TASK™ Prep is the only live, hands-on training program in the industry that delivers aspiring new travel agents or those that have an interest in breaking away from their host agency, an entry level training program on how to become a successful, independent travel agent. The one-of-a-kind program gives participants the hands-on experience they need to start up their own travel business.
TASK™ Prep is the perfect program designed to suit those who are brand new to the industry. These participants will leave the program with the same competencies as already established agents. At TASK™ Prep, you will be given an education based on the 25 years travel experience of travel guru, Tammy Levent.
How long TASK™ Prep take?
The TASK™ Prep training is a full day live event in various cities around the United States, as well as, Virtual Training to get you prepared before attending, providing new agents with a one-stop-shop for travel agency education. This compact beginners training is the only one of its kind. TASK™ Prep will teach the first steps in becoming a successful entrepreneur in the travel industry. The agents will receive consistent support and guidance throughout the training from industry professionals and have the benefit of being surrounded by like-minded individuals, driving innovation and motivation for the new business development.
The format of the program is designed to maximize retention and accountability for new agents.
TASK™ Prep Curriculum
The curriculum consists of 12 sections that will cover all the essential information beginning travel agents need to start their own business. It includes tips and tricks of the trade that are relevant for new agents to help build a successful business and gives valuable insights for later phases of being in the business. The content of each TASK™ Prep section is described below:
1. Setting Up a Business and Getting Accredited
The first section of the training focuses on the logistics of becoming a travel entrepreneur. It is designed to inspire all agents to choose their own business entity that allows them to operate without being attached to a host agency, franchise or working for another travel agency. For those who are just stepping into the travel agent’s shoes, TASK™ Prep will help to set up a successful business starting with a catchy company name and identity, and progressing into the basics of creating a business plan.
Participants will also receive training on how to correctly choose the business entity that is suitable for the individual as well as the state in which the participant is located in. Students are consulted on the basics of taxations matters such as IRS Forms needed when hiring independent contractors (W9) and contract agreements using real life examples.
2. Complying with Regulations
The second section familiarizes participants with the regulatory obligations that a travel entrepreneur must comply with before and during their business operations. The curriculum will touch on the mandatory insurance requirements and explore the regional, national and international differences, the important of Error and Omission insurance and where to get it, how to register as a Seller of Travel, and the necessity of surety bonds.
Participants will also learn the importance of complying with all other state and regional regulations depending on their place of business. The training helps to build a level of comfort in regulations and requirements by bridging the gap between easily understandable real-life examples and complex industry terminology.
3. Building a Website and a Brand
With today’s businesses moving online at exponential speeds, travel agents need to be well-prepared with a carefully constructed digital strategy. The third section of TASK™ Prep focuses on building an online and offline presence through a quality website and online branding. Participants will examine various website options and learn which website type works best for agents and why, as well as explore different types of branding such as brand strategy, brand identity, brand management, and brand experience. TASK™ Prep registrants will have the opportunity to partner with a design studio and build co-branded websites with easy to navigate features and all the tools necessary to begin promoting their business for small monthly fees.
The agents are exposed to real-life examples of successful and unsuccessful brands and will collectively analyze them to be able to make the right decisions for their own company. TASK™ Prep students will leave training with the knowledge of how to create a strong, unique brand identity, and how to utilize powerful brand markers such as a creating a memorable name, functional logo, and approachable brand personality.
4. Marketing Your Agency
This section of TASK™ Prep will help make social media a more approachable and accessible method of marketing for the new travel agent. We will debunk the myths associated with social media as a marketing tool and learn what digital platforms should be used, how much work is required, and what to expect to see in terms of results. TASK™ Prep participants will learn how to set quantifiable goals and create budgets to support creative, but mindful online marketing strategies that include:
- Call-to-Actions (CTA)
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
- Videography
- Blogging
- Social media advertising
- Email blasts
The training also builds on traditional marketing principles such as budgets, market research and customer satisfaction that can be applied to each business type. The participants are also introduced to giveaways and other promotional tactics that can be used to increase sales and retain clients.
5. Industry Knowledge
Understanding the dynamics and the current condition of the industry can be tricky without the right knowledge or guidance. This section of TASK™ Prep provides participants with insight regarding key stakeholders in the travel industry. The training focuses on creating a clear map of identifying trending areas of business. Participants are given the foundational necessities of the industry, such as industry terminology and upcoming economic trends. The section introduces changes in travel trends and how it will impact the industry structure in order to prepare them for strategic business planning.
6. Strategic Partnerships
The 6th section will focus on building strategic relationships and partnerships to benefit the business. Here, we will debunk the theory that many of the new agents have that makes them think they need to work under a host agency in order to access suppliers. On the contrary, this training will bring the suppliers directly to the agents and straighten this common misconception. This section will show participants how they can have control of all aspects of their business starting from the external vendors and suppliers.
