT HAVE empathy
• Search engines DO NOT RELATE to people’s feeling
• Search engines DO NOT UNDERSTAND how people think, dream, make a bucket list, or that they have expectations
• Search engines DO NOT VALUE a client, or potential one
• Search engines DO NOT PROTECT client’s interests once they are traveling
• Search engines DO NOT ANSWER questions about travel (only the ones already programmed!)
• Search engines DO NOT MAKE SURE clients or prospective ones have travel insurance, vaccines and visas
• Search engines DO NOT KNOW how to best work with budgets and desires
• Search engines DO NOT follow up

Working with a Travel Agent, a client gets everything that they can’t get from a search engine. They get a caring, expert, intelligent, understanding person who will turn their dreams into reality. One that considers fears, insecurities and budget.

A travel agent values the person as a client, a prospective client, as well as the future friends and family they will recommend.

They take care of the needs of the client before, during and after the trip.

Travel agents research the destination and make sure it is a safe place, provide information about Visas, travel insurance, vaccines and even shopping.

The value of the work of a Travel Agent, is something one CANNOT get online. Just as you cannot get a good doctor consultation online, have hair color or cut online, have a manicure or pedicure made online.

Now, if a person only values their trip as much as they do buying a non-refundable garment online; that is probably not a person a Travel Agent should care for.

Thoughts?

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Dear Travel Agents,

It is the end of 2018. Some people are glad because it was a hard year. Some are already nostalgic because it was a great year. Some just feel that time flies, and others can’t wait for an awesome and beautiful 2019.

I realize that after 56 years on this earth, I find that I experience those same feelings every year, and sometimes a mix of all of them inside myself.

I was staring at my Facebook profile picture and saw that it was taken last year in August during a trip to Alaska, and my hair was curlier and lighter. Today, one year and three months later, my hair is longer, darker and straighter. Yep!  So how do I like it best?  I don’t know – funny you should ask!  Last year I wanted longer and darker hair. This year, looking at my Facebook profile picture, I feel nostalgic. Go figure!

So how do we enjoy “The Present”?

Don’t dwell on the past by being nostalgic, nor expect that the future is holding a special miracle that will bring happiness just because it is a new year.

I know that for me, the secret is being kind to myself, respecting my own wishes, creating boundaries, but remembering that I come first, and I deserve the best. This is often easier said than done.

But, this doesn’t give me any right to put others down, nor mistreat someone or feel superior. But, in order to love others, I need to feel comfortable in my own skin. In order to trust people, I need to know myself better and give myself the credit I deserve. In order to respect others, I have to respect myself. In order to love, I need to love myself.

That is “The Present” –  to live in the now, and live life to the fullest because life is worth living. Don’t bother creating a New Year’s Resolution, live every day as gift and enjoy it to the fullest. Be your best, don’t worry so much, and you will find yourself smiling and happy!

Happy Holidays!

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Dear Travel Agents,

I often get asked how to build a successful business. Where should a company advertise? How about social media?

I started my business before social media and before websites. I am not a dinosaur! It was less than 30 years ago, and I had a very successful business. How?

First and foremost, I never (let me say almost never, to be on the safe side) did business with friends or family. I have always preferred to make my clients into my friends, rather than my friends into clients.

I believe in doing a good job, being yourself (no one can do it better than you!), and being totally present when speaking to a prospective client (no one is perfect at multitasking).

Once you can do these 3 things very well…

1. Be yourself
2. Be present
3. Do your best

…you will have a client for life. One who will refer you to friends and family (not yours, theirs!) and you can count on repeat business from them.

Continue this process, and then add a number 4 – follow up. With this, your business will grow and multiply.

It is a simple formula, to which you just add a little bit of patience, and lots of love. Like the beautiful flowers that you plant, your business will grow and multiply.

Now, let’s add to this the social media and websites that I didn’t have at the beginning of my career. If you misuse these, it can work against you! That is right.

Compare social media to fertilizer for the flowers you’ve planted. It should help, but we all know that the wrong type, or too much, will not be good.

I’ve said it before, and will repeat it again: Social media can be a big help to your business! But, think before you post something. Ask yourself before posting anything:

• Is this going to make people trust me more to book a trip?
• Am I sure of the opinion of my audience regarding this subject?
• Is this post going to make prospective clients inclined to think about, or dream of traveling?
• Is this helping my image as I want to promote myself?

If you answer yes to ALL, go ahead and post and know that this is the right approach to helping make your presence and your business grow and multiply.

For more tips, feel free to reach out and follow me at:
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Blogs @www.travelwithrosana.com

 

Dear Travel Agent,

Growing up is hard, but I can proudly say that I am getting wiser, not older and more tired. I’m smarter and I appreciate myself more.

Being more assertive and confident and knowing myself better, while at the same time being kind and passionate can be a little tricky. After all, at the end of each day, me, myself and I all have to get together and be happy with who I am. I need to look in the mirror every day and believe I am moving forward, forgive myself for mistakes, ask for forgiveness, and try to be the best I can be.

I probably watch too much Judge Judy, yes, I will confess to that, but with the help of my therapist I am truly learning to feel better inside my own skin and am working on the things I consider to be my flaws.

I have come up with a list of how I can best live within myself:

1. I don’t lend money – I am not a bank. If I need to help someone with an amount that doesn’t take away my sleep, I will give the money with no strings attached.
2. I don’t co-sign. My credit score is priceless, and I can’t afford to lose it, nor can I lose a friend or family member.
3. I don’t ask for favors. My friends and family know me well enough to offer when I am in need. I am blessed!
4. I don’t like to dispute controversial subjects; everyone has a right to their own opinion. Very few people really know my views and I like to keep it this way. I don’t judge, and I don’t want to be judged.
5. I avoid negative people, gossip, or unsolicited advice. I love people with sense of humor, who are kind and thoughtful.
6. I love collections. I collect countries, I have been to 78, and counting. I don’t collect friends. In that category, I believe in quality versus quantity.
7. I am working hard on being assertive. I’m feeling very proud of myself and thank God that I have plenty of people to practice with.

Now, I need to print this list and carry it with me or save it on my iPhone (to save paper). If someone approaches me and asks to borrow money, for example, I can use my number 7 and be assertive, or show them my list if it is one of my not-so-good days.

Truth be told, we are all just human beings trying to be the best we can be.

How about you?

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Dear Travel Agent,

Right after Thanksgiving and before the holidays, or any time of the year, particularly when we hear that a special friend has lost a dear one, we think about our own lives, about eternity, and how to live our best life. I believe that to live an easier life we need to live in a sort of denial. Denial of the things we have no control over, even though it is scary to have to suddenly face pain when we least expect it.

Do I have any secrets about how to best live our lives? Not really, but I would definitely prefer to live my life in The Nile.  Have you ever been to Egypt?

I have a beautiful picture on my iPhone of The Nile, and another of Machu Picchu (two of the places where we find examples of the 7 Wonders of the World.)  I can’t explain much about the 7 Wonders of the World, but instead of making me scared or sad, they make me feel mesmerized and happy.  My life, my choice!

I suggest saying a blessing for everything you have, for waking up every morning, and being grateful for every person who crosses your path. They are there for a reason. Even now, you are reading this for a reason! Learn to forgive, forget, and love everyone despite any differences.

Life can be so unexpected and short, so live in denial and in The Nile! Travel like there is no tomorrow and learn more from within!

Happy life!

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