Strategic Travel Entrepreneur: Business Tips for Travel Agents/Advisors, Travel Agency Owners, and Travel Industry Entrepreneurs

We lost a very dear friend in the industry this week, Edouard Jean.  He was the owner of Massive Travels and was very active with ASTA having served as Chapter President, and was getting ready to start a campaign for the Board.He was a champion for minorities in the industry, as well, having served as a Board Member of the Association of Black Travel Professionals, and many other organizations.This episode is a tribute to him and his legacy of service.  I'm sharing his full interview from last August's Ascending in your Travel Business Audio Summit where he shares lots of gems on how he grew his business through cultivating relationships.In this episode, we share:·     Hold Ed sold hundreds of people onto group trips before becoming a travel advisor·     Some of his guerrilla marketing tactics·     The benefits of nurturing genuine relationships outside of business transactions·     and so much more!Enjoy (and take action)!Register for the 2nd Annual Travel Tech Audio Summit!https://takethehelm.thrivecart.com/travel-tech-audio-summit/Marketing Power Hour BOGO Flash Sale through 4/21/2024! https://calendly.com/ritaventures/take-the-helm-marketing-consulting-flash-sale-bogoJoin the Cruise Content Library:  https://programs.steeryourmarketing.com/products/courses/view/1166776---------------------------------------------------------------JOIN the Marketing Business School Community:https://programs.steeryourmarketing.com/products/courses/view/1117728Say HI on Social:Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/takethehelmvbsInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/takethehelmvbsGroup: https://www.facebook.com/groups/529490048073622 Direct EMAIL:rita@steeryourmarketing.com

We just wrapped up a 4-Week Series on where to find leads according to various travel agency niches.  Now it's time to take action and align your goals with a personalized plan!In this episode, I share:·     The importance of focus and confidence to take help you take action·     Targeting a specific niche rather than a broader audience·     Using Q2 to really challenge yourself to take action and experiment to see what works·     and so much more!Enjoy (and take action)!Schedule a Marketing Power Hour and Get a Custom Lead Generation Plan: https://calendly.com/ritaventures/marketing-consultingRegister for the 2nd Annual Travel Tech Audio Summit!https://takethehelm.thrivecart.com/travel-tech-audio-summit/Join the Cruise Content Library:  https://programs.steeryourmarketing.com/products/courses/view/1166776---------------------------------------------------------------JOIN the Marketing Business School Community:https://programs.steeryourmarketing.com/products/courses/view/1117728Say HI on Social:Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/takethehelmvbsInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/takethehelmvbsGroup: https://www.facebook.com/groups/529490048073622 Direct EMAIL:rita@steeryourmarketing.com

If you don't have leads in your business, you don't have a business.  So let's find you those leads!In this 4-Part Series, I'm going to share how to find leads in 4 of the top travel niches: family, romance, food and wine, and luxury.Join me as I dive in today to the Luxury Travel Niche for part 4.In this episode, I share:·     Understanding the mindset of luxury travelers at every stage·     Where you can find them based on this information·     Real-world Google research for events that potential luxury travel clients may be hanging out at·     and so much more!Enjoy (and take action)!Schedule a Marketing Power Hour and Get a Custom Lead Generation Plan: https://calendly.com/ritaventures/marketing-consultingRegister for the 2nd Annual Travel Tech Audio Summit!https://takethehelm.thrivecart.com/travel-tech-audio-summit/---------------------------------------------------------------JOIN the Marketing Business School Community:https://programs.steeryourmarketing.com/products/courses/view/1117728Say HI on Social:Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/takethehelmvbsInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/takethehelmvbsGroup: https://www.facebook.com/groups/529490048073622 Direct EMAIL:rita@steeryourmarketing.com