The agents will learn who to book and sell with and why it is essential to maintain good relationships with these businesses. TASK™ Prep participants will have access to top-tier business development managers from a hand-picked list of sponsors and vendors of the program. This is an exclusive opportunity that is provided solely for TASK™ Prep students. All students will be provided with suggestions on tour companies that will give them access to global travel opportunities, who are easy to book with, and who will leave the agent with the highest commissions.
7. Travel Insurance
This section focuses strictly on the role of travel insurance in the industry. The training will expand on which travel insurance package agents should sell and why. The seriousness of the matter is brought to life through real-life experiences that are analyzed so students will know how to avoid potentially devastating circumstances in their business. More importantly, the agents will learn how to sell peace of mind to their clients. By selling insurance from a list of suggested providers agents will learn how to earn over 30% more on travel insurance with each account.
8. Selling to Customers
Who are the travelers today? Which demographics are traveling the most? What type of destinations and experiences are they looking for? Where are travelers seeking information today? How are they making their decisions of purchase? In order for the TASK™ prep participants to operate a successful business, they must learn about their future customer base.Customers are the key to existence for any agent, and this is why it is essential that the training helps the participants understand how to get leads in the industry.
This section is the customer-oriented portion of training that teaches participants how to find information on their potential clients, evaluate the data and leverage in their business. The agents learn the importance of market research and staying on top of changing consumer trends. TASK™ Prep participants will learn the power of networking and how to use it to create sales, retain customers, and build their business quickly and efficiently.
Agents at TASK™ Prep will be exposed to the various tools that can be used in lead generation and they will learn how to use them in a way that best appeals to their target market. For example, all TASK™ Prep participants will be give the benefit of using a free four-day, three-night all-inclusive trip as the first source of leads on their new website. Agents are also shown how Elite Travel currently utilizes free giveaways to obtain over 60,000 leads per year.
The participants will leave knowing what questions to ask when clients call and how to compile and send out proper emails and other collateral. TASK™ Prep will dramatically improve the agents’ overall communication skills.
9. Customer Communications
Businesses only have one chance to make a first impression on a client. TASK™ Prep participants will be introduced to various software and tools that provide the best and easiest ways to communicate with customers. TASK™ Prep will teach the participants how to send quotes by using specific itinerary management tools used by travel professionals worldwide, as well as what the presentation of the information should look like and what to avoid.
This section also provides new agents with a glimpse into consumer behavior as it applies in the travel industry today. TASK™ Prep participants will learn the basics of how and why travelers behave in a certain way and what they can do as a business to influence their response. Agents will leave knowing how to sell to different personality types and how to capitalize on their own personality in their sales pitch.
10. Pricing and Travel Legalities
Pricing strategy is one of the most difficult things to determine as a starting entrepreneur. TASK™ Prep will train agents to set fee structures and what the consequences are for choosing not to charge fees. The training will cover items such as implementing cancellation penalties, the basics of finance and invoicing.
Finally, the participants will learn why the right set of terms and conditions are critical in various areas of business and also have a chance to construct their own terms and conditions for their new travel business.
11. Choosing the Right Software
You must wear multiple hats at once when owning a small business. Being in charge of all aspects of a business from marketing to lead generation and accounting can be extremely overwhelming for a starting entrepreneur. In this section, TASK™ Prep students will be introduced to several tools that can be used to help ease and streamline the day-to-day operations of the business such as using Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software and accounting software. Participants are encouraged to find the software that best fits their business needs and which they personally find most convenient.
12. Hiring Independent Contractors
Sooner or later, and with much optimism, your travel business will outgrow the capabilities of one person. To be prepared for this future growth, TASK™ prep provides agents with training on hiring and working with independent contractors.
The training will cover the timing and expenses related to hiring and managing independent contractors. Agents will leave knowing exactly what to pay independent contractors in terms of commissions and other important legal matters involved in the process. This final section will cover how to ensure that the company brand remains congruent to customers, especially through the work of an independent contractor.
What Happens After the Training?
TASK™ Prep is designed to ensure that all new agents are staying on track within their learning curve and that they have correctly applied the knowledge that they have gained in the training. Upon the completion of TASK™ Prep, a carefully constructed follow-up process will be implemented to monitor the progress of all attendees. All participants will receive checklists to track their own progress and allow them to set actionable goals based on their personalized business path.
TASK™ prep students will receive Virtual Monthly Training Prior to TASK Prep Live. This exclusive support is an opportunity for each agent to communicate questions and send materials for review to the program trainers. TASK™ Prep trainers will help new agents ensure that their first deliverables, such as quotes and emails, are written properly and are equipped to achieve their purpose.
Psychology of Selling
As an additional benefit from the program, each participant will receive a list of books and further educational materials that will help them in professional development. These materials will give more content and tips on how to close deals and improve their selling skills.