Modern Travel Agent Podcast

When we're starting new projects, we often say “I'm not sure what to do next” as a substitute for admitting, “I know what to do next but I'm scared it might not work.” If we're honest with ourselves, we almost always know what we need to do next. We just struggle to do the things we know we need to do. Sometimes we just have to give ourselves permission to be uncomfortable, to try something new, and to possibly “fail,” because that's the only way we'll ever take the first steps necessary to build our next great thing. Today's a great day to set aside 5 minutes to start that thing you know you need to do but have been putting off. Lower the bar so you can't make anymore excuses. You don't need to know everything. You don't need to finish everything. You don't need to set aside hours to do it, and there is no perfect time to start. Those are all excuses that allow you to put it off for tomorrow. Spend 5 minutes starting that thing today, because you know deep down you'll be happy you did it. This episode of the Modern Travel Agent Podcast is brought to you by the Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism. I just spent an incredible week in the Dominican Republic and documented the entire trip in my Instagram stories. Checkout the “highlights” on my Instagram page to see my time in: Santo Domingo: https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/17842878489112432/ La Romana: https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/18002822150239275/ Cap Cana: https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/17980846652356775/

Sahara Rose De Vore is a Wellness Travel Coach and the Founder of the Travel Coach Network. After finishing university and finding herself unhappy with the lack of travel career options, Sahara bought a one-way ticket to Ireland which led her on a decade-long journey backpacking across 84 countries. Sahara is a TEDx speaker who has been in over 140 media outlets including Forbes, Travel Weekly, and Condé Nast Traveler, and she was named one of 2023's Most Influential Women in Travel by TravelPulse. We discuss how agents can get out of their comfort zone, be vulnerable, and use a human centric approach to better connect with their clients, because with so many different options available to book travel, it's never been more important for agents to set themselves apart by sharing their unique stories and perspectives. Become a Certified Travel Coach: https://thetravelcoachnetwork.mykajabi.com/a/30752/Y5d9JFLq Website: https://thetravelcoachnetwork.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sahararosethetravelcoach/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetravelcoachnetwork/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sahara-rose-de-vore-4b8bb394/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaharaRoseTheTravelCoach/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/travelcoachnetwork Podcast: https://anchor.fm/thetravelcoachnetwork Free Beginner's Guide to Travel Coaching: https://thetravelcoachnetwork.mykajabi.com/main-email-series-and-workbook This episode is brought to you by our partnership with the Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism. Visit www.godominicanrepublic.com to learn more about all that this wonderful destination has to offer.

Being a travel agent often feels like trying to do an infinite number of things in a finite amount of time. If you ever find yourself thinking or saying, "I'm too busy," then this simple 4 minute video can help you gain more time. This episode of the Modern Travel Agent podcast is sponsored by the Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism. To learn more about this beautiful destination and how it can be the perfect fit for your clients, visit https://godominicanrepublic.com

In this episode of Around the Block where I take you with me on my walk and answer travel agent questions, I discuss the importance of us focusing on what we can control, ways to become better at sales, and the importance of asking for the things that we want (the sale, the review, and the referral). This episode of the Modern Travel Agent Podcast is sponsored by the Dominican Republic Tourism Board. To learn more about how this beautiful destination can be a great option for your clients, visit https://www.godominicanrepublic.com

In this Wednesday Rant, I argue that value must be demonstrated rather than asserted. It's not enough to tell people they should use a travel agent. You have to show them why they should use an agent.

This is the first episode of Wednesday Rant where I go on a lighthearted rant about what's on my mind in the travel agent world. If you ever find yourself complaining that your clients don't read, then this episode is for you.

This is a new segment called Around The Block where I take you with me on my walk and answer travel agent questions. On this episode, I cover how to deal with imposter syndrome early on before you know everything you need to know. I give my top two pieces of advice for new travel agents, and I explain a few ways you can reduce the likelihood of your clients ghosting you. This episode is sponsored by Palladium Hotel Group. Check out the previous podcast, episode 26, where I detail my top 4 reasons to stay at their beautiful, adult-only TRS Yucatan Hotel.

