www.giftedtravelnetwork.com
704-585-7732
Email Host Agency
197 Medical Park Rd. Suite 202 Mooresville, NC 28117 A passion project in retirement that turned into a thriving business: Two reasons why and the how:
First, a little background: After twenty years of trading risk arbitrage and equity derivatives in downtown manhattan, the time had come for chapter two, or no chapter at all; the latter option was not appealing. My dad said, "what about being a travel advisor? You love to travel, have a great client list and have been to +60 countries. We use an advisor and it makes all the difference in the world?" I love the idea, but where do you begin?
With Wall Street clientele, the appeal of Virtuoso as the luxury leader in travel helped me narrow my search for a host agency on this very site. The other requirement was a real education; only GTN had both. The year-long program was vital to my success. One could launch without the education on the back of my extensive travel and business experience, but aren't your odds of success drastically higher if you are a true expert? Doesn't that take immersion and mentorship? Would I have done more damage to my budding travel reputation with the finance clients I hoped to convert to travel clients had I not? Would I get more than one chance from those clients?
Fast forward to December 2021, I am in GTN's top producers club (top 30) in my first full year of business! I am invited to the Virtuoso ultraluxe community, attended Belmond's signature Bellini event for 10 USA advisors in Sicily and was on a top producer retreat with GTN. Without education, it would not have unfolded this way and certainly not this quickly.
The second reason is: In real estate, the most valuable metric is location, location, location, but at a host agency, it is culture, culture, culture. The collaboration and support amongst advisors in our community is the silver bullet and goes hand in hand with the educational foundation of GTN. Imagine how much the collective mindshare benefits our clients. I was not expecting instant responses to questions or requests for advice yet opening up the browser to 7 responses in thirty minutes is common. It's another level of vetting and advocacy, but it only happens if the culture is there. We are not competing like local real estate agents who might compete for a listing in town. Our clients are worldwide, an enviable difference, and it means we are not competing so let's help each other win. We share tips, insights and experiences on our internal system in discussion groups that pale in comparison to snarky online forums. We travel together, 14 GTN advisors and I are just back from 12 days in Tanzania, and as a result, we grow together. It's made all the difference in professional growth inspired by culture and education. What more can you ask for?
I am sure that I have choose the right host agency that will help me get to where I would like to be and that is to have a learn more on how to own my own travel agent
Looking to change careers and find a way to turn my passion for travel into a thriving business, I happened upon an advertisement for a free webinar about how to monetize my passion for travel hosted by Gifted Travel Network. I signed up for the webinar and the rest, as they say, is history.
Even though my only travel industry experience came from traveling, I was immediately taken by the comfortable interaction between Meredith (Hill) and Vanessa (McGovern), their sincerity about GTN’s mission, and passion for helping travel entrepreneurs succeed.
After considerable research, I joined GTN’s Travel MBA program, and I’m pleased with my decision. GTN (and the Travel MBA program) provides an abundance of educational opportunities, guidance, and support. As someone new to the industry, the special focus on how to build a business (not just sell travel) was extremely valuable.
The focus on entrepreneurship (mindset, marketing, financial planning, use of social media, and technology, etc.), combined with industry expertise, stellar backend support, and a blueprint for success, has catapulted me from knowing zero about the industry into a proud travel entrepreneur.
By far, the greatest benefit I’ve received from GTN is connection to the GTN community. In every interaction, whether in person or online, I truly feel supported and encouraged to keep pushing forward towards my goals. Ask a question on the member forum and more experienced agents will quickly, and freely give advice, suggestions, and guidance, while other newbies brainstorm ideas and provide support and encouragement. It’s an amazing way to work.
If want to work with a host agency that fuels your passion and supports your entrepreneurial spirit (by teaching you to fish, rather than giving you a fish), take a look at GTN. You won’t regret it.
We were fairly new to the travel industry and were looking for a comprehensive program to help us navigate our way and grow. Gifted Travel Network was recommended to us by several other travel professionals.
We joined Gifted Travel Network in January 2016 and enrolled in the Travel MBA program. The content of the program was exactly what we needed to take us through the nuts and bolts of firstly, the travel industry and secondly, owning and operating our own company.
Since joining we have been extremely happy with the level of education, support, and training available. The GTN community is a “tribe” and like family to us.
The commitment of Meredith, Jen and Vanessa, the team in the office and a dedicated Travel MBA mentor is second to none! We both came from the corporate workplace and have never experienced the level of genuine interest in OUR business. The knowledge base, supplier support, back office and administration all work together to offer seamless resources.
We are giving GTN 5 stars for the total package they provide, and the family they have created. The new relationships we encounter regularly through this program are invaluable.
Our business is growing and we are confident in our network.