If you don't have leads in your business, you don't have a business.  So let's find you those leads!In this 4-Part Series, I'm going to share how to find leads in 4 of the top travel niches: family, romance, food and wine, and luxury.Join me as I dive in today to the Food and Wine Travel Niche for part 3.In this episode, I share:·     Understanding the mindset of foodie travelers at every stage·     Where you can find them based on this information·     Real-world Google research for events that potential foodie travel clients may be hanging out at·     and so much more!Enjoy (and take action)!Schedule a Marketing Power Hour and Get a Custom Lead Generation Plan: https://calendly.com/ritaventures/marketing-consulting---------------------------------------------------------------JOIN the Marketing Business School Community:https://programs.steeryourmarketing.com/products/courses/view/1117728Say HI on Social:Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/takethehelmvbsInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/takethehelmvbsGroup: https://www.facebook.com/groups/529490048073622 Direct EMAIL:rita@steeryourmarketing.com

In this 4-Part Series, I'm going to share how to find leads in 4 of the top travel niches: family, romance, food and wine, and luxury.Join me as I dive in today to the Romance Travel Niche for part 2.In this episode, I share:·     Understanding the mindset of romance travelers at every stage·     Where you can find them based on this information·     Real-world Google research for events the potential romance travel clients may be hanging out at·     and so much more!Enjoy (and take action)!Schedule a Marketing Power Hour and Get a Custom Lead Generation Plan: https://calendly.com/ritaventures/marketing-consulting---------------------------------------------------------------JOIN the Marketing Business School Community:https://programs.steeryourmarketing.com/products/courses/view/1117728Say HI on Social:Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/takethehelmvbsInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/takethehelmvbsGroup: https://www.facebook.com/groups/529490048073622 Direct EMAIL:rita@steeryourmarketing.com

If you don't have leads in your business, you don't have a business.  So let's find you those leads!In this 4-Part Series, I'm going to share how to find leads in 4 of the top travel niches: family, romance, food and wine, and luxury.I'm also going to share via a Google search of 4 locations around the country, on local networking events to look for, as well as events where you're ideal client may be hanging out at.Join me as I dive in today to the Family Travel Niche.PS- Even if you don't specialize in any of the niches, or live in any of the locations mentioned, doesn't mean you would find value in these episodes.  I'm hoping these ideas release your creative juices and give you inspiration to think outside of the box to generate new leads for your travel agency.In this episode, I share:·     Who the family traveler is and how they think·     Where they would hang out at based on this information·     Real-world Google research for events the potential family travel clients may hanging out at·     and so much more!Enjoy (and take action)!Schedule a Marketing Power Hour and Get a Custom Lead Generation Plan: https://calendly.com/ritaventures/marketing-consulting---------------------------------------------------------------JOIN the Marketing Business School Community:https://programs.steeryourmarketing.com/products/courses/view/1117728Say HI on Social:Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/takethehelmvbsInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/takethehelmvbsGroup: https://www.facebook.com/groups/529490048073622 Direct EMAIL:rita@steeryourmarketing.com

Inspired by some recent chatter, I'm tackling the challenge of consistent content creation, by sharing some of my top tips on maintaining a positive mindset, finding your content creation groove, and setting achievable goals. I'm also diving into my personal journey with podcasting, blogging, and repurposing content for different platforms, as well as spilling the beans on handy hacks for email marketing, social media, and leveraging your travel experiences for content creation. If you're ready to up your content creation game and stand out in the travel industry, stick around for some expert insights!In this episode, I share:·     How to change your thinking on content creation·     Where to start when creating content·     Some of my favorite hacks for creating content·     and so much more!Enjoy (and take action)!Join the Email Marketing Membership *affiliate link*: https://ritaventures--lizwilcox.thrivecart.com/email-marketing-membership/Get CastMagic AI for Videos and Audio Recordings *affiliate link*: https://get.castmagic.io/39q8g3hvbe1sGet the Plan Your Year Workbook: https://www.amazon.com/Plan-your-Year-Workbook-2024/dp/B0CLTK1WNF---------------------------------------------------------------JOIN the Marketing Business School Community:https://programs.steeryourmarketing.com/products/courses/view/1117728Say HI on Social:Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/takethehelmvbsInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/takethehelmvbsGroup: https://www.facebook.com/groups/529490048073622 Direct EMAIL:rita@steeryourmarketing.com

