Intro
Launching your own travel agency is an idea that appeals to many folks who have a passion for travel, and want to make a decent living from it. The travel sector remains one of the fastest developing sectors, and thanks to the advent of the internet and a shift to remote work it has never been easier to start your own agency.
The good news is that you don’t have to be a travel expert, or even have to have to spend big bucks right from the get-go. All you need is the right plan, and the willingness to invest some time to do it well.
Here you go, the key steps you need to take in order to start your own travel agency:
- Know the business of travel
First, you need to know what kind of business model travel agencies operate by:
Travel agents are generally paid through:
- Hotel & airline commissions
- Traveler service fees
- Tour packages
- Partnerships
In case you are unsure, there are different ways an agency can operate:
- Online travel agencies
- Home based agencies
- Niche companies (for example, luxury, adventure or family vacations, etc.)
First things first you need to settle on the agency type.
- Specialize
One of the first things aspiring travel agents often do wrong is trying to be the “Jack of all trades” and trying to provide everything to everybody.
Instead, specialize.
- Luxury travel
- Budget travel
- Adventure travel
- Honeymoons
- Business trips
It’s essential you specialize as it is a surefire way to stand out, bring in the right clients, and help you build your knowledge base.
- Get your ducks in a row
You need more than the love of travel to be a travel agent:
- Sales and people skills
- Customer service
- Organization
- The ability to handle difficult situations
- The ability to sell
You need to learn these things, through online classes and practice, and by applying what you learned to real situations.
- Set up your business plan
Having a business plan will keep you on track, and make sure you don’t get distracted along the way.
A good business plan will give you the direction you need and show you the way:
- Niche & target market
- Your services
- Your pricing
- Marketing
- Your short and long-term goals
And while a plan does need to be simple, make sure it doesn’t get overly complicated. The point is to have one, even if it’s just a sketch.
- Build your online footprint
The fact is, most travel companies are now online.
This means you’ll need:
- Website (like a TourMastery kind of platform)
- Social media profiles
- Services that you offer described in detail
- Contact method
Your online footprint is basically the place where most of your customers will find you.
- Develop your connections
Once you start to run an agency you need to have people you can trust to provide you with travel related services. These might include:
- Hotel connections
- Tour operators
- Transport
- Hotel bookings
Your contacts will enable you to give your clients better service, and you’ll be able to offer them more cost effective options.
- Start your search for your first few customers
Right off the bat, you’ll want to make a few customers:
- Use friends and family as initial clients
- Utilize social media as the medium for your promotion
- Give them useful and helpful information
- Ask them for testimonials and feedback
These will be your first clients, and the most important to you. It’s these customers that will help you get your footing and build the reputation you need to go forward.
- Be focused on customer satisfaction
When running a travel business, your image is your entire reason for existence.
The best way to win a customer:
- Keep them informed, and be helpful
- Pay attention to details
- Handle customer issues with speed and care
- Make every trip memorable
If you do these things then you are guaranteed to bring them back for more, plus you’ll hear about you from their friends and family.
- Make use of modern tech
Today’s travel agency needs to be tech savvy:
Make use of:
- Booking engines
- Customer relationship management programs
- Payments
- Communications
You’ll save time and effort by making use of the right tools.
- Expand as you grow
As you get the hang of it you can start to grow your business:
- Add services
- Hire additional staff
- Start to deal with international clients
- Create your own tour packages
Growth is a long process, but with the right approach it will happen.
Don’t do these things
- Try to do it all on your own
- Ignore marketing
- No niche
- Pricing too low
- Quitting before it takes off
You will save yourself time and work by avoiding these pitfalls.
Final word
Creating your own travel agency from nothing is a very achievable thing. With enthusiasm, some know how, and hard work, you will end up creating a business which not only lets you work in your preferred industry but will allow you to create amazing trips for others.
The process is simple, start small, continue to learn, and keep going.
Your path as a travel entrepreneur starts right now.