Here are the top 4 reasons why you should send your clients to the 454 suite, adult-only, Forbes recommended 5-star TRS Yucatan Hotel. 4. The TRS Yucatan Hotel is a great resort option for travelers looking for a luxury, adult-only jungle paradise in the Mexican Riviera Maya. This isn't a Miami style high-rise resort like you'll find in the Cancun hotel zone. This is a gorgeous property divided by a lagoon and spread out across the lush jungle vegetation of the Yucatan where you'll see a wide range of wildlife including all types of beautiful birds, fish, iguanas, and my personal favorite, the adorable relative of the raccoon, the Coati. For an added experience, you can even enjoy a 15 minute catamaran ride around the property's lagoon. 3. Located 30 minutes south of Playa del Carmen, the TRS Yucatan Hotel is a great location from which to explore the ruins and cenotes of Tulum and the Riviera Maya. For instance, you can make the trip to the ancient Mayan city of Cobá which includes a 138 foot pyramid Nohoch Mul, one of the tallest in the entire Yucatan. Or you can take the short trip down south and go swimming in any of the four different cenotes that make up Cenotes Casa Tortuga Tulum. Or my personal favorite, you can explore the deep caverns of Cenote Sac Actun which is actually the second longest underwater cave system in the entire world at 143 miles. Travel is about more than just the hotel or resort you stay at, and the TRS Yucatan Hotel's location is perfect as a home-base from which to explore the Riviera Maya. 2. The adult-only TRS Yucatan Hotel is great for couples on honeymoons, anniversaries, and romantic getaways. It's great for groups, friend getaways, birthday parties, or even a combination of the two like groups of couples. This property includes beautiful, unique accommodations like the Romance Bungalows located along the lagoon and the Private Pool Suites which as their name suggests, include your very own private swimming pool. The TRS Yucatan Hotel does adult-only luxury the right way. 1. The number 1 reason to stay at the TRS Yucatan Hotel is that it's really four resorts in one. While there are 6 à la carte restaurants and 6 bars exclusively for guests staying at TRS Yucatan Hotel, guests also have access to the neighboring Grand Palladium Riviera Maya complex which includes an additional 3 resorts with a variety of additional pool, beach, and dining options. So for instance, at the TRS Yucatan Hotel, you can enjoy the Helios Infinity Pool or the unique Saltwater pool Las Rocas, but you also have access to the Terraza Pool which stays open until midnight as well as the massive pools of the Grand Palladium Complex. You can also enjoy the additional dining options, and the entire beach that stretches across all four resorts. This episode of the Modern Travel Agent Podcast is sponsored by Palladium Hotel Group. To learn more about the TRS Yucatan Hotel, visit: https://www.palladiumhotelgroup.com/en/hotels/mexico/rivieramaya/trs-yucatan-hotel

Being a travel agent often feels like trying to do an infinite number of things in a finite amount of time. Between building relationships with your clients and partners, answering calls, replying to emails, creating quotes, servicing bookings, training yourself on product, traveling on FAM trips, and actively selling travel packages, many agents also have to market themselves, track commissions and accounting, and perform a load of administrative tasks. While many agents pride themselves on wearing multiple hats and being able to do it all, they often pay the price by sacrificing their work-life balance; or they spend so much time on smaller tasks that they can't focus on the most important and high-priority items on their to-do list. In this episode, Tiffany Wade & Tami Campbell of Tailored Assistant Services explain how using their well-trained personal assistants for your travel agent business can help you manage your time more effectively. By delegating routine tasks and responsibilities, you can free up your own time and resources to focus on your most important tasks and projects; and how much could you grow your business if you only had to do your absolute most important tasks? Learn more about Tailored Assistant Services: https://tailoredassistantservices.com Tiffany Wade: tiffany@tailoredassistantservices.com Tami Campbell: tami@tailoredassistantservices.com

