Your travel business, just like any living thing, has its ups and downs throughout the day. It’s impossible in my opinion to be highly productive all the time. (Though I am sure you try to be) When it comes to success, I firmly believe that to achieve success, accountability is vital. Of course, there are some people that hold themselves accountable, however surrounding yourself with others that are all working towards their goals too, can shed additional light on what changes are needed in orde...
Oct 14, 2022•23 min•Ep. 68
Being a travel business owner is both exciting and challenging. Some days you feel full of energy, while other days it feels like the effort is draining you. Thus, traveling is a great way to take a break from your business and recharge your mind. I’ll admit I am a little bit obsessed with business and especially my travel business. Because I LOVE IT! However taking a break every now and then, even just removing myself from my ‘office’ can really change my headspace. In this episode, I shared wh...
Oct 06, 2022•30 min•Ep. 67
In this new era of the COVID-19 pandemic, how do you navigate this new era? Everybody is busy, so how can you get your clients engaged? Over the last couple of years in particular, Travel Business owners have increasingly turned to online marketing tools to help them engage with their clients. Looking for a way to connect with their clients. Webinars have been around for years for suppliers, however in this discussion with Charlie, we talk about the importance of them, their relevance moving for...
Aug 28, 2022•41 min•Ep. 66
I'm a pretty relaxed kinda person. I don't normally get worked up over things and I NEVER explode or react in a way that would normally be considered an outburst. Let's just say I am cool under pressure (it's actually where I work best.) However, over the last few weeks I have had a few conversations with people where I knew there was undertones, yet at the time I didn't react. I have now been thinking further about it and its really bothering me. SO - I have decided I need to speak up about it,...
Jun 16, 2022•32 min•Ep. 65
As a travel business owner/advisor/experience creator, our goal is always to create seamless and memorable travel experiences for our clients. However, what happens when we have a lead who seems like an unlikely prospect? Should we reject them? Or see the opportunity in every business interaction? Our guest, Maree Kirkpatrick is a sales trainer and business strategist with over 15 years of experience negotiating millions of dollars in sales for numerous industries. She and I have been working to...
Jun 01, 2022•44 min•Ep. 64
“Mindset” - A word more recently thrown around - quite a lot. I’m not sure how it sits with me yet. Yes - we have control over our thoughts, though if we are to work on our mind and the thoughts we have, I also think that someone who specialises in this area should be consulted as it is a very powerful topic. I take this topic very seriously as mental health is something that is not a foreign topic in my family. When I want help in a particular area, I see a specialist. My Nanna always use to sa...
Mar 03, 2022•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 63
At the centre of a travel business is the service provided to clients. Nurturing relationships, building trust. One of the things I love about Travel Businesses is that the personal connections we have can create opportunities for others to fulfill their travel dreams. Helping people. Our guest for this episode is one of the Hospitality Industries most sought after speakers and trainers. She educates, advises and evaluates venues, management staff and ground floor operators to champion the Custo...
Feb 17, 2022•59 min•Ep. 62
Which is you in your travel business at the moment? We've just received the best news this week here in Australia and I couldn't help but feel so excited and happy! Finally, after two years, we are reopening our shores to international visitors again! Whoo-hoo! A part of this brings a lot of joy but there's also a part of me that has a bit of anxiety rising. With the world opening up, there's still a big shift in our clients and how they're feeling. Yes, we are all happy but there is also this l...
Feb 10, 2022•41 min•Ep. 61
Going out on your own as a travel business owner, just before the world shut down, was not something that could be predicted. Belle Goldie had worked in the industry for over 20years and had decided towards the end of 2019 that she wanted to make a change. To go out as a work from home Travel Agent. And what a change that was. From the hustle of an office to the quiet of a home environment. As COVID-19 hit Australian shores and the borders closed, Belle worked around the clock like all travel ad...
Jan 26, 2022•32 min•Ep. 60
In the past two years, we all have been on hundreds of Zoom meetings and possibly other types of online conferences/training or networking events. Let's be honest, somehow, we have all grown accustomed to this situation but it’s also been exhausting. In fact, when face to face connection became impossible as the world closed and we all began working and staying at home, an opportunity to move online with networking and connection for Travel Advisors was how our guest in this episode continued to...
