Need to know about Travel Programs out there!

I'm starting out in the travel event planning business. I have an event coming up next spring and I need a reliable travel engine that can handle it.

I am looking to book 25 to 50 cabins aboard a cruise ship for a seminar-at-sea event and am looking for a way of doing this and getting a healthy commission out of it.

Unless my eyes deceive me YTB is the only company that offers this to someone who is not an agent.

Ultimately I would love to help people with their travel planning and get industry benefits myself but just starting out I want an inexpensive way into the industry where I can get my feet wet and learn the ropes a little before making a big commitment.

It's also been hard to find people in the MLM travel industry who have honest answers for my questions. Most are trying to sell me the compensation plan and the business building side of things and this is not my current focus.

If anyone can give some guidance, I would love to hear it. Keeping in mind that I don't want to hear anything about business building, Robert Kiyosaki, matrixes or any of that stuff. I want to know about booking for groups and honeymoon packages.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Feel free to give me a call.

I'm with Traverus travel but with our company, you don't have to build in networking. We teach you how to be a certified travel agent with a real hosting agency. We have travel training available and I will share with you why this would be a great asset to your travel event planning....with no sales pitches....:)

"RP"
800.931.1467

Christina in Pasadena, California said: I'm starting out in the travel event planning business. I have an event coming up next spring and I need a reliable travel engine that can handle it.

I am looking to book 25 to 50 cabins aboard a cruise ship for a seminar-at-sea event and am looking for a way of doing this and getting a healthy commission out of it.

Unless my eyes deceive me YTB is the only company that offers this to someone who is not an agent.

Ultimately I would love to help people with their travel planning and get industry benefits myself but just starting out I want an inexpensive way into the industry where I can get my feet wet and learn the ropes a little before making a big commitment.

It's also been hard to find people in the MLM travel industry who have honest answers for my questions. Most are trying to sell me the compensation plan and the business building side of things and this is not my current focus.

If anyone can give some guidance, I would love to hear it. Keeping in mind that I don't want to hear anything about business building, Robert Kiyosaki, matrixes or any of that stuff. I want to know about booking for groups and honeymoon packages.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Not to discourage you or anything, but I would look at an agency that specializes in incentive or event travel. You can be the "pied piper" for the group and possibly earn a berth for you and maybe an additional berth for a companion.

Groups are a LOT of work. It's fun and can be rewarding, but it is a LOT of work, particularly without any experience or guidance.

I worked for over 24 years in the industry and have done my fair sahre of groups. You need to know the customers' needs and wants better than their own. You'll have people wanting to go early. Wanting to stay longer. Fly from a different city. Special meals, birthday party, etc. Someone may not
want to participate in your group activities.

Christina in Pasadena, California said: I'm starting out in the travel event planning business. I have an event coming up next spring and I need a reliable travel engine that can handle it.

I am looking to book 25 to 50 cabins aboard a cruise ship for a seminar-at-sea event and am looking for a way of doing this and getting a healthy commission out of it.

Unless my eyes deceive me YTB is the only company that offers this to someone who is not an agent.

Ultimately I would love to help people with their travel planning and get industry benefits myself but just starting out I want an inexpensive way into the industry where I can get my feet wet and learn the ropes a little before making a big commitment.

It's also been hard to find people in the MLM travel industry who have honest answers for my questions. Most are trying to sell me the compensation plan and the business building side of things and this is not my current focus.

If anyone can give some guidance, I would love to hear it. Keeping in mind that I don't want to hear anything about business building, Robert Kiyosaki, matrixes or any of that stuff. I want to know about booking for groups and honeymoon packages.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Following up on my previous post. If you are truly interested in the event genre, it is
possible an agency might work with you and make you an outside consultant. You could then have their expertise to help with this group and future projects.

You're looking at a minimum of between 50 and 100 people (based on double).
I would at least consult with an agency. Do you have a ship in mind ? itinerary ? Budget ? Many questions !