We're officially/unofficially celebrating the 3rd Birthday of the Podcast--wootttt!!!Thank you so much for tuning in every-ish week, sharing the podcast with your peers, and leaving ratings and reviews that allow other business owners to find this goodness.I sincerely could not do this without your support, and I'm ever so grateful for it--THANK YOU!Remembering this podcast birthday got me thinking why I started this podcast and that was to support the business-side of entrepreneurship.  It's not something many of us think about when we become a travel advisor, but it is especially critical to think about if we want longevity and sustainability in business.In this episode, I share:·     The differences between an employee and an entrepreneur·     A little bit of my own growth as a travel business owner·     Some of the important aspects of entrepreneurship you need to be aware of·     and so much more!Enjoy (and take action)!Get CastMagic AI for Videos and Audio Recordings *affiliate link*: https://get.castmagic.io/39q8g3hvbe1s---------------------------------------------------------------JOIN the Marketing Business School Community:https://programs.steeryourmarketing.com/products/courses/view/1117728Say HI on Social:Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/takethehelmvbsInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/takethehelmvbsGroup: https://www.facebook.com/groups/529490048073622 Direct EMAIL:rita@steeryourmarketing.com

This past week has been a deeply personal week for me, so I wanted to share a personal episode about where I'm at and what I'm doing to thrive this year in business.In this episode, I share:·     Prioritizing health and backup plans·     Leaning into my passions·     Changing my mindset·     and so much more!Enjoy (and take action)!Nina Clapperton's 6 Months to 50k Sessions Course *affiliate link*: https://ritaventures--ninaclapperton.thrivecart.com/6-months-to-50k/The Wealthy Spirit by Chellie Campbell *affiliate link*: https://amzn.to/3TbfzH7---------------------------------------------------------------JOIN the Marketing Business School Community:https://programs.steeryourmarketing.com/products/courses/view/1117728Say HI on Social:Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/takethehelmvbsInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/takethehelmvbsGroup: https://www.facebook.com/groups/529490048073622 Direct EMAIL:rita@steeryourmarketing.com

This week's episode was sparked by a conversation that transported me back to my years at Disney, where impeccable customer service wasn't just an expectation—it was a cornerstone of the magic. As I reminisce about those early days, I'm inspired to share the remarkable strategies that elevate our travel services from good to great.In this episode, I share:·     Understanding and Meeting Clients' Specific Needs·     The Art of Personalization in Travel·     The PATH Standards of Excellence for host agencies·     and so much more!Enjoy (and take action)!Learn about Mailbox Power *affiliate link*: https://go.mailboxpower.com/birthdayspecial?invite=ritaventuresNeed help strategizing a custom systems plan for your business?  Schedule a Marketing Power Hour with me today!  https://calendly.com/ritaventures/marketing-consulting---------------------------------------------------------------JOIN the Marketing Business School Community:https://programs.steeryourmarketing.com/products/courses/view/1117728Say HI on Social:Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/takethehelmvbsInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/takethehelmvbsGroup: https://www.facebook.com/groups/529490048073622 Direct EMAIL:rita@steeryourmarketing.com

One of my passions and purposes for creating this podcast is to help travel agents like you avoid some of the red flags that sometimes pop up in the industry and this can sometimes mean host agencies.Now I'm not saying all host agencies have red flags, but you should listen if you're questioning your current host situation.In this episode, I share:·     The difference between being an employee and an independent contractor·     A personal rant I have about professional fees and commission splits·     The PATH Standards of Excellence for host agencies·     and so much more!Enjoy (and take action)!Need help strategizing a custom systems plan for your business?  Schedule a Marketing Power Hour with me today!  https://calendly.com/ritaventures/marketing-consulting---------------------------------------------------------------JOIN the Marketing Business School Community:https://programs.steeryourmarketing.com/products/courses/view/1117728Say HI on Social:Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/takethehelmvbsInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/takethehelmvbsGroup: https://www.facebook.com/groups/529490048073622 Direct EMAIL:rita@steeryourmarketing.com