Jan 19, 2022•44 min•Ep. 59
A New year is always a great place to start with thinking fresh, getting yourself organised, cleaning your office, tidying up old emails, and a FRESH start. I absolutely think we all need that this year. 2021 was just another crazy year we all had to experience. If you felt like the end of last year was another kick in the guts, I understand. If you are questioning yourself and your business right now, I understand. You are not alone. Myself and my team have also faced many struggles both in bus...
Jan 07, 2022•41 min•Ep. 58
In our (almost last) episode of 2021, I wanted to invite a friend, someone I admire and respect immensely and am also a HUGE fan of as a guest on the Travel Agent Achievers podcast. James Castrission is not only a father and CEO of My Adventure group, but he was also the first person to Kayak across the Tasman Sea from Australia to New Zealand and then to also trek across Antarctica. (His stories and experience is incredible) From his work as a senior management consultant at Deloitte and experi...
Dec 27, 2021•39 min•Ep. 57
Many travel professionals (mainly within Australia) that I know have been trained or have seen Meg Salter speaking at a travel industry event over the past 20 years or so. She has true passion for the industry and a HUGE heart wanting to help people achieve their dreams and goals. When COVID hit and almost all of us were in a state of shock, grief and depression, Meg stood up and shone brightly for everyone. She knew what we needed at that time - SUPPORT and ACCOUNTABILITY. Hence she joined forc...
Nov 12, 2021•55 min•Ep. 56
Sometimes, when things are hard, a question that arises, is WHY…. Why have I chosen to do something. In this instance, a question I am hearing often right now is: “Why am I still here in travel?” “Why do I still remain on the roller coater of emotions as a pandemic surrounds me?” If you have asked yourself this or many other “Why” questions, you are not alone. Sometimes I too ask myself this when having a tough day. I answer myself with my love and passion for the industry, travel and adventures...
Nov 01, 2021•35 min•Ep. 55
If you've listened to our previous episode, I talked about the recent news we've been hearing all over the world about the world slowly opening up. I invited a special guest onto this episode as I wanted to dig a little deeper into the topic with an incredible woman who champions other women on their business journey. Michelle Broadbent. We both want you to be ready for what is on it’s way with regards to bookings and to get prepared as things start to unfold for now and the future! Helping you ...
Oct 19, 2021•57 min•Ep. 54
Recently, there has been lots of positive information and news about the world starting to open up. A lot of discussion around what we can and can’t do, how we will navigate the travel experience and seeing things from both sides of the industry - suppliers/operators/wholesalers and travel agents/advisors and professionals. Things are happening. The question is at the moment, ARE YOU READY? How are you feeling about this? Discussions are still about and the roller coaster of emotions. Should we ...
Oct 15, 2021•34 min•Ep. 53
As we all know, the entire Travel and Tourism industry is among those harmed the most by the COVID-19 pandemic. In previous episodes, we have highlighted voices of amazing travel professionals who in spite of COVID-19 have continued to move forward and achieve results for their travel business that they may not have had time, insight or the determination to chase before. There's so much that we can do with the gift of time that we have right now. And I know our guest for today will agree to this...
Sep 20, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 52
Do you realise or understand the level of service, the expertise or guidance you provide to your clients? I know it, you ARE the expert. So why is it that sometimes we question everything we do. We feel guilty when we can’t control a situation. Do you feel the pain physically or emotionally when a client gets upset? Sometimes we don’t or our clients don’t actually understand the amount of time, the expertise we have to guide them through a booking experience. I know for a fact that you AREN’T a ...
Aug 06, 2021•36 min•Ep. 51
Do you take the time to acknowledge your progress in your business? You get a new client - Whoo Hoo! 🎊 You double your commission from previous months - YAY! 🎉 You reconnected with customers, by sending a newsletter, email, personal note - Great job! 🥂 As travel business owners, or even small business owners, we often have our to do list and then just tick off the task as it is completed. No More! I am going to challenge you to think about all the things you have accomplished and celebrate th...
Jun 21, 2021•33 min•Ep. 50
Overwhelm is real! When we don’t have direction, a plan or strategies in place, we can be led astray and feel like we have to do ‘all the things.’ Whilst coaching and mentoring Travel Professionals and other business industry professionals, I have seen over and over again, how we can be learning and listening, see or hear of a NEW thing we ‘should’ be doing and then jumping onto it. It can be exciting to work like this, but it isn’t sustainable in my experience. On the other hand, I have worked ...
