Do you have a passion for travel?
Does the idea of helping others create great memories sound fun?
If that’s up your alley, and you’re looking for remote, flexible work, you may want to check out jobs in the online travel industry.
In the second article of our Work from Home Job Ideas for Moms series, we talk to three moms who work from home in the travel industry: Stacy Collier, Kristy Ouellette, and Kelly Daily Rebarchak. Check out their helpful tips for getting started in the industry, finding clients, and much more!
Stacy Collier is a Texas travel agent with Holiday Travel out of Lake Charles, Louisiana. She’s a Cruise Lines International Association-certified travel specialist, has a Masters of Adventure from Royal Caribbean, and attained Commodore level with Princess Cruise Lines. In addition to being highly-trained as a Cruise Specialist, she also graduated from Disney’s College of Knowledge and Universal Orlando Travel Agent programs. As a former classroom teacher and now a homeschool mom, Stacy ran a private tutoring business for seven years prior to becoming an agent. She’s passionate about customer service and enjoys treating clients like VIPs.
Do you have a niche as a travel agent?
I love booking cruises. Carnival and Royal Caribbean both have ports within two to three hours of where I live. For me, cruises are the best combination of destinations, relaxation, and an all-inclusive experience. These vessels have ice skating rinks, rock climbing walls, more than 10 dining options, Broadway shows, kids and teen clubs, water slides, etc. I also manage other types of vacations, such as Disney and Universal vacations. A Disney vacation offers many different options. Not many people know that besides the theme parks (Walt Disney World and Disneyland), there’s also the Disney Cruise Line, River Cruises, Adventures by Disney, and Aulani Resort in Hawaii. Adventures by Disney has 37 planned trips on six continents
How many hours, on average, do you work per week?
My weekly schedule varies. During peak travel-booking seasons (mid-winter is called “Wave Season”), I work more hours. Generally, I try to put in at least one hour per day, but when creating quotes for clients, I can end up spending anywhere from three to five hours. I’m busiest when creating quotes and managing phone conferences with clients. With three children, ages 15, 13, and 11, this has been a great fit for me.
What experience helped you break into the field?
I’m an educator by trade but have been out of the formal classroom for some time. While a degree isn’t necessary to be a travel agent, you need a high level of organization, great people skills, the ability to communicate clearly, and an aptitude for learning and retaining industry training and changes. I’m approaching my one-year anniversary, and I’m excited to continue with it!
How do you find clients?
I’m responsible for generating my own leads and client acquisitions. I have to market myself and communicate the latest deals and offers to the community around me. Facebook is a great place to reach many people outside my geographical area. I love referrals! My employer will also give me opportunities to work at expos. Basically, I have to be tenacious and hungry to gain success in sales.
Are there any helpful resources for getting started as a travel agent?
The best advice for beginners is to find a brick and mortar travel agency in your area. In one year, I’ve had some of the craziest client situations arise: flights getting moved, clients passing away, large group bookings, ticket cancellations, vendor to client reimbursements, etc. Being able to walk into the office and meet with my employer, who has 30+ years of experience, has proven to be invaluable.
What’s the best advice you can give moms who want to do what you’re doing?
Do your research. Your paycheck won’t come until after your clients have traveled. In some cases, that can be two years away! You have to be okay with working hard upfront for a late payoff. Also, know that your cut of the payout is just a percentage of a small percentage paid to the employer. On average, it takes about four years to be at part-time pay and around seven or so for full-time. It takes a good while to build your client base and receive a paycheck every month. And it’s wise to set attainable goals when you begin.
How can people connect with you?
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pixiedustbystacy/
Email: Pixiedust@aggienetwork.com
Kristy Ouellette plans magical vacations and is the owner of Mickey Guru Travel Company, LLC. Having worked in the travel industry for nearly seven years, she handles every detail and helps clients receive the best value. Kristy loves helping others create amazing memories. She uses her personal experience and professional training to ensure her clients are ready to have a blast!
How did you start working as an owner of a travel agency? What does an owner do?
Utilizing my experience in business management and human resources, I decided to apply my entrepreneurial spirit to the travel industry. As a vacation planner, I take care of all the stress and work of planning so that my clients can have all the fun. As an agency owner, I have other responsibilities, including training agents on my team, processing payroll, providing support and guidance, and so much more. I manage a team of 28 agents who work from home all over the United States, and my weekly schedule can vary wildly. Most weeks I work between 50 and 60 hours per week, but sometimes I can work as little as 10.
How many kids do you have and how do you manage your time working from home?
I have one daughter who is 16; she was 10 when I launched my travel career. I carve out time in my calendar for my family first, then I fill in time for work around it. It can be very challenging, and my husband is 150 percent supportive, which is definitely required. I’m not sure I could have run an agency when my daughter was very young, but I have many moms with young children on my team. Being a travel agent is also demanding but much less so than actually owning an agency.
Do you like to focus on certain types of vacations more than others?
I love planning Disney vacations—Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, Aulani (a Hawaiian Resort & Spa), and Adventures by Disney. I have so many incredible memories with my family at Disney destinations and love to use my knowledge and experience to help clients create their own memories. Disney can be very overwhelming, and there’s a lot of misinformation out there; directing people through the chaos is really rewarding. I’m also obsessed with cruising, so planning cruises for my clients, whether it’s Disney or Royal Caribbean or Norwegian, is a lot of fun!