On this episode of the Modern Travel Agent Podcast, we speak with Stefany Jones, Director of Retail Affairs for Palladium Hotel Group. Stefany has 18 years of experience at prominent travel providers with a focus on account management, marketing and business development. We discuss the unique selling points for each different Palladium Hotel Group brand and resort including the Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre at the Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres, the Chic Cabaret experience in Costa Mujeres, Riviera Maya, and Punta Cana, and the open-ended promotion, “two kids 17 and under stay free in the Family Selection” of Grand Palladium properties. We also discuss the strategic partnership with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, upcoming renovations and refurbishments, and how the Palladium Connect platform can help agents earn more from their bookings (https://palladiumconnect.com). This episode is sponsored by Palladium Hotel Group, a great travel-agent partner with beautiful resorts and hotels in Mexico, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Brazil, Italy, and Spain. To learn more about how you, as a travel agent, can partner with Palladium Hotel Group to grow your business, please visit: https://pro.palladiumhotelgroup.com/en/ 03:35 - Top Level View of Palladium Hotel Group Brands & Properties 06:08 - Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre 07:10 - Chic Cabaret 08:52 - Strategic Alliance with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts 09:48 - TRS Cap Cana Hotel 10:42 - Chris's Take on TRS Cap Cana Hotel and the Costa Mujeres Properties 13:34 - Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres + TRS Coral 16:28 - Grand Palladium Vallarta 17:16 - Riviera Maya Properties (Grand Palladium & TRS Yucatan) 20:45 - Different Price Points in Riviera Maya and Punta Cana 21:23 - Buy Out at TRS Cap Cana Hotel Will Allow Children 22:03 - Experiential Travel 23:06 - Two Kids Stay Free in Family Selection 28:02 - Refurbishing and Renovation of Grand Palladium Jamaica 30:00 - Grand Palladium Kantenah Refurbishments 32:17 - Palladium Connect

On this episode of the Modern Travel Agent podcast, I cover some of the latest and most relevant travel news from the past few weeks which includes: -Record numbers of arrivals in the Dominican Republic. -Some temporary and more long-term closures and renovations due to Hurricane Fiona. -The removal of Covid testing in some major Caribbean Islands. -A delayed opening for a brand new resort in Playa del Carmen. -A pilot program for online passport renewal in the US. -Two different strategic partnerships between some of the biggest hotel brands in the industry. -And new leadership at the top of Apple Leisure Group. This episode is brought to you by our partnership with the Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism. Visit https://www.godominicanrepublic.com to learn more about this beautiful destination. Record Arrivals in the Dominican Republic https://www.unwto.org/news/dominican-republic-among-unwto-members-reporting-strong-tourism-rebound https://www.instagram.com/p/CjTLUmdrpDk/ Stay up-to-date on the Dominican Republic https://www.instagram.com/davidcolladom/ https://www.instagram.com/godomrep/ https://www.godominicanrepublic.com/ Playa Resorts & Hotels Reopening Dates for Resorts in the Dominican Republic Impacted by Hurricane Fiona https://www.playaresorts.com/storm-policy Removal of Covid-19 related Entry requirements for Anguilla https://ivisitanguilla.com/ Removal of Covid-19 related Entry requirements for Bahamas https://www.bahamas.com/travelupdates Covid Entry Rules for the Caribbean https://www.travelweekly.com/Caribbean-Travel/Caribbean-readies-for-a-wave-of-reopenings Secrets Impression Moxché delayed Opening December 1, 2022 https://www.amrcollection.com/en/resorts-hotels/secrets/mexico-impression/impression-moxche/ For any additional inquiries, please contact Daniel Mellado, Director of Sales for Secrets Impression Moxché, at dmellado@secretsresorts.com. US State Department Pilot Program for Online Passport Renewal https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/have-passport/renew-online.html https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/2022/09/16/renew-passport-online/10399847002/ IHG Hotels & Resorts, Sunset World (owner), and Playa Hotels & Resorts (operator) announce a new endeavor for the boutique brand Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants with the signing of Kimpton's first all-inclusive resort. https://www.playaresorts.com/press-releases/kimpton-partnership Wyndham Hotels & Resorts and Palladium Hotel Group Sign Strategic Alliance to Expand Registry Collection Hotels with 14 All-Inclusive Resorts https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wyndham-hotels--resorts-and-palladium-hotel-group-sign-strategic-alliance-to-expand-registry-collection-hotels-with-14-all-inclusive-resorts-301590791.html Hyatt CEO Mark Hoplamazian assumes leadership of ALG as former Apple Leisure Group president and CEO Alejandro Reynal leaves company https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Hyatt-CEO-assume-leadership-Apple-Leisure-Group