Jun 05, 2021•45 min•Ep. 49
“I need more time” is a common remark I hear often from business owners and occasionally myself internally too. :-) Unfortunately time is one thing that we all have exactly the same amount of. I can’t give you more of it, but I can share some of the tools and resources we use in our travel business to help reduce stress and wasting precious seconds, minutes and hours in our work day. As you start booking and engaging with clients, working smarter not harder is crucial. This episode is just the s...
Apr 30, 2021•31 min•Ep. 48
Have you ever put together a ‘Budget’ for your travel business? Or been told - you NEED to have a budget so you know what you can spend? Well, when I think about budgeting, it scares me to bits. Why would I want to be restricted and whenever I have put together a personal budget, I’ve been depressed. What do you mean I can’t go out to dinner more than once per month! Haha However when you own a business, money is important. You need it to survive. And one of the easiest ways I have found that WO...
Apr 23, 2021•31 min•Ep. 47
There are times in life when at the time we may not feel as though we are making progress, however when we look back at actually assess where we are at, many things may have shifted and progressed. This episodes guest is SMART! Not only taking a risk and launching her travel business shortly before COVID hit the shores of Australia. Kristy, did not back down or give up. Instead, she started working on her business. Putting systems in place, finding her niche to ensure that she and her travel bus...
Mar 25, 2021•37 min•Ep. 46
Do Sales or implementing a Sales System scare you? With all that has happened in the world relating to travel businesses, it's no wonder that when it comes to promoting and booking clients caution naturally comes into play. As we kick off this episode, I let down my own guard and talk about my own fear of sales. How Imposter Syndrome can easily creep in and its process to ensure that we work through the challenge to rise above it. Sales is for the consumer. Sure, you have something to promote. H...
Mar 19, 2021•42 min•Ep. 45
Ever wondered HOW people find you when you put content on your website? Do you feel like sometimes you write a blog for your website and it goes into an ‘abyss’? How do you even know if people are looking at your stuff? Is it of interest? Well, we know we have to be in more than one place for people to find us, which is why I wanted a special expert to come onto the Travel Agent Achievers Podcast and teach us more today! This fun and informative episode is done in conjunction with a specialist i...
Mar 12, 2021•46 min•Ep. 44
Existing clients are the lifeblood of your travel business. They are the ones whom have been there prior to the current situation and hopefully they will be the ones there when they decide to travel again. If we don’t have clients, we don’t have a business. When was the last time you connected with your existing clients? When did you show up for them and show them that you're still here? Even if all your existing business currently looks like a pile of credit vouchers and deferred travel plans r...
Feb 12, 2021•35 min•Ep. 43
As a travel business owner, just booking travel has its complexities. Then add in that you are also a Social Media specialist, content creator, Financial Controller, Administration Assistant and the list goes on. This year our goal for you and us as a collective, is to have efficiency, be prepared and take action in our business. Efficiency being key. Ensuring we do the things we need to to continue to move forward without getting continuously bogged down or attracted to bright shiny objects. In...
Jan 22, 2021•26 min•Ep. 42
Have you ever tried googling yourself? What did you find? Is there anything travel-related there? Will people instantly know that you are a travel business owner by just looking at the search results? If not, then why not work to make yourself known this year, by positioning yourself as the expert. In this episode, I talk about content creation. And why I believe it is one of the best forms of marketing for your travel business. Content is anything that answers your clients' questions. Including...
Jan 15, 2021•24 min•Ep. 41
It's time. Time to Learn from the past and move forward. Really you ask? Well, In my opinion, we don't have any other choice. As business owners, no one ever said the road would be easy and we do what we love for a reason. Owning a travel business has its current challenges, though this is also an exciting time as we move into a new year. In this episode, I reflect on the year we had - but not in terms of the loss of business, more the lessons learnt. Looking at how we came through and what I be...
Jan 08, 2021•41 min•Ep. 40
You know that spring in your step you may get after a coffee in the morning? Or the drive to power through your to do list or action list each day? Do you still have that? Or is it lacking at the moment and you are wondering what is going on….. I was recently talking with my Mum (a chaplain and counsellor) about the loss and feelings that I was having and I was hearing within the travel agent Achiever community. She identified it as grief. Grief and loss of a business we have grown. The stages o...
Nov 04, 2020•31 min•Ep. 39