When I first crossed over from working for a tour operator to having my own business selling directly to consumers, I used this site a TON and ended up choosing a different host (GTN didn't exist yet I don't think). While I was initially happy with that host, it just wasn't giving me what I felt I needed, especially as a new agent. I was a faceless number that gave them money each week, and if I didn't sell their preferred suppliers I was penalized. Then I found GIFTE and found everything I didn't have, so eventually it just made sense to switch over to being hosted by GTN. I am SO happy I have. They have amazing, ridiculously great support - they actually care about me and my business and where I want to take it (which is not in a mass-market direction). The supplier relationships (& commission levels) are really impressive, especially given how new they are. My fellow agents are so positive and supportive, and I just love getting to know them all on the private Facebook forum (many are now truly my friends). It's just a great group of people to be "around", especially when you work from home (which can be isolating). I heartily recommend being hosted with GTN!!
Gifted Travel Network is more then just a host. They are family ready to help anyway they can. You are in amazing hands with this wonderful host.
What I find unique about Gifted Travel Network is that they have truly created a tribe that is willing to grow together and help each other out through the process.
The wonderful perk is that the members range in experience from 40 years to brand new so there is a wealth of knowledge and ideas in the private Facebook forum that is being tossed around on a daily basis.
When you join the community and sign up for the MBA class, you have the opportunity to have monthly mentoring calls with a mentor who is very knowledgable, friendly and helpful and you will also have the opportunity to zero in on your niche with the help of Meredith Hill (if you are still struggling to decide what to specialize in).
The team is visible, innovative, resourceful, helpful and very much up to speed with the current digital age. Vanessa is always on top of her game with offering live Facebook classes and discussing various products and strategies for agents to grow their business. The emphasis is not only on the products but on the mindset. Although I'm fairly new, I think I will definitely grow personally and professionally with this group.
“Everything changes, nothing remains the same!” I have been associated with the same travel company for the past 40 years, however; I am now working in an entirely different industry.
Travel agents (order takers) are fast becoming a thing of the past. They are being replaced by professional travel consultants. Specialist that offer personal care and amazing value to their clients. We had to learn how to market ourselves, our value, our knowledge; instead of our product. Were it not for the founders of GTN I am not sure my company would still be around.
If you want a rewarding career as a travel consultant, if you have a passion to help others experience as many rewards as possible from their travels; you need to learn this new travel business from a forward thinking company like GTN. Actually, don’t waist another day looking around; I don’t think you will find another host that offers all that GTN offers, plus a 100% commission option. Come on, join the tribe!
Since joining Gifted Travel Network I have grown in many ways both professionally and personally. The mentoring, training calls, recorded call logs and daily positive motivation and feedback have been just the thing I needed to spread my wings and grow my travel business.
The management is visible and readily available to assist with any questions or issues that may come up working as an IC. Commissions are on time, communicated and direct deposit. It doesn't get any easier than that. We have access to a variety of wonderful vendors at all price points and signing up to work with them is such an easy process.
Within GTN I also have a side membership to GIFTE and between the 2 forums online there are many wonderful and experienced people sharing knowledge, ideas, motivation, and offering feedback and support. It truly is the family business you always wanted to work for right from your own home office.
I see myself being hosted with GTN for many years to come.
It's coming up on a year since I signed up for the Gifted Travel Network Travel MBA program, having read some great reviews right on this site.
I'll split my review into 2 parts. Firstly the MBA program and secondly GTN as a host agent.
1. I paid what I consider now to be a very fair price for this one year program that gave me a 70/30 commission split for its length. I entered this industry from finance and had no previous experience selling travel so really needed core basic directions. The program is structured very well, with modules to work through at the pace that suits you. On top of that there is invaluable support from the staff at GTN and perhaps most importantly, a mentor, who has been amazing. The commitment to helping new members to the program does not fade at all over the entire year, and the inevitable questions and concerns are addressed quickly and efficiently.I would wholeheartedly recommend the program for those starting off in the travel industry.
2. Gifted Travel Network as a host agency is growing rapidly, but I have not noticed any slip in the level of service. Personally, I am nearly at the end of my first year and am about to go to earning 100% of my commissions. I have worked hard to get to that position, but it really feels like a have a community behind me, rather than a business. On the basics like commission payments etc. I have not encountered any problems or mistakes, and the back office of GTN is proactive in solving problems before they're really problems. At different stages in my first year, I think I have received direct help from every member of the management team at some point, as well as the great admin staff. I hope that ability to connect with the experts remains as GTN grows further, but even if it becomes more difficult, the culture of a network that helps fellow agents is so well ingrained that there will always be many sources for any help required.
I have been part of the GIFTE and TESA program since 2013. I was very new to the travel industry at this time and the information, support and guidance that I received from Meredith, Vanessa and the GIFTE community, was so life changing for me both personally and for my business.
I recently decided to use GTN as my host agency, and I am so glad that I made this decision. Working with GTN has been a wonderful experience. Everything has been so easy and fast. If I have a question, I can easily get in touch with someone and I have the information that I need right away! I love the support from the GTN forum. There is so much information that I get from other agents that are willing to share their knowledge with the group. Every week we have "shop talk" which is a call that we have with a supplier so that we can understand what the supplier offers and how we can better work with them for our clients.
I feel joining GTN and being part of the GIFTE community has been the best decision that I made for my business and will help me be successful in my entrepreneurial journey.