Favorite Travel Agent Resources

Everyone has a resource they depend on when they are working, whether it be a favorite newspaper, organization or website. We asked travel agents to give us an idea of what resources they depend on:

Specialist Associations

“My favorite travel agent resource is DWHSA (Destination Wedding Honeymoon Specialists Association),” said Megan Amelio, Owner Romance Travel Specialist of Romance Leisure Travel in Chicago, Illinois.

She’s been a member for more than a year and a half and said it’s a game-changer for her business.

“The member website has all the tools and trainings you need to be a romance travel specialist,” she said. “They hold weekly webinars, annual conferences, FAMs for Romance Travel and much more. The member-only Facebook group is my go-to resource when I have questions or am doing research for my clients’ trips. The members have so much experience and, being an independent travel agent with no host, this group has been invaluable to my career and my business. If I didn’t have DWHSA to turn to, I’d be lost.”

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Facebook Groups

“My favorite travel agent resource is my host agency’s private Facebook group,” said Sarah Fazendin, Family Travel Designer with Tafari Travel, Virtuoso in Denver, Colorado.

“This is a forum where agents can ask questions and get advice from other agents in the community. For things like sharing contact information for sales contacts and BDMs or property recommendations for a destination in which I’m not an expert, this is my go-to resource. This is just another reason why it’s important to choose your host agency carefully and be sure that they are offering support and community to all agents.”

GIFTE

“Marketing and mindset educational resources via the Global Institute for Travel Entrepreneurs (GIFTE), said Vanessa McGovern, CEO and Co-Founder, Gifted Travel Network. “Opt-in for the 20 video series on a variety of client attraction topics.

READ MORE: The Home-Based Travel Agent’s Keys to Success

Apps and Websites

“Believe it or not, we use travel websites like Expedia and Kayak for booking some flights,” said Jacqui Whitt of Adios Adventure Travel in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

“They make it easy for us to book other people, and we can pay with any credit card. I like Expedia the best because they have good customer service and they’re easy to contact by phone, just in case I make a mistake or something comes up.”

Whitt also depends on Ebates for small rebates on flights and What’s App—what she calls the best tool for communicating with people in foreign countries.

“It works on any phone,” she said. “Text, calls, send photos or docs. It’s free. It’s best to set up before leaving on your trip. Travelers can use it to stay in touch with friends and family at home. It’s the simplest, cheapest way to be in touch while traveling abroad.”

READ MORE: 6 Ingredients of a Successful Travel Agent

Resort Personnel

“I use the hotel and resort managers and personnel to help me upgrade my clients,” said Margie Lenau, of Wonderland Family Vacations in Grand Rapids, Michigan. “To meet these people, I like to go on FAMs, but I am very selective about the trips I do. Going to these resorts and hotels is the only way to get the detailed information that I can use.”

“My favorite travel agent resources are the Virtuoso website and the Tour Connection portal,” said Alex Dalton, an independent affiliate of Travel Experts. “Both of these sites help me immensely as guides to finding hotel specifics and getting the email address of the sales reps. Each serves a different clientele, the higher end being Virtuoso clients and the entertainment clients’ needs being filled by Tour Connection.”

Just recently, Dalton needed an upgrade for a client who had just had a traumatic experience in her life.

“I thought getting an upgrade for her would cheer her up a little bit and, sure enough, using Virtuoso I found the right rep to email and, hey, presto-upgrade.”

What resources do you depend on for your travel agency business?