Travel Industry: Get set for success with these savvy 7
Introducing 7 innovative, dynamic and fun, Travel Agent Support Services founders.
Everyone needs a backup dancer who makes them look good, so how about seven?
Get set for success with these 7 savvy travel support founders. These businesses offer a range of travel agent support services to help your team thrive effortlessly. From marketing, customised training, personal branding and social media to systems, online tools and supplier updates, here’s the travel pros you need to know.
This travel agent support services (TASS) collective of independent female founders has all the skills and info you need to take your brain and business to the next level.
Find out more about these seven savvy TASS founders below and join them online for a special live update at 12pm AEST on Friday 28 June to learn more and tap into their collective know-how.
Travel Agent Finder founder Anna Shannon
Travel Agent Finder is a specialist-matching search platform for advisors and travellers and assists independent and home-based agents to boost their online presence, showcase expertise and build social proof to attract more ideal clients.
With a corporate marketing background and 10 years as a travel advisor, Anna Shannon uses her expertise to help more than 1,000 members improve their visibility and generate new leads.
“When the world is your product, it’s not always possible to know everything about everywhere. I’m passionate about raising agents’ online visibility. Helping travellers connect with the right specialist leads to higher conversion and lets agents book more of what they love.”
Connect with Anna here. Check out Travel Agent Finder here.
Travel Agent Achievers founder Rosyln Ranse
Travel Agent Achievers empowers advisors to unlock their potential and build businesses that align with their personal goals and values. Through a step-by-step approach, it offers actionable strategies for business success through online courses, in-person workshops and retreats and a mentoring program.
Founder Roslyn Ranse is a practicing consultant and a sought-after speaker, mentor and Travel Agent Achievers podcast host.
“In today’s competitive market, to stand out, travel advisors need to market themselves, sell services and manage client expectations, which often leads to long days and overwhelm. Over my career, I’ve developed strategies that allow me to run a business I love without sacrificing what matters most.”
Connect with Roslyn here. Check out Travel Agent Achievers here.
The Stephanie Myers Academy founder Stephanie Myers
The Stephanie Myers Academy mentors independent travel business owners to build an irresistible digital influence through personal branding, lead generation, content creation and collaboration.
With 16-plus years’ industry experience, Myers hosts the Unplug In Paradise podcast, mentors advisors through her flagship Travel Agent Runway® online program and founded the annual Travel Trend Summit.
“It’s time to break away from old-school industry ways and do travel in a fun, new way by being recognised as a thought leader. It’s not enough to ‘just’ be a travel agent anymore as consumers want more points of contact with us than ever before.”
Connect with Stephanie here. Check out Stephanie Myers Academy here.
Red Grape Social founder Wendy Addinsall
Red Grape Social is your digital guide to enhance online visibility, engage your audience and turn leads into loyalty. It caters solely to travel agents, addressing unique challenges with comprehensive services, including social media management, one-on-one coaching, email marketing and Facebook advertising.
With degrees in MediaLab Arts and Professional Broadcasting, Wendy Addinsall combines her love for digital marketing and travel (70 countries and counting!) at Red Grape Social.
“Our approach is straightforward but effective, focusing on genuine connections over generic content and overwhelming strategies. With over 17 years’ experience, we know what makes your clients tick.”
Connect with Wendy here. Check out Red Grape Social here.
Tour Atlas & TravelCMS co-founder Alex Obleshchuk
The Tour Atlas online directory allows advisors to find and send itineraries, pricing and availability to clients in a digital format in minutes. From touring to cruising, rail journeys to wholesalers, it provides an unbiased search platform to find the best product for your client every time.
TravelCMS is a flexible white-label system that can function as a search engine for existing agency websites or a complete website with all the tech and marketing capacity to promote your favourite products and suppliers – without engaging a web developer or website host.
Co-Founders Alex and Greg Obleshchuk first launched Tour Atlas in 2018 and continue to build easy-to-use and affordable products for travel professionals: “We believe your business should be run your way.”
Connect with Alex here. Check out Tour Atlas here and TravelCMS here.
The Travel Trainer founder Sonja Leicester
The Travel Trainer offers customised training for travel agency owners, managers, consultants and industry students, enhancing their skills and systems for thriving businesses and careers.
With 30 years of broad industry experience, founder Sonja Leicester, a qualified trainer and lecturer, brings learning to life in a fun, engaging and relatable way. Sonja recently launched the Specialist Travel Training Directory, a free online resource boosting travel professionals’ careers and students’ employability. Click on the ‘Request Industry Access’ button on the home page to enter the directory.
“I know the challenge of fitting in training amidst client work, so I make it precise, practical, fast and fun, tailored to any travel brand, budget, timeframe and method. I love the freedom and joy that learning new skills and systems brings to people”
TOP TIP FOR 2024: Every travel agency owner or manager should read; Selling with Love: Earn with Integrity and Expand Your Impact by Jason Marc Campbell. Available here.
In short: Selling with Love is designed to shift your way of thinking about sales, unlocking your ability to further your mission without hesitation and without compromise. Achieve results and do it your way.
Once you know how to do it and you truly understand why it’s so important, you’ll be unstoppable in your growth and impact—and even more aligned with your core values.
Connect with Sonja here. Check out The Travel Trainer here.
Destination Webinars founder Charlie Trevena
Destination Webinars allows travel advisors to access destination and product updates through live and pre-recorded webinars with more than 500 on-demand recordings in its library, making it easy for agents to connect with suppliers online and increase knowledge and sales.
With 20-plus years in travel and tourism and a background in sales and marketing, Charlie Trevena is passionate about easy access to engaging, ongoing, bite-sized training.
“The world is a wonderfully big place with countless destinations and experiences and as a busy travel seller, it can be hard to keep up with updates. I love helping agents learn and increase their sales.”
Connect with Charlie here. Check out Destination Webinars here.
Meet your Travel Agent Support Services (TASS) online
Want to know more? The travel industry (professionals and students) are invited to meet these amazing TASS Founders online on Friday, 28 June 2024 at 12pm AEST via a 30-minute update and Q&A session.
By registering here and attending this exclusive session, you will also be in the running to win a $50 Prize gift card*, which will be drawn live during the presentation, so don’t miss out!
Author: Sonja Leicester, The Travel Trainer and others, 19 June 2024
The Travel Trainer