I've been doing a lot pondering and comparisons recently on how/why other industries are taken more seriously than the travel advisor industry is.  I decided to break down some of the ways you can grow into to be taken seriously in your travel business by family, friends, and peers.In this episode, I share:·     The importance of projecting confidence, even if you don't feel it·     Recent experiences I've had that have helped others see me as a professional·     Why you should also be connecting with people within our industry·     and so much more!Enjoy (and take action)!Need help strategizing a custom systems plan for your business?  Schedule a Marketing Power Hour with me today!  https://calendly.com/ritaventures/marketing-consultingSign up for my Travefy Webinar: https://learn.travefy.com/academy-feb-2024-rita-perez/Register for Host Week: https://hostagencyreviews.com/page/host-week---------------------------------------------------------------JOIN the Marketing Business School Community:https://programs.steeryourmarketing.com/products/courses/view/1117728Say HI on Social:Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/takethehelmvbsInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/takethehelmvbsGroup: https://www.facebook.com/groups/529490048073622 Direct EMAIL:rita@steeryourmarketing.com

It's Wave Season, and it's very likely, that you may be feeling overwhelmed.  Let's help reduce that overwhelm by identifying the five systems you need in your travel business, and what you can do to implement repeatable processes to help make life a little easier as a travel agency owner.In this episode, I share:·     How mining for gemstones is like the systems in your business·     Ideas for finding clients, even if you haven't niched down yet·     Ideas for keeping current clients in your orbit·      and so much more!Enjoy (and take action)!Need help strategizing a custom systems plan for your business?  Schedule a Marketing Power Hour with me today!  https://calendly.com/ritaventures/marketing-consulting---------------------------------------------------------------JOIN the Marketing Business School Community:https://programs.steeryourmarketing.com/products/courses/view/1117728Say HI on Social:Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/takethehelmvbsInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/takethehelmvbsGroup: https://www.facebook.com/groups/529490048073622 Direct EMAIL:rita@steeryourmarketing.com

There's some big changes coming to email this February 1st--and you need to be aware of them, or your emails to your clients may not get sent!In this episode, I share:·     The importance of scrubbing your email list·     The immediate reason why you should get an email address with your domain name·     High level information on authenticating your email domain·      and so much more!Enjoy (and take action)!Watch Cheryl Rerick's FREE Email Deliverability Webinar *affiliate link*:https://members.cherylrerick.com/~access/a13c4375f/Get access to Cheryl Rerick's Deliverability Workshops *affiliate link*:https://members.cherylrerick.com/~access/a15c4375f/Contact Amy Graves: amygraves@anymainstreet.com---------------------------------------------------------------JOIN the Marketing Business School Community:https://programs.steeryourmarketing.com/products/courses/view/1117728Say HI on Social:Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/takethehelmvbsInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/takethehelmvbsGroup: https://www.facebook.com/groups/529490048073622 Direct EMAIL:rita@steeryourmarketing.com

We start this week's episodes with a few updates and opportunities for your travel business, and then glide right on in to some common mistakes that held me back, and are probably holding you back, too, for making meaningful income in your travel agency.In this episode, I discuss:·     Getting comfortable with being uncomfortable·     The power of your voice·     Being in business for yourself, but not by yourself·      and so much more!Enjoy (and take action)!Ascending in your Travel Business Audio Series:https://takethehelm.thrivecart.com/ascending-audio-series/---------------------------------------------------------------JOIN the Marketing Business School Community:https://programs.steeryourmarketing.com/products/courses/view/1117728Say HI on Social:Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/takethehelmvbsInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/takethehelmvbsGroup: https://www.facebook.com/groups/529490048073622 Direct EMAIL:rita@steeryourmarketing.com

Something I'm super proud of from 2023 is the way I was able to grow my email list :)  I'm spilling in the beans on what I did to be successful, why I think they worked, and how you can utilize these tactics for your travel business.In this episode, I discuss:·     The type of lead magnet I used for email list building·     Why I think some worked and some didn't·     Insights into how I'll adjust for 2024·      and so much more!Enjoy (and take action)!Download the Lead Generation Calculator:https://programs.steeryourmarketing.com/products/courses/view/1138259Listen to the 2023 Audio Series:https://programs.steeryourmarketing.com/audio-seriesGet The Lead Magnet Workshop Replay: https://programs.steeryourmarketing.com/products/courses/view/1160555---------------------------------------------------------------JOIN the Marketing Business School Community:https://programs.steeryourmarketing.com/products/courses/view/1117728Say HI on Social:Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/takethehelmvbsInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/takethehelmvbsGroup: https://www.facebook.com/groups/529490048073622 Direct EMAIL:rita@steeryourmarketing.com

