There’s a certain confidence that comes with winning an award as coveted as the Avis Scholarship. That confidence can boost your career by giving you the courage to actively seek new clients.
That’s one of the benefits TravelManagers’ Nakita Byrne said she experienced after winning last year’s Avis Travel Agent Scholarship.
While she’s always been driven to grow her businss, the home-based consultant told KARRYON that winning the annual scholarship gave her the confidence to actively promote herself for the first time.
She said through promotional activity, her reputation as a credible Agent has grown and resulted in meeting new clients and securing additional group bookings.
Read on for more of what she had to say:
How would you say you felt about your career before winning the scholarship?
I love being a Personal Travel Manager. Travel is my absolute passion and with two children under two having the ability to combine a career and flexibility to enjoy quality time with the kids is truly motivating.
Did you see yourself advancing in your career?
I’m always looking for ways to improve myself and my business.
By winning the scholarship I’ve been able to gain the tools to provide an ever better travel experience for my clients. The referrals and accolades I’ve received since winning the Avis scholarship has definitely been an incredible boost to my career.
How did your attitude towards your career shift after winning?
It was an absolute honour and privilege to win the award, and I’ve welcomed all opportunities that have come as a result of this win with open arms.
What are some of the biggest changes you’ve seen to your career since winning?
Winning this award has given me the confidence actively promote myself and subsequently my reputation and credibility has grown as a result.
I have received some group bookings and new client enquiries specifically I can attribute to my award win. I was also recently invited to share my experiences following my award win at our recent TravelManagers Conference in Hawaii, which was a huge honour.
Do you think these changes would have happened without the scholarship?
Having a business mentor has assisted in increasing my business and learning skills around managing my time has been really valuable along with the training opportunities provided.
What advice do you offer to industry professionals considering applying for the Avis Scholarship?
Just do it, don’t overthink it – you have nothing to lose. Think about doing something different to stand out from the rest of the applicants, whilst still ensuring you stay true to yourself.
Do you think there’s anything else in the industry like it?
I don’t believe so, not to this calibre of the prize package (worth $40K), offering all the rewards, training opportunities, professional guidance and ability to attend a Phocuswright conference in Amsterdam.
Where do you think your career would be right now without the Avis Scholarship?
I am motivated to succeed and driven by a desire for excellence, but it takes time to build up your reputation.
By winning the Avis Scholarship it has provided me with instant credibility and training and business opportunities that has definitely fast forwarded my career success.
Click here for more information on the 2018 Avis Travel Agent Scholarship. You have until Friday, 12 October to apply.
- READ: ‘The Avis Travel Agent Scholarship fast-tracked my career’
- READ: Why you should use YouTube to enter the Scholarship
- READ: Applications just opened for the 2018 Scholarship