In order to have a successful travel agency business, you have to be able to open, close, and scale. You have to open the opportunity, typically with a pitch explaining how you can solve your client's problem. You have to close the sale, because the longer you wait, the more likely they're going to fall off and take their business elsewhere; and you have to scale, because you can't run your business the same way with 500 clients that you did with 5. This episode is a quick look at how you can improve at opening, closing, and scaling. This episode is brought to you by Palladium Hotel Group. As agents, we're always looking to send our clients to resorts where we know they're going to have an incredible experience, and the TRS Coral in Costa Mujeres is that resort for me. It's a gorgeous property with beautiful swim-up rooms and top notch service. I loved it so much during my stay, I came home and immediately booked one of my best friends to stay there, and she absolutely loved it as well. She's also vegan, and she was super impressed with the dining options. Our Director of Weddings, Itzel Rodriguez, has now stayed 3 times since it's opening 4 years ago. To learn more about the TRS Coral and how you can partner with Palladium Hotel Group, please visit: https://pro.palladiumhotelgroup.com/en/

On this episode of the Modern Travel Agent Podcast, I sit down with Daniela Ocampo Morales and Stefany Jones of Palladium Hotel Group. Daniela is Regional Weddings Sr Manager América, and she has 15 years of experience in the wedding industry. Stefany is the Director of Retail Affairs, and she has 18 years of experience at prominent travel providers with a focus on account management, marketing and business development. We discuss destination weddings including some of the top wedding venues at their properties. We discuss wedding trends and how agents can better sell destination weddings, and we discuss Palladium Hotel Group's wedding optimizer which is a great tool that enables agents to check wedding availability online in real-time. This episode is sponsored by Palladium Hotel Group, a great travel-agent partner with beautiful resorts and hotels in Mexico, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Brazil, Italy, and Spain. To learn more about how you, as a travel agent, can partner with Palladium Hotel Group to grow your business, please visit: https://pro.palladiumhotelgroup.com/en/

We can all be set in our ways, but when it comes to business, being rigid can mean losing customers and money. In this episode of the Modern Travel Agent Podcast, I discuss some of the most common ways I was leaving money on the table by being stubborn, but more importantly, I share how I started to make more money in less time by realizing my mistakes, changing my mindset, and adopting a more flexible approach when working with my clients. This episode is brought to you by our partnership with the Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism. The Dominican Republic is a lush tropical island paradise with nearly 1,000 miles of coastline, 250 miles of the world's top beaches, gorgeous resorts and hotels, and a variety of sports, recreation and entertainment. Visit https://www.godominicanrepublic.com to learn more about all that this wonderful destination has to offer you and your clients.

The first thing I tell every travel agent starting in this industry is, “It's all about relationships.” It's about our relationships with our clients, because they have other options to book travel. They have to choose us. It's about our relationships with other agents, because travel agents, more than any industry I've seen, are about community over competition with an understanding that there's enough for all of us, and that we're all way better off collaborating and supporting one another than we are on our own. This industry is all about our relationships with our suppliers, hoteliers, and partners, because we don't control the entire process. Ultimately, when it comes time for our clients to travel, we have to hand them off to our partners, and it's up to them to deliver on the promises we've made to our clients. And because this industry is all about relationships, it's all about reputation, so in this episode, I focus on how you can grow your reputation the right way, with your clients, with other agents, and with your suppliers and partners, so that you can take your business to the next level. This episode is brought to you by our partnership with the Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism. To learn more about the different ways you can partner with the Dominican Republic to offer your clients incredible experiences, visit godominicanrepublic.com.

The most common challenge for travel agents and travel agency owners is getting new clients, and while there are a million different ways you can market your travel agency, the most consistent and proven method I've found is word of mouth. It's all about giving your clients a great experience, and then having them refer their friends and family to you. In this episode, I'm going to share a three step process you can implement to increase the number of referrals you receive for your travel agency business. This episode is brought to you by our partnership with the Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism. Visit www.godominicanrepublic.com to learn more about all that this wonderful destination has to offer.

This episode of the Modern Travel Agent Podcast covers 10 experiences that you can recommend to your clients visiting Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. We all have clients who visit a destination but never step foot off the resort, and ultimately, it's their vacation and their choice; but as a travel advisor, if you're not pushing your clients to get out and experience what the destination has to offer, then your clients are going to end up missing a huge part of what it means to visit that destination. I hope this episode will help you recommend incredible experiences for your clients. This episode is brought to you by our partnership with the Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism. Visit www.godominicanrepublic.com to learn more about all that this wonderful destination has to offer.

