Top 5 Takeaways from KHM Travel Group’s Agent Boot Camps
The warm weather and sunny skies are here and that means school is out for the summer. While the kids are putting away their notebooks, travel agents are diving right into summer vacation season. After several busy months of booking, now is the time when clients are taking their long-awaited getaways. And that (hopefully) means you’re beginning to see your commissions take off in the right direction.
While KHM Travel Group Agents are celebrating a record period for commission payouts, they’re also brushing up on their knowledge at our in-person events. In May, we hosted two in-person events – Boot Camp 1.0 for those new to the business and Boot Camp 2.0 for experienced agents looking to grow their agency even more.
Here are 5 lessons our agents learned during that busy month of hands-on education.
Compliance is Key
After brief introductions, we started Boot Camp with a presentation on travel agent responsibilities. It may sound like a deep topic to cover over morning coffee, but it’s so important that it was worthy of that spot on the schedule. Our Compliance and Resolution Team emphasized the essentials–always paying to gross, the importance of documentation, and what to do if you make an error on a booking.
Compliance is Key
After brief introductions, we started Boot Camp with a presentation on travel agent responsibilities. It may sound like a deep topic to cover over morning coffee, but it’s so important that it was worthy of that spot on the schedule. Our Compliance and Resolution Team emphasized the essentials–always paying to gross, the importance of documentation, and what to do if you make an error on a booking.
Goals Matter
To reach every great destination, you need a plan for how you’re going to get there. Whether you’re in week one of your business or a million-dollar producer, setting goals is necessary. We went in-depth on the concept of SMART goals and shared examples to aim for.
An Organized Business = Happy Business Owner
When was the last time you reviewed your qualifying forms? Is your social media calendar mapped out for the month? Are you using a Client Relationship Manager (CRM) to keep track of clients and bookings? Those are just a few of the questions to consider when trying to work efficiently. Taking a few steps to organize yourself and set reminders can do wonders for reducing stress.
Suppliers are Here for You More Than Ever
Each Boot Camp event we host includes supplier presentations and a trade show. While each supplier had their own latest news to share, the common thread from all was that travel agents are the driving force behind the travel rebound. Client offers, bonus commission opportunities, and agent incentives are plentiful. A good host agency will be able to connect you to them.
Sometimes You Just Have to Do It
Nike’s world-famous phrase is more than just a catchy tagline. It’s a mantra that is still echoing in our Boot Camp attendees’ heads. Whether it’s making that first post on your agency’s Facebook page or finally joining a local networking group, taking the first step is often the most difficult…but also the most rewarding.
You can check out photos from our May events on KHM Travel Group’s Flickr. We hope to see you at a future event, where you can experience your own moments of travel agent inspiration!
ABOUT KHM TRAVEL GROUP
KHM Travel Group is an award-winning host travel agency, currently supporting independent travel advisors across the United States. With an innovative education and support program, the KHM Travel Group team works to empower, educate, support, and promote independent travel agents in their journeys to build successful businesses. KHM Travel Group is driven by a passion for sharing knowledge and helping others experience the world. Sign up to receive the Travel Advisor Today newsletter at https://khm.io/newsletter.