Written By: Mary Pat Sullivan, Content Director – Travel Weekly Events
Professional development is critical to growth and success for any business. Anyone in the industry would agree that one of the best ways to learn is from your successful peers. This year, Travel Weekly is excited to offer the opportunity for travel advisors to participate in educational tracks based on their longevity in the business. Wednesday morning from 9:30am to 11:30am, attendees can choose to take part in either “New to the Industry: Setting Up My Home-Based Business” or “Advancing Your Business: Expanding Your Luxury Sales & Profitability”.
The first track, “New to the Industry: Setting Up My Home-Based Business” will feature two sessions led by industry veterans Joanie Ogg of Ogg Marketing Group and Travel Professional NEWS, and Geoff Millar, owner of Ultimate All-Inclusive Travel Inc. and former member of the Global Travel Marketplace Advisory Board.
Joanie will delve into the specifics of beginning and managing a travel business and help the audience to understand the options and opportunities available to them. With years of experience under her belt and her book “How to Start a Home Based Travel Agency”, Joanie has helped thousands of travel professionals make their entrepreneurial dreams come true.
Geoff will then go into the necessary steps of building a successful business plan, from licensing, to registering your business, insurance questions, and more. Geoff is the owner of a multi-million dollar agency with a background in sales and sales management, and a veteran speaker at CruiseWorld.
On the more advanced track, “Advancing your Business: Expanding Your Luxury Sales & Profitability”, CruiseWorld will have two workshops focusing on increasing your profitability. These will be led by Richard D’Ambrosio of Hudson Valley Communications, and Myrna Arroyo, owner of Roux Luxury Travel, a Virtuoso agency.
Richard will help attendees learn how to use storytelling to increase their sales, how strong marketing can impact the number of prospects in your pipeline, and how by adding stories into your marketing you can close more sales and attract more profitable clients. Audience members will walk away with tangible tips that they can put to use right away.
Myrna will teach travel professionals how to attract and convert luxury travelers to become clients. She’ll deep-dive into the core principles that will not only attract these lucrative clients, but repel price shoppers and time wasters. This session will build on Richard’s, further emphasizing how a compelling story can give you the leads you need.
The range and variety of topics and speakers at CruiseWorld provides value for all types of travel advisors. The event is an educational and motivational opportunity not to be missed for both newer home-based professionals as well as seasoned and successful veterans.
CruiseWorld will be held November 13th-15th at the Greater Fort Lauderdale Broward County Convention Center, with a record 15 ship inspection opportunities available in both Fort Lauderdale and Miami on November 16th and 17th following the event.
For more information on Travel Weekly’s CruiseWorld, including the full event agenda and available ship inspection opportunities, visit www.cruiseworldshow.com.
Travel Professional Community members can use the special partner promotion code HBTA to receive a $25 discount off the current event registration rate.