If you've ever want the juicy on my business, I'm spilling tons in this episode :)  The good, the bad, the ugly, and the lessons of 2023 are right here in this episode---let's jump in!In this episode, I discuss:·     The audio series that completely flopped·     How collaborations significantly increased my email list this year·     The shifts and new directions I've been seeing in my work·      and so much more!Enjoy (and take action)!Sign Up for the Lead Magnet Workshop: https://programs.steeryourmarketing.com/products/courses/view/1160555---------------------------------------------------------------JOIN the Marketing Business School Community:https://programs.steeryourmarketing.com/products/courses/view/1117728Say HI on Social:Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/takethehelmvbsInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/takethehelmvbsGroup: https://www.facebook.com/groups/529490048073622 Direct EMAIL:rita@steeryourmarketing.com

As we head into the biggest holiday week, kick back, relax, and start dreaming again, as you listen to some industry greats share their insights on superb holiday destinations and experiences from across the globe!In this episode, we discuss:·     River and expedition sailings·     The differences between the North and South Poles·     Why you should consider the South Pacific for your warm weather holiday clients·      and so much more!Enjoy (and take action)!Register for the FULL Unique Holiday Experiences Audio Series:https://takethehelm.thrivecart.com/unique-holiday-experiences/Register for the Lead Magnet Workshop happening on 1/4 from 3-5pm EST: https://programs.steeryourmarketing.com/products/courses/view/1160555---------------------------------------------------------------JOIN the Marketing Business School Community:https://programs.steeryourmarketing.com/products/courses/view/1117728Say HI on Social:Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/takethehelmvbsInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/takethehelmvbsGroup: https://www.facebook.com/groups/529490048073622 Direct EMAIL:rita@steeryourmarketing.com

I don't do new year's resolutions.  I pick words to focus on for the year.  The words that I choose really drive the business decisions I make throughout the year.  Listen in on my personal thoughts, as well as insights from conversations I've had from fellow travel advisors on planning and selecting their words of the year.In this episode, I discuss:·      Aligning words of the year with big business goals·      The intentionality in the context of your word of the year·     How my 2023 words served me and what I'm looking to in 2024·      and so much more!Enjoy (and take action)!Pre-Register for the Unique Holiday Experiences Audio Series: https://takethehelm.thrivecart.com/unique-holiday-experiences/Sign Up for the Lead Magnet Workshop: https://programs.steeryourmarketing.com/products/courses/view/1160555---------------------------------------------------------------JOIN the Marketing Business School Community:https://programs.steeryourmarketing.com/products/courses/view/1117728Say HI on Social:Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/takethehelmvbsInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/takethehelmvbsGroup: https://www.facebook.com/groups/529490048073622 Direct EMAIL:rita@steeryourmarketing.com

One of the thing that I hate people try to sell you about social media, is that it is the solution to all your business problems...and that's a flat out lie.  You don't need to do more social media to make more sales, and some people don't even do social media and make great sales.  (Some people also do a shoddy job at social media, and still get sales.)The point is--the problem isn't social media.  It's something else, and we're going to dive into those something else's in this episode.In this episode, I discuss:·      The importance of proper messaging targeted towards the right audience·      Aligning offers with the needs and desires of the target market·     The significance of taking proactive measures in business development·      and so much more!Enjoy (and take action)!Pre-Register for the Unique Holiday Experiences Audio Series: https://takethehelm.thrivecart.com/unique-holiday-experiences/Get your Goody Bag at Lizzy's Christmas Party: https://www.lcp2023.com/rita---------------------------------------------------------------JOIN the Marketing Business School Community:https://programs.steeryourmarketing.com/products/courses/view/1117728Say HI on Social:Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/takethehelmvbsInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/takethehelmvbsGroup: https://www.facebook.com/groups/529490048073622 Direct EMAIL:rita@steeryourmarketing.com