Modern Travel Agent Podcast

In this episode, we discuss how agents can book destination weddings with Francisco Alvarez, the Regional Weddings Sales Manager of America with Palladium Hotel Group. We cover Palladium's brand new 2024 wedding packages, their new booking and planning process, their unique event options like the S'mores Bash, and we discuss how agents can better sell destination weddings at their beautiful hotels.

Weddings By Palladium Info (2024): https://moderntravelagent.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WEDDING-BY-PALLADIUM-INFO-2024-ENG.pdf

Weddings by Palladium - Weddings Catalogue (2024): https://moderntravelagent.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Weddings-by-Palladium-Weddings-Catalogue-2024.pdf

Weddings by Palladium - Wedding Timeline: https://moderntravelagent.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Weddings-by-Palladium-Wedding-Timeline.pdf

This episode is brought to you by our partnership with Palladium Hotel Group.

On this episode, I share the lessons I've learned from our Director of Operations Krystal Aziz and our Director of Weddings Itzel Rodriguez.

This episode is brought to you by our partnership with the Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism. Visit https://dotravelrewards.com to take advantage of their travel agent rewards program.

In this episode, I share 3 lessons to grow your travel agent business with integrity and kindness.

This episode is brought to you by our partnership with the Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism. Visit https://dotravelrewards.com to take advantage of their travel agent rewards program.

I just returned from an 8-night stay in the Dominican Republic which was my 3rd visit in the past 15 months. It's safe to say the Dominican Republic is my favorite destination to visit and recommend.

I'm going to be releasing full breakdowns of all of the resorts I visited, but in this episode, I just want to share a little about what I think makes the Dominican Republic so special.

This episode of the Modern Travel Agent Podcast is brought to you by our partnership with the Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism. If you're currently booking Dominican Republic but you're not registered with their rewards program, you're leaving money on the table. Take a few minutes and register here: https://dotravelrewards.com

In this episode of the Modern Travel Agent Podcast, I outline 4 tips to help you master your travel agent consultation calls.

This episode of the Modern Travel Agent Podcast is brought to you by our partnership with Palladium Hotel Group. With over 50 hotels worldwide and 16,000 rooms in Mexico, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Brazil, Spain and Italy, Palladium Hotel Group offers great resort options for vacations of all kinds. Palladium Hotel Group has a wonderful team of business development managers, eager to help you learn more about their resorts and how you can partner with them to offer your clients incredible experiences. I’ve included their contact information here:

Palladium Hotel Group BDM Contact Information - https://moderntravelagent.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Palladium-Hotel-Group-USA-BDM-Territory-Distribution.pdf

Site Inspections are such an important aspect of being a successful travel agent. They provide an opportunity not just to expand your knowledge by seeing the resorts firsthand, but also by helping you create new partnerships. In this episode of the Modern Travel Agent Podcast, I detail 7 ways you can maximize the impact of your site inspections.

This episode of the Modern Travel Agent Podcast is brought to you by our partnership with Palladium Hotel Group. With over 50 hotels worldwide and 16,000 rooms in Mexico, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Brazil, Spain and Italy, Palladium Hotel Group offers great resort options for vacations of all kinds. Palladium Hotel Group has a wonderful team of business development managers, eager to help you learn more about their resorts and how you can partner with them to offer your clients incredible experiences. I’ve included their contact information here:

Palladium Hotel Group BDM Contact Information - https://moderntravelagent.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Palladium-Hotel-Group-USA-BDM-Territory-Distribution.pdf

In this episode of the Modern Travel Agent Podcast, we discuss the top wedding venues of Palladium Hotel Group with Daniela Ocampo Morales, the Regional Weddings Sr Manager America for Palladium Hotel Group.

This episode is brought to you by our partnership with Palladium Hotel Group. If you have any questions about Palladium Hotel Group, you can access the contact information for all of their BDMs below.

Palladium Hotel Group BDM Contact Information: https://moderntravelagent.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Palladium-Hotel-Group-USA-BDM-Territory-Distribution.pdf

We recommend watching this episode on Spotify or Youtube.

In this episode of the Modern Travel Agent Podcast, I share a little bit about my stay at Margaritaville Island Reserve Cap Cana. With a unique minibar based point system that allows you to stock your minibar with exactly what you want, great themed restaurants and bars, and a location on the beautiful Juanillo Beach, Margaritaville Island Reserve Cap Cana is a great option for adult-only and family-friendly vacations alike. This episode is brought to you by our partnership with the Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism.

In this episode of Modern Travel Agent Podcast, I reflect on the top lessons I learned from 2023.

The things that worked last year weren't necessarily the things that worked this year which means the things that worked this year won't necessarily be the things that work next year. I'm setting aside 10% - 20% of my time next year to test and find next year's thing.

However much time I’m focusing on cultivating and building relationships, I need to spend more time on it. Relationships are probably the single most important thing in this industry.

The challenges I face aren’t knowledge problems. They’re execution problems. I have to do a better job starting and a better job finishing. Less procrastinating, more starting. Less perfectionism, more finishing.

I have to continue to improve my process to stay organized and structured. Whether that’s using google sheets or an app like Sunsama, I have to make sure I’m tracking my projects and tasks so I know everything I need to accomplish and when I need to accomplish it by. That way, I’m able to hold myself accountable. Otherwise, deadlines come and go, and things get pushed back or delayed. In 2024, I’m focusing on hitting deadlines.

This episode of the Modern Travel Agent Podcast is brought to you by our partnership with Palladium Hotel Group. Palladium Hotel Group has some great properties, and if you haven't checked out the previous episode where I cover the beautiful TRS Coral and Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres, I recommend you give it a watch or listen.

