Cutting Costs During Coronavirus: Top Travel Agent Discounts [Updated 5/11]

The travel industry has become immobilized by the coronavirus pandemic. While it’s the understatement of the century to say that travel agents are hurting, it’s true—travel agents are hurting. Big time.

But if you've found that you have some extra time on your hands you're in luck: the travel industry and industry friends are offering resources that will support travel agents to continue their professional and educational development, despite being strapped for cash.

This article includes a list of time-sensitive discounts for travel agent education and marketing resources that will help you weather the COVID-19 storm and come out stronger on the other side.

Since we're frequently updating, sections with new offers will be indicated with a ⭐️.

⭐️ Shortcuts to Discounted Resources: ⭐️

1. Travel Agent Education Discounts
2. Marketing Education
3. Travel Agent Tools and Tech Discounts
4. Marketing & Software Discounts
5. Advertising Discounts
6. Small Business Grants
7. Further Resources

Travel Agent Education Discounts

Strange as it may sound, the pandemic may be the perfect time to take your travel agent education to the next level. So whether your business is just getting ready to go wheel’s up, or you're a Top Gun graduate, we have resources that will help propel your professional development to the next level while the travel industry is at a standstill.

Below is a list of free or discounted courses and programs (but act soon, because the offers are temporary):

ASTA (American Society of Travel ADvisors):

ASTA's new VTA (Verified Travel Advisor) is typically $399, but discounted 50% through May. (The program also includes membership for one year.)

1. Discount: 50% off their VTA education program with code, VTA50
2. Expiration: May 31st, 2020

If you already have your VTA and it's time to recertify, you can still snag a deal on that, too. Save 40% on your VTA certification through May 2020.

1. Discount: 40% off VTA recertification
2. Expiration: May 31st, 2020

Entre Travel:

Entre travel is a 3rd-party educational program for travel agents. Right now they're offering deeply discounted education programs:

1. Discount: Free/ discounted Training including:
2. Entre's Online Training Program: $249 (usually $2,500)
3. Business Planning Module: Free
4. Expiration: May 31st, 2020

The Travel Institute:

While The Travel Institute often provides free webinars, they are currently offering some some of their training courses at no cost.

1. Discount: Free Courses including:
2. Business Writing Skills
3. Business Planning Course
4. Expiration: May 15th, 2020

Marketing Education Discounts

Other marketing programs are offering discounts. Though they're not travel-industry specific, we focused on marketing resources we know travel professionals use (or think they may benefit from using):

Ahrefs Academy:

Ahref’s blogging for business course is typically $799, but is free for now.

1. Discount: Free (usually $799)
2. Expiration: Unknown (but act fast because Tim Suolo, Ahref CMO, tweeted the offer would last, “Maybe a week, maybe a month” on March 18th. (As of May 5th, it was still available)

Google Analytics Academy:

If you ever wanted to tinker around with your site's analytics, now is good as time as any (however, don't feel bad if stats are in rough shape during quarantine . . . they'll perk up!)

1. Discount: Free
2. Expiration: Unknown

Moz Academy:

Moz offers training courses on SEO, site audits, keyword research and more. If you're building your travel agent blog during the quarantine down time, you should take a look:

1. Discount: Free (with code "wegotthis")
2. Expiration: Date: May 31st.

Travel Agent Tools & Tech Discounts

GOOGLE MEET for VIDEO MEETINGS:

If you're using Zoom for your video conferencing, you can't beat their free plan. But, if you're finding the 40-minute limit on group meetings problematic, try Google Meet (part of Google Workspace). They just announced that until September 30th, 2020, their basic plan—$4.80/mo with HAR's exclusive coupon code, email us or drop a note in the comments to get one—has enhanced features. It now allows for up to 250 participants per call, live streaming for up to 100,000 viewers within a domain, and the ability to record meetings and save them to Google Drive.

1. Discount: Free
2. Expiration: September 30th, 2020

SION COMMISSION TRACKING & MANAGEMENT:

Now this is the deal of all deals. Haven't heard of SION? That's because the poor fellas are just exiting their beta, ready to launch, scale and monetize... and then came Corona. Not the type to let a global pandemic dissuade them from announcing their software to the industry at large, this generous team is offering their commission tracking software for FREE to agents. Yup, for free.

1. Discount: Free
2. Expiration: Unknown, but plan for it to be the foreseeable future

Travefy Marketing profile:

Travefy is perhaps best-known for their itinerary tools, but are currently offering free access to their lead generation tool for members and non-members alike:

1. Discount: Free (Usually $108 per agent, per year -- equivalent to 2 free months)
2. Expiration: Unknown

Travel Joy ⭐️(New!)

