“Your life doesn’t get better by chance; it gets better by change.” If you are a Travel Advisor, Consultant or Manager looking to improve your career, this Jim Rohn quote could be the reminder you need to take action. Make the change from being an employee tied to one place and a daily commute, to being your own boss with the ability to work when and where you want when you switch to being a home-based partner with TravelManagers.
TravelManagers is Australia’s leading home-based mobile travel advisory business with 17 years of experience assisting travel professionals like you run their business.
Whether you are a specialist in a distinct niche or destination, an expert in luxury or cruise or a generalist dealing in leisure or corporate, TravelManagers offers a model that allows you to do what you do best, with comprehensive support in the areas where you need it.
Switching to TravelManagers gives you access to their complete back-end system. This includes finance, marketing, sales, specialist product and more. Key supplier relationships, ensure you receive competitive rates including Signature Travel Network’s huge portfolio of luxury hotels, tours, niche providers, and DMCs.
Change to a transparent and inspiring partner
Choosing the right partner for operating your business is as critical as deciding whether you want to be a specialist or generalist and who your target market will be. TravelManagers’ transparency and openness mean you can gauge whether you’re a match based on demonstrable facts, not fluffy marketing statements. Don’t take our word for it, read what TravelManagers’ personal travel managers (PTMs) have to say.
When you join TravelManagers you’re treated like family. Tamara Tiffin, from Green Pigeon, NSW, says this is a welcome benefit.
Tamara revealed, “TravelManagers support and systems are designed completely for home-based consultants, and it shows.” She continues, “My previous host did not specialise in home-based businesses. I often felt like an outsider and a nuisance with any systems queries.”
Tamara continues, “TravelManagers’ is like a well-oiled machine with kind, caring, knowledgeable, and helpful people which means I feel like I have a team working for, and with me. The TravelManagers culture is one of support, knowledge, power, inspiration, quality, honesty, and integrity.”
Switch – store or office based for home-based
While ditching the retail store or corporate office for a home-based business wasn’t part of many agents’ business strategies: COVID changed the Australian travel landscape unequivocally.
Industry veteran Joanne Miller (Greystanes, NSW) knows all about the pandemic upheaval. In 2021, she decided being locked into a retail contract was far too risky. She commented, “The cost-benefit of the home-based model was exactly what I needed to reinvent myself and my business.”
After 28 years in a traditional agency environment, Joanne was not surprised to discover differences. She shared, “I enjoy being totally in control of my hours, and where and when I see clients – it’s empowering! I can easily work around family commitments. While Joanne missed having a physical team around her, she said, “Extensive support options allow me to connect with supportive fellow PTMs easily.”
Opt for Peace of Mind
A fundamental TravelManagers ethos is around financial security of client funds and the wellbeing of PTMs and their clients. As we reported recently, there’s the new TravelManagers Customer Fund (TCF) which delivers protection in the event of a supplier collapse. This is the final component in the company’s Peace of Mind promise which was introduced in 2014.
Mindarie, WA-based Carleigh Wheeler, a PTM since 2019, values the company’s commitment to financial integrity. She says, “The importance TravelManagers puts on our financial process is invaluable. In particular, having total transparency with the Client Trust Account instils confidence, knowing both my client’s money and mine are safe at all times.”
Your business goes where you go
The unprecedented increase in cross-state relocations since the pandemic has impacted travel agents across the country. While more traditional retail shop models don’t afford the flexibility to take your business with you, the TravelManagers set-up suits it perfectly.
After 22-years in the industry in four retail stores, Serrin Tabart (Kensington, QLD) started her TravelManagers journey in Victoria but then moved to Queensland with minimal effort and zero disruption to her business. “My business goes with me wherever I am. It doesn’t matter where I’m physically located, if I have internet my ‘door’ is open for business.”
Serrin continues, “Moving interstate I had plenty of personal things to change so having TravelManagers take care of the business ones, like informing suppliers of my move. was a great time saver. Since moving, I have felt so welcome in Queensland. My new local Business Partnership Manager is a huge support, offering encouragement, business guidance, and a listening ear.”
Support and training that contributes to your success
A concern raised about shifting to a home-based model from people who have left the industry and not being active for an extended period of time is learning new systems and adjusting to changes in processes etc.
Claire Crosby, a Parkdale, VIC PTM, moved to TravelManagers eight years ago after 15 years in a more traditional agency environment and 6 years as a stay-at-home mum.
Claire started slowly allowing herself time to learn the systems and reconnect with the industry, so she didn’t feel overwhelmed. “I had no pressure to meet targets and was allowed all the time needed to retrain myself before launching into it full time. I had never used Amadeus before, and never really sold leisure as my background had been corporate and group events. TravelManagers run webinars across all aspects of the business – supplier updates, fares and ticketing guidance, Tramada training – so I signed up to as many of those as I could and invested that time in educating myself.
After eight years Claire has a highly successful business and should be proud of what she has achieved on re-entering the travel industry.
Agents, are you ready to make the change?
If making change for your future success is on your mind, reach out to Graciela Craig on (02) 8062 6400 for a ‘confidential’ chat or head here to join.
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