Interesting, companies that specialize in incentive travel or event travel? Tell me more... who provides this? I'm not going to be planning events for *everyone*, just for select kinds of promotions like concerts at sea, weekend couple's retreats and the like. I'm looking at becoming a destination specialist for Mexico and the Caribbean. My first big event is a couple's cruise to Acapulco next year which is why I am focused on finding a company I can get into fairly quickly (like yesterday) where I can book the cabins and get paid for them. I am planning to do this once every season to different destinations. Do the event travel companies provide for this?

Someone in another thread was talking about becoming a partner of online travel companies for little or nothing and then building a web presence around your specialty, this sounds great too. In desperation I might just go for priceline until I can make a decision, for now I am seriously considering Traversus, Platinum One and YTB, with Platinum One being in the lead. If another alternative is available I am game to hear about it.

Why does this board keep changing my location?

Inspector in Missouri said:

You're looking at a minimum of between 50 and 100 people (based on double).
I would at least consult with an agency. Do you have a ship in mind ? itinerary ? Budget ? Many questions !

The comments below are from a "Susan" in another indeed thread, months ago. I like the sound of what she is saying (not needing a downline) although I also feel there is at least some benefit in having a downline if you want more money. I was in Amway years ago and I focused on selling the products (I had a local cleaning products route) but people would always want to join after a while as they wanted the discounts for themselves. I don't have that kind of nerve in travel... maybe because not many people around me travel as much as I do.

When I decided to do this it was strictly to take my friends, students and clients on trips in groups. I had no desire to business build ever again, but then again, I wasn't business building years ago in Amway... it just kind of fell into my lap.

Not to get off on a tangent but I feel like the travel industry is my next calling as a "getaway" or retreat facilitator. I am still thinking about the 3 I named before. I hope to be in one of them by Oct 1. YTB has the most to offer, Traversus makes the most sense, P1D is the cheapest. Sapphire Cruises sounds good too, but *exclusively* cruises? I think not.

"Susan"s comments are below, tell me what you think.

@@@@ Check out Travelocity and I beleive Experian offers this too. Click on the affiliate link. You will have a few choices.
Affiliate or PARTNER. Keyword here partner. This is what I refer to as "the parent company" If you are web savvy and can build a website like this one
www.travel-vacationpackages.com
You yourself can partner with a parent company for FREE and cut out "the middle men" and sign up fee's. Your monthly web hosting is any where from $9USD and up depending on who your host is. Your still your own agency. @@@@

One last note, there is also a guy, David, who is promoting his Travel Agent University ptogram at Travelline Express something or other??? I find that intriguing but he doesn't list classes or prices. I'd like to learn more from someone who can provide the facts, or if David is listening can you explain about your program, thank you.

Christina in Studio City, California said: Interesting, companies that specialize in incentive travel or event travel? Tell me more... who provides this? I'm not going to be planning events for *everyone*, just for select kinds of promotions like concerts at sea, weekend couple's retreats and the like. I'm looking at becoming a destination specialist for Mexico and the Caribbean. My first big event is a couple's cruise to Acapulco next year which is why I am focused on finding a company I can get into fairly quickly (like yesterday) where I can book the cabins and get paid for them. I am planning to do this once every season to different destinations. Do the event travel companies provide for this?

Someone in another thread was talking about becoming a partner of online travel companies for little or nothing and then building a web presence around your specialty, this sounds great too. In desperation I might just go for priceline until I can make a decision, for now I am seriously considering Traversus, Platinum One and YTB, with Platinum One being in the lead. If another alternative is available I am game to hear about it.

Why does this board keep changing my location?