For those of you who struggle to set boundaries with your clients, I'm going to share some tips that will make this process much easier. This isn't an episode on mindset where I tell you to fake it ‘til you make it. That type of assertiveness training can work, but it takes much longer to implement. I'm going to share some simple ways for you to frame your boundaries to your clients, which will make it easier for you to do and make it less likely that they'll try to bulldoze. I'm also going to share some examples of specific situations where you might find yourself setting boundaries like work hours, availability, or number of destinations and resort options that you send, so that you can apply these strategies directly to your process. This episode is brought to you by Palladium Hotel Group, and if you're looking for an upscale, luxury hotel for a romantic getaway, for yourself or your clients, then the TRS Cap Cana is the perfect choice. It's situated in the heart of Cap Cana, an exclusive zone on the east coast of the Dominican Republic. Turquoise water, breathtaking wedding setups, amazing food and drink, and a perfect location make this an incredible adult-only sanctuary. To learn more about the TRS Cap Cana or how you can partner with Palladium to grow your agency business, visit https://pro.palladiumhotelgroup.com/en/. Background Photo: Suite Jacuzzi Terrace Ocean View at TRS Cap Cana

Communication is everything, and using the “Show & Tell” Method of Communication is a great way to insure your clients can envision your product and service in a tangible way and understand why each component is relevant specifically to them. I discuss the “Show & Tell” Method of Communication and how you can use it to help grow your business on Episode 15 of the Modern Travel Agent Podcast. This episode is brought to you by Palladium Hotel Group. One of the reasons we love working with Palladium Hotel Group is that we know they'll be there for us if there are any hiccups throughout the process, and finding a great partner like Palladium Hotel Group is a fundamental part of growing your travel agency business. To learn more about Palladium Hotel Group, their products and offerings, and how you can partner with them, please visit: https://pro.palladiumhotelgroup.com/en/

This episode is all about streamlining the process for how you and your team reply to emails and inquiries. Whether you're answering questions about passport requirements, safety while traveling internationally or you're explaining the value of your services, you're probably answering many of the same questions over and over again. This is why I recommend that you create an FAQ document of frequently asked questions, where you and your team share your answers to the most common questions that you receive every single day. Then when it's time to answer those emails, you can just copy & paste the answer from your shared document, make a few small adjustments tailored to your specific client, and you've saved yourself a ton of time. This also gives you an opportunity to consistently review your answers which means you can consistently improve upon them little by little. Before you know it, you'll have the perfect answers to all of the most common questions at your fingertips. On this episode, I'm going to explain the exact process you can use to create an FAQ for your agency. This episode is brought to you by Blue Diamond Resorts. As agents, we're always looking for ways to improve our process and save time, and one of the best ways to do that is to partner with resort brands that are responsive and attentive to the travel agent community. That means not having to wait ages for the resort to reply to your requests; not having emails to the wedding department go answered; not having clients return from trips, unhappy about their experience or the level of service they received. All of those things add to your plate by requiring extra time and attention, so when you have a resort partner who goes above and beyond to make sure everything is taken care of, your life becomes much easier, and you can focus on doing what you do best, which is booking incredible vacations to beautiful destinations. To learn more about Blue Diamond Resorts, you can visit: https://www.bdagentrewards.com

If you're interested in a simple system that will help you improve your process and save you time, then this is going to be a great episode for you. Every agent wants more time, but when you're in the whirlwind of replying to emails, returning calls, making reservations, and dealing with travel emergencies, it's hard to set aside the time needed to look at your process and figure out ways to improve it. That is why this system is so helpful, because whether you have 20 minutes or several hours, it works. This episode is brought to you by Blue Diamond Resorts, and as agents, we're always looking for resort options that are the best in their category. For your clients who are looking for the perfect family-friendly resort, the Planet Hollywood Cancun is a phenomenal option. They have two splash parks, a lazy river, a flowrider, minigolf, a theater, an arcade, and tons of entertainment and shows. They also offer a unique dining option in Guy Fieri's Burger Joint. To learn more about Planet Hollywood Cancun or Blue Diamond Resorts, please visit: https://www.bdagentrewards.com

