Your travel agent business plan should have target customers, a plan on how to obtain reservations, a budget and how you will gain re-bookings.
Your host agency can affect all of these.
If you are an independent travel agent looking for a sustainable travel business, Dugan’s Travels should be your first choice. Not only do they allow you access to travel suppliers, but they also help you learn how to brand yourself, market and gain clients.
Here is what we will cover
- What to include in a travel agent business plan
- Quick look at host agencies
- Dugan’s Travels
- KHM Travel Group
- Outside Agents
- Travel Planners International
- Using your host agency to meet your goals
- Final recommendationÂ
What to Include in Your Travel Agent Business Plan
Your host agency may provide tools and support to run your business. You will still have to create your own sales plan.
According to the U.S. Small Business Administration’s business planning advice there are several items to include. As a hosted agent you will need to identify your customers, how you will sell to them and project your finances.
- Customers: Know who you want to sell to. Family cruise vacations, newlyweds, etc.
- How will you sell to them: Referrals, other companies, local business, online, etc.
- Process: Create your process for selling to a new client. Inquiry, consultation, presentation, follow up.
- Budget: Your host agency, marketing, software, learning and your net profit from commissions.
- Follow up: How will you contact clients after their trip and sell them again?
There are host agencies that will help you accomplish some of these tasks. But they will not sell travel or serve clients on your behalf.
Quick Look at Host Agencies
| Host agency | Will help you by | Focus | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dugan’s Travels | Teaching you how to grow your business | Helping you learn how to sell, gain access to suppliers and training | Cost to sign up and yearly renewal |
| KHM Travel Group | Providing you with courses and support | Online learning, coaching and support | Monthly or yearly membership |
| Outside Agents | Providing you with a lot of tools | Marketing, crm and a community of agents | Monthly membership |
| Travel Planners International | Helping you run your agency | Providing you with tools and access to suppliers | Different levels of monthly membership |
1. Dugan’s Travels: Good if you want to grow your agency
They provide many aspects of growing your travel business. From business development, education, suppliers and back office assistance.
What makes this great is they will teach you how to market yourself and gain clients.
If you’re looking to learn what to expect from a travel agent host agency. There are some pieces to help you build your business with Dugan’s.
- Business Development: How to market yourself, create a brand and get clients.
- Education: MyDuOnline, webinars, supplier training and face to face events like Dugan’s University.
- Suppliers: Cruise lines, tour companies and vacations to sell.
- Back Office: CRM and other assistance with clients and commissions.
- Network: Other advisors and companies to ask questions to.
Let’s say you wanted to start selling family cruises to your neighborhood. You may have an idea to create monthly email blasts and contact people every so often. Dugan’s can teach you how to market to your community, educate you on suppliers and help you keep track of your clients with their CRM.
You can also see what advisors have to say about Dugan’s on Host Agency Reviews. Many mention being able to reach out to others for support, learning and community.Â
Who should use Dugan’s? If you’re open to learning, building relationships and hitting your goals to make sales. They offer a lot of assistance when it comes to developing your business and helping you meet your goals.
2. KHM Travel Group – Education
KHM focuses on helping you learn more about the industry. Their website lists online courses, live events, coaching and they can be reached by phone, email and chat.
As a new agent you could add their supplier, systems and sales training to your business plan.
What they have to offer:
- Online courses to teach you about the travel industry.
- Coaching and a way to reach them with questions.
- Provide you with marketing, a CRM and a travel-advisor website.
Some of their live events may cost extra, keep that in mind when creating your budget.
Who should choose KHM Travel Group: If you want to learn more about selling travel and want to learn through an educational process.
3. Outside Agents – Many Tools to Use
Outside Agents have many tools available to their travel agents. They offer CRM, website, proposal, marketing and learning opportunities.
This may be for you if you expect to manage frequent inquiries, know different suppliers and send out emails often.
They have resources for capturing leads, social media and sending automatic messages to your clients. Coaching and a community of agents as well.
How to decide: With Outside Agents you will want to look at their packages and extras. Make sure you want to use the tools they have to offer before joining their host agency.
Who should choose Outside Agents: If you already know how you want to operate your business and want tools to help you.
4. Travel Planners International – More Options
Travel Planners International focuses on helping you own your agency. Its business-building education can help advisors develop their skills, provide you with marketing, access to suppliers and a community of agents.
They offer different levels of month to month membership for experienced advisors comparing host arrangements. You could use this if you know what you want to spend on a host agency and what you want them to provide for you.
If you already have a large client base you may not want to spend time learning how to sell. But still want to have access to suppliers and other tools to run your business.
One thing to keep in mind: Travel Planners International allows you to join at different levels. Make sure you know what you want them to provide for you before choosing a membership level.
Who should choose Travel Planners International: If you know what you want your host agency to do for you and want multiple options.
Using Your Host Agency to Reach Your Goals
Now that you know what your host agency can provide, set some goals for yourself.
Here are some ways to start your first 90 days as a travel agent.
- Who do you want to sell to? Identify one type of traveler and what you can solve for them.
- How will you reach them? Pick 2 ways you will reach out to potential clients.
- Follow up on your leads. Track how many leads you receive, consults, presentations, booked clients and returning clients.
- Know how much you will make. Look at your suppliers, host agency, expenses and how long it will take you to receive your commission. Don’t think of the amount booked as your net profit.
- Check on yourself monthly. What are you doing that is getting you conversations with potential clients? Change what is not working.
Here are some goals to look for when choosing a host agency. Make sure they can provide you with these tools, what you can learn, and what you will be paying for.Â
Final RecommendationÂ
Each host agency will help you in a different way. KHM will help you learn, Outside Agents provides many tools and Travel Planners International has more levels to choose from.
If you want to start your travel agent business plan with selling, Dugan’s Travels is your best option. Dugan’s Travels provides selling guidance, supplier education, business tools and an advisor community to support continued growth.Â
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