Looks like you are in the Los Angeles area ? There are several good agencies in LA.
I would look for one with the CLIA or ASTA designation. For the first time out,
with a couples cruise, I would talk to an agency that either specializes in incentive/special events or lesiure/cruise travel. The agent can best tell you
the ships, itineraries and sailing dates. You will want to check the "season" that
you're traveling, too. I would at least talk to an agent, as they can get you
started into understanding the business. I don't know much about YTB or Traversus, but a group of the magnitude you're talking about, you really need some experienced
guidance. Accounting alone, with groups, is very intricate and delicate. Sometimes, it can be a nightmare, if you aren't careful.

Christina in Studio City, California said: One last note, there is also a guy, David, who is promoting his Travel Agent University ptogram at Travelline Express something or other??? I find that intriguing but he doesn't list classes or prices. I'd like to learn more from someone who can provide the facts, or if David is listening can you explain about your program, thank you.

Talk to an agency about your cruise first. get some guidance from them. Like I said in the previous post, the accounting (and your responsibility) to get deposits, final payments, insurance, shore excursions etc can be a cumbersome process for someone with no or little experience. You don't want to go into this
willy nilly, especially, if this will be a project that can lead to future trips
and groups. Again, I am only giving you advice, I'm not trying to discourage.

Christina in Studio City, California said: One last note, there is also a guy, David, who is promoting his Travel Agent University ptogram at Travelline Express something or other??? I find that intriguing but he doesn't list classes or prices. I'd like to learn more from someone who can provide the facts, or if David is listening can you explain about your program, thank you.

Also, make sure you have some alternate sailing dates. Ask an agent if maybe they have some "space" already blocked. How are you promoting the cruise ?

I am sure the agency can give you pointers on that as well.

www.MemberTrips.com

As a Certified Travel Agent you'll be able to book directly through the vendors and also be part of a real hosting agency...not a referral.

Real training with a hosting agency that is Clia, Asta and IATAN approved.

TraVerus
YTB
Platinum One
Coastal Vacations
GRN

Do the research and review this blog

www.whatbusinesstodo.com/classifieds/best_home_travel_agent_business

"RP"
www.MemberTrips.com

denyse in Paterson, New Jersey said: Christina, I agree with you that YTB offers the most. For that one-time entry fee, you will get not only one travel website, but 7 others from which to book travel. There is a great opportunity there for niche travel. Call me if interested: 973-214-1136
denyse

What does YTB offer that makes it offer more?
And yes for a one time fee of $499 and 49.94 per month you will get 7 sites....but who actually uses all 7?

OutsideThoughts in Atlanta, Georgia said: What does YTB offer that makes it offer more?
And yes for a one time fee of $499 and 49.99 per month you will get 7 sites....but who actually uses all 7?

Typo..$49.99

Christina in Pasadena, California said: I'm starting out in the travel event planning business. I have an event coming up next spring and I need a reliable travel engine that can handle it.

I am looking to book 25 to 50 cabins aboard a cruise ship for a seminar-at-sea event and am looking for a way of doing this and getting a healthy commission out of it.

Unless my eyes deceive me YTB is the only company that offers this to someone who is not an agent.

Ultimately I would love to help people with their travel planning and get industry benefits myself but just starting out I want an inexpensive way into the industry where I can get my feet wet and learn the ropes a little before making a big commitment.

It's also been hard to find people in the MLM travel industry who have honest answers for my questions. Most are trying to sell me the compensation plan and the business building side of things and this is not my current focus.

If anyone can give some guidance, I would love to hear it. Keeping in mind that I don't want to hear anything about business building, Robert Kiyosaki, matrixes or any of that stuff. I want to know about booking for groups and honeymoon packages.

Thanks in advance for your help.

---------------------------------------------

Christina,
I am a certified travel agent with over 20 years experience working in Hampton Roads, Virginia. I have 5 sub agents working for me and I train them while allowing them to book their own clients and recieve commission on their work. I don't charge a fee to my agents for teaching them or for access to the system. I do require a commitment to learn and also a 10% commission on their sales. This allows them the opportunity to learn but also get paid for their time. Let me know if you're interested.