One of the most challenging parts of being a travel agent is de-escalating negative situations with unhappy clients. After 12 years in the industry, I've interacted with a lot of clients, some of which were unhappy, to put it mildly, and I feel like I've learned a ton throughout this process on what works and what doesn't work, so on this episode, I'm going to share with you some of the tips I learned on how to de-escalate negative situations with unhappy clients. This episode is sponsored by Palladium Hotel Group. To learn more about how you, as a travel agent, can partner with Palladium Hotel Group to grow your business, please visit: https://pro.palladiumhotelgroup.com/en/

If you're sick of getting ghosted by your clients, then this episode is for you. I'm going to share a six step process I implemented that made a huge difference in increasing my closing percentage and reducing the number of my clients who disappeared throughout the travel planning process. Every travel agent knows that there's nothing more frustrating than spending weeks or months making recommendations, discussing options, answering questions, going back and forth over text, email or phone, just to have your clients fall off the face of the earth in the 11th hour. And while you can't avoid this entirely, there are some steps you can take to reduce the number that fall off, and when you're dealing with something so frustrating, every single one counts. The best part about this six step process is that it doesn't require any expensive software or classes, and it can be implemented by any agent at any time. This episode is sponsored by Palladium Hotel Group. To learn more about how you, as a travel agent, can partner with Palladium Hotel Group to grow your business, please visit: https://pro.palladiumhotelgroup.com/en/

On this episode of the Modern Travel Agent Podcast, I cover antigen Covid testing policies for the major resort brands that we book in Mexico and the Caribbean including Palladium, Posadas, Blue Diamond, AIC, AMR Collection, Sandos, Karisma, Playa, and Atelier. I cover two primary questions for each resort brand. 1. Is the Covid-19 antigen test included at no cost by the resort? If not, what is the cost of the test? 2. What happens if you or your clients test positive in destination? All of the links and sources can be found here: http://moderntravelagent.com/10-resort-covid-testing-quarantine-policies/

On this episode of the Modern Travel Agent Podcast, I sit down with Erika Almaraz who is a Regional Senior Weddings Manager for Palladium Hotel Group in America. Erika has 15 year of experience in the Destination Wedding industry, working in destinations like Mexico, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic. She has a hotel management degree and is a true believer in Simon Sinek's theory of starting with why. She's applied this theory in her practice to build wedding teams and convert clients into Palladium fans. If you're interested in building and leading teams or marketing and selling destination weddings, this is the perfect episode for you. Check Wedding Availability at Palladium Hotels online in real time: https://palladiumweddings.eweddingcalendar.com/Wedding-Calendar-Home

Originally published November 21, 2021: The ALGV Ascend Conference returned to Cancun, Mexico in a big way this past October with over 400 travel agents, 200 representatives from over 100 partner companies, and 65 ALGV staff to make sure everything ran smoothly. It was such a great experience to see so many familiar faces and to be surrounded by so much positivity and gratitude. There was a lot of information presented over 2 full days of workshops, but for this episode, I recap just a few of my key takeaways that I think are either interesting or will be helpful for agents moving forward. To learn more about the Royalton Riviera Cancun or Blue Diamond Resorts, visit: https://www.bdagentrewards.com For more information on submitting group service requests through Vax Vacation access, visit: https://www.vaxvacationaccess.com/suppliers/apple-leisure-group/training-pages/library/submitting-a-group-service-request/

On this episode, we speak with Nuit Hernandez who is a Director of Sales with Marival Resorts. Marival Resorts owns three properties on the Pacific coast of Mexico; in Nuevo Vallarta, they have two properties, Marival Emotions & Marival Distinct, and they have their new luxury hotel in Punta de Mita, Marival Armony. On the destination side, we discuss Puerto Vallarta, Nuevo Vallarta, and all three Marival properties. On the business and sales side, we cover the importance of agent education, of qualifying clients and putting them first, and keeping perspective during difficult times. If you've been to an airport recently, you've probably noticed that travel is back in full swing, and with that, we're looking to expand our team at Modern Travelworks. We're currently seeking to fill positions in both service and sales, so if you have experience in travel, are a team player, and are interested in joining the Modern Team, please visit modern.travel/careers for our open positions. Marival Armony: https://www.marivalarmony.com/ Marival Distinct: https://www.marivaldistinct.com/ Marival Emotions: https://www.marivalemotions.com/ Puerto Vallarta Tourism Board: https://visitpuertovallarta.com/ Riviera Nayarit Tourism Board: https://www.rivieranayarit.com/ Earn Free Stays By Booking Marival: https://marivalrewards.com/ To contact Nuit with questions or request regarding Marival: nhernandez@marivalresorts.com