Learn How To Become A Travel Agent: https://linktr.ee/ModernTravelAgent If you’re planning your clients' next vacation, then the adult-only TRS Coral Hotel or the family-friendly Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres Resort & Spa could be the perfect fit for them. These two beautiful properties are located on a gorgeous stretch of beach approximately 25 minutes north of Cancun so while you can enjoy the calmer beaches of Costa Mujeres, you’re still close enough to experience the excursions and nightlife of Cancun. And because Costa Mujeres is protected by Isla Mujeres, it doesn’t have the same seaweed problems that you’ll see further south. But the biggest selling point is that it’s essentially two resorts for the price of one. Guests staying at the TRS Coral have full access to the neighboring Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres for a total of 30+ restaurants, bars, and cafés, and adults staying in the upgraded Family Selection at Grand Palladium have full access to the TRS Coral, should you want to experience a little adult-only R&R while your kiddos are enjoying the Kids Club. The swim-up suites are a favorite. They give you the option of a more laid-back, semi-private pool experience which is great to combine with the fun of the main pool. You want food delivered to your swim-up? No problem. These hotels are all about unique experiences. For instance, you can enjoy the sunset on your boat transfer to dinner. You can find peace in the 48,000 square foot Zentropia spa which has an international spa menu, offering a collection of treatments and massages from all over the world. The Rafa Nadal Tennis Center offers classes and programs suitable for all levels with 8 floodlit clay tennis courts, a soccer field, a sports Café, a museum experience, and the Rafa Nadal Shop. Chic Cabaret offers an elevated on-resort entertainment experience where you can enjoy a 3-hr 5-course meal with drinks while watching incredibly talented singers and dancers cover classic 50’s rock all the way up to present day pop, with a touch of Latin rhythm. This isn’t your standard resort entertainment, so it does come at an additional cost. We’ve been told the new rates for 2024 will be $50 for guests at TRS Coral & Grand Palladium Family Selection and $100 for guests at Grand Palladium, but be sure to check online before your trip so you can make sure to budget accordingly. If you’re looking for a beautiful beach, a variety of restaurants and bars, and tons of opportunities for unique on-site experiences, the adult-only TRS Coral Hotel & the family-friendly Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres Resort & Spa are great options for your next vacation. This episode is brought to you by our partnership with Palladium Hotel Group.

In our new series "Resorts You Should Know," we highlight our top resorts and their unique selling points so you're better able to share these wonderful resorts with your clients. In Part 1, we cover Casa de Campo Resort & Villas in La Romana, Dominican Republic.

Known as a favorite luxury destination for celebrities who relish the 7,000 acre private gated community, the activities are world-class — 8 outstanding restaurants including the stunning Minitas Beach Club, a Marina, Equestrian Center featuring Polo, Shooting Course, great shopping, 3 private pristine white sand beaches, and 3 Pete Dye golf courses including Teeth of the Dog, the #1 ranked course in the Caribbean.

This episode is brought to you by our partnership with the Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism.

Learn How To Become A Travel Agent: https://linktr.ee/ModernTravelAgent

It’s important to take pride in our work, but at some point, perfectionism is just a fear of judgment. It’s a fear of failure. It’s a fear that if we ship our work, then maybe our client or our colleague or our audience won’t like it. It won’t be good enough.

So because we fear failure, we find excuses not to deliver our work. We continually make small, unnecessary improvements to the project, over and over again. So what’s the solution? For me, it’s reminding myself of the advice my brother Tim Evans, the Founder and CEO of Modern Travelworks, gave me. 

He always says, “GETMO.” Good Enough To Move On. It doesn’t need to be perfect. We don’t need to make every single possible improvement. We don’t need to waste hours on unnecessary details. We need to work hard on our projects, complete them, and then move on to our next important project.

Follow Through: The most important thing for your business is you doing what you say you’re going to do. It’s also the most difficult. As travel agents, we always have a million things pulling at us: in-destination travel emergencies, frantic last minute questions and bookings, quotes, requests, and emails. But these things will never go away.

This is why it’s important to underpromise and overdeliver. It’s much better to tell your client that you’ll have travel packages over to them by tomorrow evening and send them tomorrow afternoon than it is to tell them you’ll have quotes to them today and send them tomorrow morning. The best way to grow your business is to gain the trust of your clients, and the best way to gain the trust of your clients is to follow through.

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/

On this episode of the Modern Travel Agent Podcast, I sit down with Stefany Jones, Director of Retail Affairs for Palladium Hotel Group, and we discuss everything you need to know about Palladium Hotel Group heading into 2024.

We start the discussion by covering the different brands under the Palladium Hotel Group umbrella including the luxury adult-only TRS Hotels, the family-friendly Grand Palladium Hotels, and the exclusive, elevated family-friendly experience of Family Selection at Grand Palladium Hotels.

Then we cover the recent renovations and projects in Montego Bay and the Riviera Maya. We discuss unique selling points like the Rafa Nadal Tennis Center in the Playa Mujeres complex, the Chic Cabaret experience in Playa Mujeres, Riviera Maya, and Punta Cana, and the upcoming Le Petite Chef and Bravo Dine & Dance Experience.

This episode is brought to you by Palladium Hotel Group. Whether you're already selling Palladium Hotel Group resorts or you're brand new, I think you'll find this episode really helpful; and if you want to learn more about Palladium Hotel Group, they have a wonderful team of Business Development Managers that are available to educate, assist, and partner with you every step of the way.

Palladium Hotel Group BDM Contact Information: https://moderntravelagent.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Palladium-Hotel-Group-USA-BDM-Territory-Distribution.pdf

Palladium Hotel Group 2024 Black Friday Sale: https://moderntravelagent.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Palladium-Hotel-Group-2023-Black-Friday-Promotion.pdf

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/

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

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.

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/

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

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 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.