Sure, tell me. I take it, there's no mlm component to it? I made a decision about my host company, but ran into a small hitch when signing up. I took that to mean that I needed a few more days to give other hosts a look. I'm open to hear about the benefits of any company.

Tammy in Newport News, Virginia said: ---------------------------------------------

Christina,
I am a certified travel agent with over 20 years experience working in Hampton Roads, Virginia. I have 5 sub agents working for me and I train them while allowing them to book their own clients and recieve commission on their work. I don't charge a fee to my agents for teaching them or for access to the system. I do require a commitment to learn and also a 10% commission on their sales. This allows them the opportunity to learn but also get paid for their time. Let me know if you're interested.

denyse in Paterson, New Jersey said:
As I stated, that is a great opportunity there for niche travel. If you want to specialize in a certain area, you can and you'll have the websites there to choose from. If you (in your company) want to specialize, you can also but you'll have no specialized site from which to do so.

I'd be interested in hearing about how the 7 engines facilitate niche travel. Any real travel agent can specialize in niche travel with any number of suppliers - many more suppliers than ytb has available to offer. But I am definitely interested in hearing what 7 engines ytb has available... correct me if wrong but I am thinking it is air, hotel, car rental, cruise, spa, golf and groups??? If I am wrong please correct me and let me know what those 7 are... and if those are the seven you refer to do you mean then that any one of those can be your niche?

Still interested in knowing. If you are selling travel in ytb, it's probably a good place to get your feet wet and get some practice in making bookings, especially if your specialty is cruises. It's probably a good place to raise your revenue to get your clia and asta certifications. But at some point it looks to me like you have to let ytb go if you want to make this your career. Not criticizing but it just seems like the opportunities in travel have their limits in that company and I'm very open to hear more.

Forgive me if I am strongly interested in getting the information on the list... phone calls don't really work for me. Not looking for a hard sell, just info.

This forum has changed my location again!!! How do I prevent that from happening?

Christina in Los Angeles, California said: I'd be interested in hearing about how the 7 engines facilitate niche travel. Any real travel agent can specialize in niche travel with any number of suppliers - many more suppliers than ytb has available to offer.

I want to apologize if this came across as an attack because I didn't mean it that way. But I really do want to know what those 7 websites are by name or type, and then how they help the agent to specialize.

I am also curious for new "agents" in the program, how do they get around the lack of an IATA # in ytb? For example, if I wanted to book a special package for 2 couples to bora bora in luxury accomodations instead of budget, would I be able to do that on a ytb engine? Would they be able to fly eva?

And even then without the Iata #, would my commission revenue in ytb make me eligible to get my own real clia certification or iata # or become a real cta/ctc rather than a simple clia card or crta card?

Is ytb affiliated in any way with the ustoa?

Many questions! Since I am looking to do many groups over the long term and book special packages I am really concerned about either having a strong company ready to stand up to the challenges I will face in booking my trips or becoming that strong agent myself. And the company I choose... it has to allow me to get the training I need to become a true agent because eventually being an agent and doing groups and specialized tours are what I am focused on.

Thanks for your response, in advance.

Christina in Los Angeles, California said:
Many questions! Since I am looking to do many groups over the long term and book special packages I am really concerned about either having a strong company ready to stand up to the challenges I will face in booking my trips or becoming that strong agent myself. And the company I choose... it has to allow me to get the training I need to become a true agent because eventually being an agent and doing groups and specialized tours are what I am focused on.

Wanted to also say that the choices were narrowed way down... if you want to be anything more than a referral person do NOT join NetTrav, they don't even let you book groups! I know because I called them and asked myself!

While I am waiting to learn more about hosting companies I did enroll in travel agent university (I think I mentioned this) and here locally in a community college that offers an AA degree in travel and tourism with a possible transfer to a 4 year university such as UNLV where you can finish a bachelor's in travel and tourism or hospitality, I am currently only taking 1 class which is geography for travel professionals, but it feels good to be getting educated in a college setting. I am excited! It is more work than I thought but worth it.