On this episode of The Modern Travel Agent Podcast, we speak with Todd Kirlik who is a Senior Director with Sunwing Travel Group. Sunwing Travel Group is a 17,000 employee vertically integrated travel company with brands at the level of tour operator, airline, hotel, destination management, and retail. We do a lot of business with Sunwing, but the majority of it is done through their resort brand Blue Diamond Resorts. Blue Diamond Resorts is the sponsor of this episode, and if you're an agent who books all-inclusive travel to Mexico or the Caribbean and you're not considering Blue Diamond Resorts for your clients, I highly recommend that you check them out. They have 44 properties in 10 countries throughout Mexico and the Caribbean, and they consistently deliver a great product at a great price. To learn about Blue Diamond Resorts, you can visit: www.bdagentrewards.com

In this episode, we sit down with Charlie Thompson who is the regional sales manager at Norwegian Cruise Line. Charlie was born into travel with his mom being a veteran of the cruise industry. Charlie started his travel career right out of college while working as a youth staff member on a cruise ship based in Shanghai. From there he went on to work for a well respected host agency, helping build a curriculum for new agents to sell travel. He’s worked as a BDM with The Mark Travel Corporation overseeing over 600 different agencies and their independent contractors. Charlie has a wealth of knowledge, and it was a pleasure having him on the podcast.

In today’s episode, we interview Luke Majewski who is the Business Development Manager for AIC Hotel Group. Luke shares his insights on how agents can maximize their social media and referral programs to drive new business. He shares tools and resources that he uses to manage his social media accounts and what he sees the top agencies doing differently. Social Media Resources: https://canva.com/​ https://aichotelgroup.mediavalet.com/​ https://snapseed.online/ To connect with Luke: https://www.facebook.com/lukemajewski.hardrockaic Visit to learn more about AIC Hotel Group and their hotels: https://allinagents.com/all-institute​ Visit to learn more about Modern Travel Agent: https://ModernTravelAgent.com

In today’s episode, we interview Mary Jo Salas who is the Central Southwest Business Development Manager for AMResorts. Mary Jo’s career in the travel industry started 11 years ago when she answered an ad in the newspaper for a bilingual marketing associate. Since then, her passion for travel has led her to representing one of the largest all-inclusive resort brands in the world. Mary Jo shares what she believes the most successful travel agencies are doing differently, and she gives her advice on how travel agencies can set their agents up for success. This episode is brought to you by AMResorts, which is a collection of luxury resorts, each with its own unique personality. Raising all-inclusive to a new level of luxury, their resorts offer gourmet dining, unlimited premium drinks, elegant accommodations, and world-class spas. Visit AMRagents.com to learn more about their properties as well as their amazing agent reward program.

In today’s episode, we interview Itzel Rodriguez who is the Director of Weddings at Modern Destination Weddings. Itzel shares with us what she’s learned over the past twelve years in the wedding industry, assisting with over 700 weddings. Itzel reveals some great ways that agents can connect with wedding couples and forge strong partnerships with onsite wedding teams. She also talks about the importance of setting boundaries and managing expectations with wedding couples. Whether you are a veteran agent or you’re brand new to the industry, this episode is a must listen. Show Notes: Wedding Date & Location Availability Template

An introduction to podcast hosts and brothers, Chris & Tim, as they discuss the importance of travel agents and the lessons they’ve learned over the past 14 years of running a successful travel business. We recorded this episode prior to the January 12th announcement by the CDC regarding their new COVID testing policies. In order to help travel agents, we've created a webpage detailing the COVID testing guidelines for some of the most popular resort brands and you can find the link below in this episode's show notes. Show Notes: Resort COVID Testing Guidelines Palladium Hotel Group Free Medical Insurance Insight Selling: Surprising Research on What Sales Winners Do Differently Sunsama: Daily Task Manager & Calendar