Travel Agents Help your Business...

You can use a travel agent for "Grand Opening" giveaways!

Depending on your choice of business model and service, and travel agents can be your secret weapon to Better Business and customer engagement.

How?

As a small or big business having something to offer customers for their patronage beyond your service is a nice way to build repeat business or even say thank you. So give them a trip provided by a travel agent at low to no-cost to you.

You can apply the concept to employees too. Rewarding hard work is not a new ides, matter of fact it is coming back to help retain employees. End of year bonuses, quarterly goals, project completion, sales goals and the list goes on. A low-cost solution for a job well done.

With a world full of options both online and brick and mortar maintaining and retaining customers and employee becomes difficult. Small businesses can't keep up with the salary demands of their employees offered by bigger companies. Customers have so many options now that no matter what you put on sale or product you carry if you're not the only option in your area or town it's a challenge because they'll go find it online. We're just offering you an alternative to marketing SEO and all the other things we require as businesses to generate income through customers and clients.

Incentive based items to give away just makes sense if the cost is something that does not cause a red line and helps keep you in the black.

And then there is the part of the business model where your employees are required to travel to places conferences and sales meetings, yes you can find interesting things online but customization of your travel needs and itineraries go over better when you can talk to someone to explain exactly what you want how much you want to spend and what perks you want added to the trip unbeknownst to the employee.

Trade Show and Conferences

Here's an example: there is a sales trade show in Las Vegas and this employee that's going to attend it for the department is your most reliable and best salesman or person in the company they're on the fast track for middle management to upper management if they maintain their sales behavior. The room upgrade that your travel agent can get for your employee as and encouragement and a thank you is very different than what you'll find on Expedia. Same thing goes for car rental same thing goes for activities you can offer to your employee as a thank you for doing the trade show and having the good sales of the year. It's like having a secret tool. Let other companies wonder how you're retaining so many employees.

Why?

Business to business is as important to your travel agent as it is to you. The agent has the exact same needs that you do just in a different direction. If you use them for incentive travel there's a 60% chance you will call and ask a travel related question about a destination or itinerary that the agent might be able to help with. Let's just keep it honest, mutual need outweighs the greed. Now I speak for myself not for every travel agent, if I have 20 businesses that use me to help, to plan, and when needed oversee the travel to avoid problems. That's worth more to me than one company who pays me $1,000,000 for one trip. As every salesman knows your continued sales are based on the relationships that you built same thing goes for restaurants, bars, real estate, salons. and the grocery stores. Hoping in relationship with a professional that has your best interest is a relationship worth cultivating.

Here's AI's take on using a Travel Agents for your "Business" needs.

Using a travel agent for your business needs can offer several advantages:

Cost Savings: Travel agents often have access to deals and special offers that are not visible to regular consumers. They can provide discounts on flights and accommodations, which can save your business money.

Time Efficiency: Travel agents handle all the details of your travel plans, from research to booking. This can save you a significant amount of time and effort, allowing you to focus on your core business activities.

Personalized Service: Travel agents provide a higher level of customer service. They remain your single point of contact from the time you start planning until after you return from your trip. This ensures a smooth and hassle-free travel experience.

Expertise and Local Knowledge: Travel agents have industry connections and relationships that provide added value. They can offer local expertise and connect you with unique, off-the-beaten-path experiences that you might not find on your own.

Troubleshooting and Support: In case of any issues or changes in your travel plans, travel agents can help troubleshoot and resolve problems quickly. They provide round-the-clock assistance, ensuring that you have support whenever you need it.

Compliance with Corporate Travel Policies: Travel agents can help ensure that your travel plans comply with your company's travel policies, reducing the risk of non-compliance and potential issues.

Here's the clincher. Depending on the travel agent and travel agency you have nothing to lose by asking some questions finding out what they can offer you and your company. Be open to more then just getting there, staying there, and leaving there. You will be glad you did.

2/9/2025

Written by J. Blanks