My previous industry experience was always in the group incentive and convention side of travel, but never in the individual leisure side. After much research and speaking with many different agencies, I decided to sign on with Lake Shore Travel. Below is why I am confident I made the right decision.
Besides having passion for travel, I wanted to ensure my business provided truly customized experiences. Our company would consistently focus on the client and provide options that came from listening to the client and discovering the purpose of the trip. Therefore, I needed a host agency that was going to have constant communication with me and supported me and trained me to provide this type of service. It would need to give me much more than just access to an IATA # and systems. Because of this, I narrowed it down to two agencies. But the reason I picked Lake Shore was as follows:
1. The affiliation with Lake Shore provides an outstanding network for my clients and strengthens the negotiation power we have to provide upgrades, amenities and insider experiences through the Virtuoso network for our clients. Not to mention the amazing relationships Lake Shore has with vendors throughout the globe. Since joining Lake Shore whenever I explained to a Vendor I was new to the industry and looking for some help. Multiple vendors would say, “You have joined the best team” or “Lake Shore always takes care of the advisors and their clients.” That is exactly what I wanted for my clients.
2. The training was great and does not stop after that first week in their office. You can call or email at any time. Plus the training doesn’t just come from the training manager or your mentor. The entire team really wants to help. I have spoken with multiple people in the office and they have all offered suggestions or offered to help. You definitely don’t feel alone. The support system is incredible.
3. At no time, did I feel like I was a number or a member of training class. I was always a person with a name. The boutique feel of Lake Shore is a benefit. From the CEO, to the office manager, to HR, to the part-time assistant. Every person welcomed me and wanted me to know they wanted me to be a success and would help me in any way that they could.
I’ve been with Lake Shore Travel for a short time. But I really do believe that my research paid off. You can get systems and training from pretty much anywhere. But the personalized support, the training support that continues throughout your first year, the team atmosphere, the vendors who go the extra mile because of who you are associated with, and the years of experience that you can learn from and transfer to your clients, that is what you get with Lake Shore Travel. That is the Lake Shore difference.
My previous industry experience was always in the group incentive and convention side of travel, but never in the individual leisure side. After much research and speaking with many different agencies, I decided to sign on with Lake Shore Travel. Below is why I am confident I made the right decision.
Besides having passion for travel, I wanted to ensure my business provided truly customized experiences. Our company would consistently focus on the client and provide options that came from listening to the client and discovering the purpose of the trip. Therefore, I needed a host agency that was going to have constant communication with me and supported me and trained me to provide this type of service. It would need to give me much more than just access to an IATA # and systems. Because of this, I narrowed it down to two agencies. But the reason I picked Lake Shore was as follows:
1. The affiliation with Lake Shore provides an outstanding network for my clients and strengthens the negotiation power we have to provide upgrades, amenities and insider experiences through the Virtuoso network for our clients. Not to mention the amazing relationships Lake Shore has with vendors throughout the globe. Since joining Lake Shore whenever I explained to a Vendor I was new to the industry and looking for some help. Multiple vendors would say, “You have joined the best team” or “Lake Shore always takes care of the advisors and their clients.” That is exactly what I wanted for my clients.
2. The training was great and does not stop after that first week in their office. You can call or email at any time. Plus the training doesn’t just come from the training manager or your mentor. The entire team really wants to help. I have spoken with multiple people in the office and they have all offered suggestions or offered to help. You definitely don’t feel alone. The support system is incredible.
3. At no time, did I feel like I was a number or a member of training class. I was always a person with a name. The boutique feel of Lake Shore is a benefit. From the CEO, to the office manager, to HR, to the part-time assistant. Every person welcomed me and wanted me to know they wanted me to be a success and would help me in any way that they could.
I’ve been with Lake Shore Travel for a short time. But I really do believe that my research paid off. You can get systems and training from pretty much anywhere. But the personalized support, the training support that continues throughout your first year, the team atmosphere, the vendors who go the extra mile because of who you are associated with, and the years of experience that you can learn from and transfer to your clients, that is what you get with Lake Shore Travel. That is the Lake Shore difference.
Lake Shore Travel is a family that truly cares about its' Advisors! As a new travel advisor equipped with only my passion and drive, I connected with Lake Shore Travel during my search to find the perfect host agency to partner with and launch my career. I met with the agency's Training Coordinator and the thoroughness and depth of their Mentor Program not only impressed me but gave me the insight I needed to make an informed decision regarding my future in the industry. As a top-seller of luxury travel services and a Virtuoso host agency, Lake Shore Travel, superseded all of my host agent criteria.
Lake Shore Travel's Mentor Program is best-in-class and blends industry insight and hand-ons, real-time training with the application of all the industry tools and resources you will need to be successful. As an added perk, supplier presentations are infused in the week long program to really give you a true sense of learning about the products and building key relationships. The entire team is engaged in the program and available to field questions and share their first-hand experiences. It's truly an invaluable experience.
My mentor and the entire family of advisors took me under their wing and have been beyond supportive and accessible, which as a home-based agent is key to my success and motivation.
Launching my career with Lake Shore Travel is the best decision I have ever made. I am so blessed and excited to engage with such an amazing group of people everyday!