136 - Are You Making a Business Plan for 2008? Add This Great Product to Your Portfolio

Podcast Number One-hundred-thirty-six

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Kathleen Kavanaugh from the Globus Family of Brands joins Lorene and I to discuss exciting opportunities for travel agents selling the Avalon Waterways river boat cruise packages. Kathleen describes the cultural and scenic adventures that are available on the Avalon Waterways cruises. Listen to the show and learn about the value river boat cruising offers your clients. Kathleen tells you how you can learn more about selling this great product by attending webcasts or in person events coming to a location near you in 2008. The Globus Family of Brands are strong supporters of the home based travel agent community. Check out the support they offer you at their website, "Globus At Home."

This podcast is sponsored by GoToMeeting

Check out Lorenes travel agent website at www.sharptonguedconsulting.com.

Check out Blubrry. It's a great place to be a listener. You can comment on podcasts you listen to and you can sign up to be friends with the podcasters on the Blubrry Network. Go over to Blubrry, sign up and become my friend. I would like to get to know all of you!

Stop by my travel business site Special Destinations where you can just browse or create your own account and blog. Would you like to get more information about the travel business, about life and about business in general? Check out my personal blog at http://www.hometravelagent.net/WordPress/ Thank you for listening to the Home Based Travel Agent Podcast. You can email me at barry@hometravelagent.net or email Lorene at sharptongued@mac.com

Barney McClure Trio
"Spot" (mp3)
from "Spot"
(OA2 Records)

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Getting Your Business Started - Show 2 Back to Basics

Podcast Number One-hundred-thirty-five

This is a continuation of the back to basic shows. Barry and Lorene talk about issues in setting up your home based travel business. We discuss a general overview of setting up your business, host agencies, suppliers, marketing and training. Listen in if you are thinking about starting a travel business. Or, if you've already taken the plunge, this is a good review for you. Barry concludes the show with a little holiday cheer from downtown Boston.

This podcast is sponsored by GoToMeeting

Check out Lorenes travel agent website at www.sharptonguedconsulting.com.

Check out Blubrry. It's a great place to be a listener. You can comment on podcasts you listen to and you can sign up to be friends with the podcasters on the Blubrry Network. Go over to Blubrry, sign up and become my friend. I would like to get to know all of you!

Stop by my travel business site Special Destinations where you can just browse or create your own account and blog. Would you like to get more information about the travel business, about life and about business in general? Check out my personal blog at http://www.hometravelagent.net/WordPress/ Thank you for listening to the Home Based Travel Agent Podcast. You can email me at barry@hometravelagent.net or email Lorene at sharptongued@mac.com

Buselli-Wallarab Jazz Orchestra
"I'll Be Home for Christmas" (mp3)
from "Carol Of The Bells"
(Owl Studios)

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Starting a Home Based Travel Business, The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

Podcast Number One-hundred-thirty-four

Barry and Lorene discuss the realities of starting a home based travel agent business. This show is the first of two shows about back to the basics of beginning a travel business. Starting any kind of business can present challenges. The travel business is no different. Finding and selling your first clients can be the biggest challenge and the biggest thrill when you make that first sale. Listen in and get a reality check on the home based travel business.

This podcast is sponsored by GoToMeeting

Check out Lorenes travel agent website at www.sharptonguedconsulting.com.

Check out Blubrry. It's a great place to be a listener. You can comment on podcasts you listen to and you can sign up to be friends with the podcasters on the Blubrry Network. Go over to Blubrry, sign up and become my friend. I would like to get to know all of you!

Stop by my travel business site Special Destinations where you can just browse or create your own account and blog. Would you like to get more information about the travel business, about life and about business in general? Check out my personal blog at http://www.hometravelagent.net/WordPress/ Thank you for listening to the Home Based Travel Agent Podcast. You can email me at barry@hometravelagent.net or email Lorene at sharptongued@mac.com

Buselli-Wallarab Jazz Orchestra
"Carol of the Bells" (mp3)
from "Carol Of The Bells"
(Owl Studios)

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Fun at the Luxury Travel Expo and the Home Based Travel Agent Expo

Podcast Number One-hundred-thirty-three

Lorene returned from Las Vegas where she attended the Luxury Expo and the Home Based Travel Agent Expo and Conference. Loreen describes the interesting things that she learned and some very interesting experiences that were quite touching.

This podcast is sponsored by GoToMeeting

Check out Lorenes travel agent website at www.sharptonguedconsulting.com.

Check out Blubrry. It's a great place to be a listener. You can comment on podcasts you listen to and you can sign up to be friends with the podcasters on the Blubrry Network. Go over to Blubrry, sign up and become my friend. I would like to get to know all of you!

Stop by my travel business site Special Destinations where you can just browse or create your own account and blog. Would you like to get more information about the travel business, about life and about business in general? Check out my personal blog at http://www.hometravelagent.net/WordPress/ Thank you for listening to the Home Based Travel Agent Podcast. You can email me at barry@hometravelagent.net or email Lorene at sharptongued@mac.com

Twelve Girls Band
"The First Noel" (mp3)
from "Twelve Girls of Christmas"
(Domo Records)

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Lorene's Barcelona Experience Plus Gift Giving Ideas for the Travel Agent

Podcast Number One-hundred-thirty-two

Lorene is back from her Mediterranean cruise and pre and post stays in Barcelona. Lorene talks about her experience in Barcelona and the amazing Gaudi architecture. You can see photos and obtain a lot of information about Barcelona at http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com. I am ready for a trip to Barcelona after hearing Lorene's experiences in Barcelona and seeing pictures on the above website and some of Lorene's photos.

Lorene was greeted by Gaston Magrinat of the Barcelona Experience tours. Gaston took Lorene and Gayle on a bicycle tour of Barcelona. Gaston really focuses on a personal experience for the traveler. Gaston's company is one you should put in your list of suppliers and use his services when you have clients traveling to Barcelona.

A Chicago Tribune article lists several excellent gift ideas for the person who loves to travel. Barry talks about these items and how many of the items will make excellent gifts for clients. In the co-hosted segment Lorene talks about a great gift idea, the knapsack travel blanket. You can find the blanket at Lug Travel.

Barry adds another gift idea that is described as the "Physicians' Desk Reference" for travelers. The idea is the book is just as important to travelers as the "Physicians' Desk Reference" is to physicians. This book should be on the shelf of every travel agent as an important reference tool. The book is, "The Complete Travel Detective Bible: The Consummate Insider Tells You What You Need to Know in an Increasingly Complex World!" The book's author is Peter Greenberg. Peter Greenberg has traveled to more than 146 different countries, he is the travel editor for NBC's Today Show and he has authored many best selling books.

This podcast is sponsored by GoToMeeting

Check out Lorenes travel agent website at www.sharptonguedconsulting.com.

Check out Blubrry. It's a great place to be a listener. You can comment on podcasts you listen to and you can sign up to be friends with the podcasters on the Blubrry Network. Go over to Blubrry, sign up and become my friend. I would like to get to know all of you!

Stop by my travel business site Special Destinations where you can just browse or create your own account and blog. Would you like to get more information about the travel business, about life and about business in general? Check out my personal blog at http://www.hometravelagent.net/WordPress/ Thank you for listening to the Home Based Travel Agent Podcast. You can email me at barry@hometravelagent.net or email Lorene at sharptongued@mac.com

Buselli-Wallarab Jazz Orchestra
"Skating" (mp3)
from "Carol Of The Bells"
(Owl Studios)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Buy at eMusic
Stream from Rhapsody
Buy at Rhapsody
Buy at Napster
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More On This Album