Hot off the press! Travel Joy (which offers CRM, invoicing, and payment processing) is offering a 20% discount on its product during May! While it's not directly COVID-related, it will still save you a good amount of cash.

1. Discount: Use code "PULLINGTOGETHER" to receive a 20% on travel Joys annual plan (typically $300, it's $240 with the discount)
2. Expiration: May 30th

ZooM Video Conferencing:

Zoom is fabulous with it's easy-to-use interface and their free plan. The most limiting feature on their free plan is most likely that group meetings (more than two attendees) are limited to 40 minutes. If you need to upgrade to their Pro plan (normally $149.90/yr), they're offering 20% off annual Pro plans with promo code ZOOMCARES, saving you $30/yr. Sorry, the promo code does not apply to monthly Pro plans.

1. Discount: 20% off annual Pro Plans with promo code ZOOMCARES
2. Expiration: Unknown

Marketing Tools & Software Discounts

Coschedule:

This social media scheduling software is a business hardship application for those facing financial hardship due to coronavirus.

1. Discount: The exact discount is undisclosed (varies by business)
2. Expiration: Not indicated

Hootsuite Pro:

Hoosuite, a social scheduling program, is offering its professional version free during COVID. So if you want to stay connected to clients over social while you're home-bound, this might be just the trick.

1. Discount: Free
2. Expiration: July 1st, 2020

Tailwind:

Tailwind, a social media scheduling program for Pinterest and Instagram, is offering $45 credits until the funds run out.

1. Discount: $45 grants (good for 3 months of scheduling on Instagram or Pinterest or 45 days on both platforms)
2. Expiration: Grants are available until the money runs out and must be activated by May 15th

TechSmith

Techsmith is offering access to Snagit, a screen capture and recording tool, through June.

1. Discount: Free
2. Expiration: June 31st, 2020

Webex

Webex, a web-conferencing program is currently offering free services:

1. Discount: Free (timeframe not indicated)
2. Expiration: Not indicated

zapier:

Zapier is a web integration program offering free upgrades to its starter programs for current customers who qualify. (For new users who are interested, they have a free tier on their pricing plan)

1. Discount: Free 3-month Starter Plan (typically $19.99/mo)
2. Expiration: Not indicated

Pulno SEO Audit

Pulno is offering their audit tool for free during the pandemic. All you need to do is ask for a free upgrade

1. Discount: Free (price range is 0-$60 per month)
2. Expiration: Available during pandemic

Advertising

Google Ad Words:

Google is offering ad credits to SMB (small and medium sized businesses) who are existing customers. This is best for businesses that are already frequently use Google Ads (they have a lot of eligibility qualifications so make sure you give it a close read).

1. Discount: One free ad credit
2. Expiration: Credit must be used by Dec. 31st, 2020

Small Business Grants

HAR put together a comprehensive list of the small business grants available to help your agency through these trying time. We go beyond the Payroll Protection Program (PPP) and break things down to city and state level, as well as list hundreds of private sector grants for small businesses. It's seriously good stuff.

Further Resources

HAR has a ton more COVID-related (or relevant tangential) resources. Here's a list:

1. HAR's master list of COVID-19 Resources: HAR's compiling resources from our travel industry friends. Check out the link to see what's available.
2. Free Travel Agency Waivers: Are you offering travel insurance to your clients? Is your agency protected with waivers? Check this resource to develop waivers for your agency.
3. Free Travel Agent Forms: HAR's free travel agent forms will help you streamline communications with your clients.
4. A Travel Agency Crisis Management Plan: It's not too late to start one. HAR walks you through creating a travel agency crisis management plan, with tips on how to scale it for your business.
5. How to Protect Your Travel Agency During Turbulent Times: During turbulent times, it's even more important to take caution in how you communicate with clients. The article includes a few legal tips on how to handle your clients communications to keep your clients and your livelihood safe.
6. Build a Travel Agency Website in 7 Minutes:Dreaming of a blog and finally have time? Or maybe you're just aching for an updated website. We'll walk you through step-by-step how to create a beautiful, new website. With video and an easy-to-follow tutorial, you can't go wrong.

You've Got This.

We hope this helps! Our goal is to help you affordably continue to build and streamline your business so you're ready to hit the ground running when the industry opens up.

Do you know of any supports that might help other agencies? Want to ask us about specific resources? Connect with us by leaving a comment or emailing us at Hello@HostAgencyReviews.com