Christina, I'll be happy to answer your questions.

You're absolutely right if any travel agent wants to specialize in any area, they can however, they will need separate websites from which to book. These websites are included in our investment cost. The 7 are:

1. the regular booking engine
2. Honeymoon Wishes
3. Anniversary Wishes
4. Golf
5. Outdoor Activities
6. Spas
7. Travel Wear

If you chose to specialize in any of these areas there is a separate website to use, rather than a link on the regular website. Just point your domain name to those addresses. I don't consider this a place to get my "feet wet". This IS my career. I left my former career to do this full-time. Anything that any other agent can do, I can do as well here.

Regarding the lack of IATA, it has never impeded my ability to sell travel in any way. Suppliers will normally ask for IATA/ARC/CLIA. Independent packages (of ANY kind) can be booked on the booking engine as well as directly with the vendor.

All commissions earned here go toward fulfilling requirements for personal CLIAs and IATANs. I am not sure about USTOA but I can find out.

I am one who is adamant about travel training and I receive excellent training here. We just had a funshine travel trade show which was excellent.

I don't want to sell you on anything we have to offer. Just want to provide detailed info.

denyse in Paterson, New Jersey said:

You're absolutely right if any travel agent wants to specialize in any area, they can however, they will need separate websites from which to book. These websites are included in our investment cost. The 7 are:

1. the regular booking engine
2. Honeymoon Wishes
3. Anniversary Wishes
4. Golf
5. Outdoor Activities
6. Spas
7. Travel Wear

You'll have to excuse my ignorance but a couple of questions got sparked up for me from the above statement.

You said that travel agents can specialize in anything they want but they need websites to do these bookings. And that ytb has these available. Does that mean that agents who don't have a website won't be able to specialize?

The other question is, how would you incorporate travel wear into your specialty? Does the customer do this search himself or do you help them to decide what clothing is appropriate for their travel needs?

Again, many questions! Maybe I should call you to get these questions answered. Just that the phone doesn't work well for me right now. Are you okay with answering here?

Don't worry I still have a couple of weeks to weigh my options and get into a company but I absolutely have to be in a company by the first week of October because I need 9 months to get my group booked for their cruise!

Have you been with ytb a long time? That's a good sign that you made a career out of this, a lot of people I know in ytb are still on their "day" job. And none of them has given me more facts than you have!

I am interested in becoming a home based agent, I am looking for leads for a host agency. Please send information. Thanks

Tammy in Newport News, Virginia said: ---------------------------------------------

Christina,
I am a certified travel agent with over 20 years experience working in Hampton Roads, Virginia. I have 5 sub agents working for me and I train them while allowing them to book their own clients and recieve commission on their work. I don't charge a fee to my agents for teaching them or for access to the system. I do require a commitment to learn and also a 10% commission on their sales. This allows them the opportunity to learn but also get paid for their time. Let me know if you're interested.

Good for you it sounds like you are determined to do this the right way. I want to tell you that none of the companies you are looking at will make you a real travel agent. However of the ones you named Traverus comes closest and will give you good foundation in travel related customer service. There's also Joystar which will definitely make you a real agent. Keep doing what you are doing, you sound sincere. Also Tammy sounded like a good choice too have you contacted her at all?

Christina in Los Angeles, California said: Wanted to also say that the choices were narrowed way down... if you want to be anything more than a referral person do NOT join NetTrav, they don't even let you book groups! I know because I called them and asked myself!

While I am waiting to learn more about hosting companies I did enroll in travel agent university (I think I mentioned this) and here locally in a community college that offers an AA degree in travel and tourism with a possible transfer to a 4 year university such as UNLV where you can finish a bachelor's in travel and tourism or hospitality, I am currently only taking 1 class which is geography for travel professionals, but it feels good to be getting educated in a college setting. I am excited! It is more work than I thought but worth it.