eople like Donald Trump getting in the online travel business? (You can see it for yourself at his Trump.com website.) The reason is because he is a business man in the business of making money. And he knows how huge this market has become. Even basketball great, Magic Johnson has started his own home based travel agent network.
This is no longer a secret among those wanting to make money with a growing business. Travel is the largest Industry in the world. A $7 trillion dollar industry that is growing 23% faster than the world\’s economy. And even in this failing economy, people still need a vacation. They are finding a way to save enough money to still travel.
But why lean towards an online travel business, instead of the old brick and mortar travel agencies? Simply because companies like Travelocity, Priceline and Orbitz have put so many of them out of business. We live in a hurry-up world now. No one has the time to make an appointment with a travel agent, and then try to keep it. And then you end up settling for the trip they planned for you, based on what the average person wants to see.
When you’re booking through an online travel booking portal, you can plan a vacation in the comfort of your own living room. Without time limitations, and the pressure of making your decision based on the two or three packages put in front of you.
There are some very good travel portals out there now, that are very easy to follow, and easy steps to complete the booking totally on your own. If you can read, and follow direction, you can book your own travel, and save money in the process. An email confirmation, with your confirmation number will follow, so you can double check and insure that everything has been booked to your liking. You also have contact numbers in case you have any concerns, or if changes are needed before taking your vacation.
Now that you know how easy it is for people to book travel on their own, you may understand why over 80% of the people are booking their travel online. But don’t limit yourself to only the big guys like Travelocity. The rest of the competition is out there for a reason. They are very competitive, with even better prices in a lot of cases. An up and coming travel company, TraVerus Travel, has proven to be very helpful in keeping the prices of some of the other companies in line. And their travel booking portal works just like the booking engine used by Expedia or Priceline.
Some of the online travel agencies out there also give the individual booking travel, the opportunity to start their own travel business with their company. Of course the benefit to the buyer is in the commission paid on any travel now booked on their very own travel booking site. However, start-up costs could keep folks from starting their own travel booking business when realizing companies like Trump Travel charge a healthy $10,000 for their booking engine. But if you do your research, you can also join companies like TraVerus Travel for only $200.
Archive for the Category »Travel Business «
eople like Donald Trump getting in the online travel business? (You can see it for yourself at his Trump.com website.) The reason is because he is a business man in the business of making money. And he knows how huge this market has become. Even basketball great, Magic Johnson has started his own home based travel agent network.
This is no longer a secret among those wanting to make money with a growing business. Travel is the largest Industry in the world. A $7 trillion dollar industry that is growing 23% faster than the world\’s economy. And even in this failing economy, people still need a vacation. They are finding a way to save enough money to still travel.
But why lean towards an online travel business, instead of the old brick and mortar travel agencies? Simply because companies like Travelocity, Priceline and Orbitz have put so many of them out of business. We live in a hurry-up world now. No one has the time to make an appointment with a travel agent, and then try to keep it. And then you end up settling for the trip they planned for you, based on what the average person wants to see.
When you’re booking through an online travel booking portal, you can plan a vacation in the comfort of your own living room. Without time limitations, and the pressure of making your decision based on the two or three packages put in front of you.
There are some very good travel portals out there now, that are very easy to follow, and easy steps to complete the booking totally on your own. If you can read, and follow direction, you can book your own travel, and save money in the process. An email confirmation, with your confirmation number will follow, so you can double check and insure that everything has been booked to your liking. You also have contact numbers in case you have any concerns, or if changes are needed before taking your vacation.
Now that you know how easy it is for people to book travel on their own, you may understand why over 80% of the people are booking their travel online. But don’t limit yourself to only the big guys like Travelocity. The rest of the competition is out there for a reason. They are very competitive, with even better prices in a lot of cases. An up and coming travel company, TraVerus Travel, has proven to be very helpful in keeping the prices of some of the other companies in line. And their travel booking portal works just like the booking engine used by Expedia or Priceline.
Some of the online travel agencies out there also give the individual booking travel, the opportunity to start their own travel business with their company. Of course the benefit to the buyer is in the commission paid on any travel now booked on their very own travel booking site. However, start-up costs could keep folks from starting their own travel booking business when realizing companies like Trump Travel charge a healthy $10,000 for their booking engine. But if you do your research, you can also join companies like TraVerus Travel for only $200.
You are probably considering the travel industry as a home based career choice because travel is fun and always in demand. If that is the way you think, you are absolutely right! Travel is always in demand and fun. So to be in this business you absolutely must have a dominant dose of the ‘fun’ gene.
Now that you know you have made a good choice, you need to conduct a little research with your friends and colleagues. Why? Because all the business development skills, new computers and extra phone lines for your home based business will have little value unless you know your market.
Remember, research is not necessarily selling. In fact, try to keep them separate. This research is best conducted before you actually start your travel business.
Here is research scenario one: Ask a friend what they spend on vacations.
A friend of mine has five kids and he travels to the same beach each year with the whole family. So I asked him, “How much does your resort cost each year?” He did not mind telling me at all that it was around $3,500 for a one week stay each year for the resort, plus their travel costs, which were relatively low since they always drove.
It was easy for me to explain to him that he could take his family to a higher quality resort for $3,500 this year, and only spend $300 to $800 for a week every year thereafter. That was a real eye opener for him.
My friend was not in a position to purchase a membership on account of his recent lay off, but the insight he gave me into his travel routine was very useful. He had already booked the family vacation for this year, but was more than glad to know about my discount luxury resort membership, and that he could travel during any week of the year, or even several times each year at the same rate.
My conclusion for this research was that I was in the right business. My friend’s happy face let me know that this was the right business for me to be in.
Here is research scenario two: I went to a timeshare presentation. I have avoided these for years, because everyone knows that the high pressure sales techniques of the timeshare sales force have turned many a No into a Yes.
True to form, those very nice timeshare sales professionals turned into pit bulls during the course of the presentation. I went through four managers on account of my unyielding No, and they even employed the good cop/bad cop technique on me. Their last offer was substantially better than the initial offer (from $55,000 down to $14,000), but there was no getting over the math; timeshare ownership was a substantially inferior investment when compared to the timeshare alternative I was selling from my humble home office.
This was exceptionally valuable information for me. I have never owned a timeshare, but the condo and maintenance fees associated with ownership, compounded by blackout weeks, exchange fees and upgrade charges, really helped me to understand why so many people I know that love to travel have negative feelings toward timeshare ownership. Unfortunately, a lot of them developed this distaste after their timeshare purchase.
So these two scenarios give you a little more insight into starting your own travel business. Your mileage may vary, but asking simple questions for research purposes is the key; talk to a few people about their recent travel adventure, and ask good questions. Go to places that may enhance your understanding of the travel industry, such as golf, ski, wilderness or beach resorts, or maybe even a tour of a cruise ship if that is available. Count the costs, see what customers see, get educated, and then start your own home based travel business.