What experience helped you break into the field?
For several years, I worked in the field of early childhood education as an administrator for a large corporate childcare program. During that time, I learned a lot about managing a successful business, creating authentic bonds with clients, and how to motivate and train employees.
How do you find clients?
Our clients almost always find us via referrals from their friends and family. We’ve done very little by way of formal marketing because word spreads about our services like wildfire, and we’ve been very fortunate to keep making magic for people!
Are there any helpful resources for getting started as an owner of a travel agency or travel agent?
There are so many opportunities to become involved in the travel industry; it’s really important to be cautious and do your research. Avoid MLM style organizations that have you recruiting others to be agents, rather than selling travel and servicing clients. You want an agency that will see you as a person and is as committed to your success as you are! My agency, Mickey Guru Travel Company, LLC, is always open to bringing the right new agent on our team. Reach out via our website for more info!
What’s the best piece of advice you can give moms who want to do what you’re doing? It’s crucial to understand that this is not a “get rich quick” type of thing, and a lot of time and effort are required to build a successful travel business. You don’t have to spend a lot to make money, but you have to be ready to work hard. While there are perks for successful agents, be aware that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is! Don’t fall for ads that say, “Become a travel agent and travel for free!” I know it sounds enticing, but, it’s not true. You will not travel for free—ever. It just doesn’t happen, and when you see that ad, it’s nothing more than a company trying to take advantage of unsuspecting people.
Where can people stay in touch with you?
Website: www.mickeyguru.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mickeygurutravel
Instagram: www.instagram.com/mickeyguru
Kelly Daily Rebarchak is an independent travel agent with over a year of experience in the travel industry, plus 18 years in sales, marketing, and recruiting. She specializes in coordinating Disney-related travel and group cruises, with an emphasis on group cruises for 501(c)(3) charity organizations. Kelly, a mom of two kids, has a passion for travel and loves the freedom of being an independent travel agent.
How did you start working as an independent travel agent?
I saw a Facebook advertisement on a local community group page, stating they were looking for people who have a passion for travel, who want to set their own hours and work from home. Plus, I could earn a commission back on my own travel. It was all very positive, so I didn’t hesitate to ask for more information. I started with my love of Disney and immediately earned a certification with the College of Disney Knowledge. I also specialize in group cruising, focusing on charity fundraising cruises; in other words, I help increase 501(c)(3) charities’ fundraising capital by thousands of dollars by volunteering to coordinate the cruise. Together, we make a big difference in their capital campaign by adding to their bottom line.
How many hours do you work per week?
My hours vary and always revolve around my family and school/sports schedules. I use a simple online calendar, my laptop, and cell phone to manage my own time. I’m my own boss, so I decide if I’m going to work or going on a field trip or running errands. I have worked as little as five hours a week up to 40 depending on my clients’ bookings and travel schedules. My host travel company partners with vendors who offer 24-hour assistance for my clients in case they encounter an emergency or have an issue while traveling. This helps me not to always be on-call.
What education or experience do you need to work in the field?
There’s no official degree or any type of license with continuing education credits required to be a travel agent. It helps if you have booked your own travel and/or have traveled yourself. I have extensive travel experience and had previously put together a few family/friend groups where we have all traveled together. Plus, I have almost 20 years of sales, marketing, and recruitment experience. Not that sales experience is necessary. I work with successful agents who have zero sales experience. What makes a difference is the training and certification programs available to us.
How do you find clients?
After I earned a few certifications, I started booking travel with friends and family. I was then referred to their friends, co-workers, and acquaintances. Then, I began to reach out to various groups and organizations by offering my services at no additional charge since I’m paid via the vendor. I look for travel opportunities via local business networking groups, Facebook groups, and charity groups, and I watch the trends on how to find clients. I market my travel services by using a professional online monthly travel newsletter and sending out mailings—both of which are prepared for me at no cost via my host travel company’s marketing partner.
Are there any helpful resources for getting started?
Chose a host travel company that specializes in being a work-at-home travel agency. One that offers free certifications, your own free website, and a strong system of training and personal support. If you find a company who has upfront fees and/or monthly operating costs, ask if they offer a 30-day 100% Money-Back Guarantee and a 12-month Profit Guarantee to minimize your risk. Also, look for companies that have a triple A rating with the Better Business Bureau.
What advice can you give to moms who are thinking of doing what you’re doing?
If you want to work from home in either a full-time career opportunity or a side interest that pays, you can! Book travel for clients as often or as little as you like. You can work every day or only book travel a few times a year. If you want to work from home and have time to volunteer at school and also have time to attend concerts and plays, then jump in with both feet! You can be an independent travel agent earning a commission, or you can work at it as a hobby where you’ll have access to great travel deals for your family.
How can people contact you?
Email: gotravelbykelly@gmail.com
Articles are for informational and self-help purposes only. They should not be treated as a substitute for psychological, behavioral health, medical, financial, relationship, or career advice or as a substitute for consultation with a qualified professional. Nothing in any Article is intended as a recommendation or endorsement of any products, services, healthcare provider, opinions or other information that may be mentioned in our Services.
The opinions expressed by the author and those providing comments are theirs alone and do not reflect the opinions of Mother’s Day Magazine. Mother’s Day Magazine is not responsible for the accuracy of the information supplied by the author.