Wednesday, April 01, 2020

Improve Yourself and Your Business During the Virus Shutdown

Podcast Number 412
SHOW NOTES
The future is bright for the travel industry even though it doesn't seem that way right now. The Coronavirus has us all staying in place but that doesn't mean that your business or personal development has to stay in place. It is time to "sharpen the saw," as Stephen Covey says in his book, "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People." Now is the perfect time for learning skills that improve your business such as Facebook marketing, destination learning, picking up skills on how to better operate your business, and so much more. In addition, this is a great time to work on those important designations such as Certified Travel Associate (CTA), Certified Travel Counselor (CTC), or the Certified Travel Industry Executive (CTIE). Guida Botelho, CTIE, from The Travel Institute, joins us for our show this month to talk about many things that you can do "sharpen the saw" while we are in this forced period of downtime. Guida and The Travel Institute are here to help us get through this time by offering several free courses that will get you off to a good start on improving your business. The offer of free courses is available until April 15, 2020, so you will want to take advantage of this offer quickly. Join us by listening to the show and let the sharpening begin.
LINKS TO ITEMS WE TALKED ABOUT
Check out The Travel Institute‘s home page to learn more about educational opportunities.
CONNECT WITH US
The Home Based Travel Agent Show Facebook Page
Sharp Tongued Consulting Facebook Page
Sharped Tongued Consulting - Lorene's Travel Agent Website
Barry's Facebook Page
Lorene's Facebook Page
Email Barry at barry@hometravelagent.net
Email Lorene at sharptongued@mac.com
Music Credits:
The song, "Zazzie" is by Kevin McLoed and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ The song, "Mining by Moonlight" is by Kevin McLoed and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
The Home Based Travel Agent Show is available on your television through Roku in the Blubrry Channel. You can also find us on Blubrry at Blubrry.com.The Home Based Travel Agent Show is a proud affiliate of the ASTA Small Business Network - Formerly NACTA. Thank you for listening to the Home Based Travel Agent Podcast.
© 2020 All Rights Reserved

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posted by Barry at 8:43 AM 0 comments

Saturday, February 29, 2020

Diane Petras CTIE, from The Travel Institute on the State of the Industry and Travel Agent Training

Podcast Number 411
SHOW NOTES
Diane Petras CTIE, the President of The Travel Institute, joins us on this month’s show to talk about the state of the travel industry and about travel agent training. The Travel Institute recently commissioned a survey where 2,000 travel agents participated and provided great insights into the state of the travel industry. Diane shares with us some of the results with answers to questions like, how does travel agent training impact the income of the travel agent? She also discusses results that reveal how satisfied agents are with their careers, and why people become travel agents. You will find the answers to these questions and much more in this show so join us and learn.
LINKS TO ITEMS WE TALKED ABOUT
Check out the The Travel Institute‘s home page to learn more about educational opportunities.
Read an article >>Here<< discussing the results of the survey and how independent contractors are changing the face of the retail travel industry.
More survey results that tell us how education impacts the earning potential for travel agents. Read the article >>Here<<.
CONNECT WITH US
The Home Based Travel Agent Show Facebook Page
Sharp Tongued Consulting Facebook Page
Sharped Tongued Consulting - Lorene's Travel Agent Website
Barry's Facebook Page
Lorene's Facebook Page
Email Barry at barry@hometravelagent.net
Email Lorene at sharptongued@mac.com
Music Credits:
The song, "Zazzie" is by Kevin McLoed and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ The song, "Mining by Moonlight" is by Kevin McLoed and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
The Home Based Travel Agent Show is available on your television through Roku in the Blubrry Channel. You can also find us on Blubrry at Blubrry.com.The Home Based Travel Agent Show is a proud affiliate of the ASTA Small Business Network - Formerly NACTA. Thank you for listening to the Home Based Travel Agent Podcast.
© 2020 All Rights Reserved

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posted by Barry at 8:33 PM 0 comments

Saturday, September 30, 2017

383 - Host Agency Review

Podcast Number 383
SHOW NOTES
 The host agency is the most important part of a home based travel agent's business. Due diligence is required before you choose or change to a new host agency. But how do you do that due diligence? Well, there aren't that many options to make a good investigation. But, one good option does exist and that is Host Agency Reviews. The service provided by Host Agency Reviews is like the Yelp or Tripadvisor for the home based agent looking for a host agency that fits their business model. Stephanie Lee, the founder of Host Agency Reviews, joins our Show to talk about her website and the many services she offers the travel agent. Steph's website features educational articles, a podcast, a list of travel jobs and travel agent reviews. This is a great resource you will learn more about in this Show.
LINKS TO ITEMS DISCUSSED IN THE SHOW
 Host Agency Reviews
 Steph was on our show back in 2010. She joined us in Show 253 and Show 260.
CONNECT WITH US
The Home Based Travel Agent Show Facebook Page
Sharp Tongued Consulting Facebook Page
Sharped Tongued Consulting - Lorene's Travel Agent Website
Barry's Facebook Page
Lorene's Facebook Page
Email Barry at barry@hometravelagent.net
Email Lorene at sharptongued@mac.com
Music Credits:
Waves by LAKEY INSPIRED https://soundcloud.com/lakeyinspired Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported— CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b... Music provided by Music for Creators https://youtu.be/5CXlD4dD7ck Palm Trees by Ehrling https://soundcloud.com/ehrling Music provided by Music for Creators https://youtu.be/GKVWD2AR0Ug
The Home Based Travel Agent Show is available on your television through Roku in the Blubrry Channel. You can also find us on Blubrry at Blubrry.com.The Home Based Travel Agent Show is a proud affiliate of the National Association of Career Travel Agents - NACTA.Thank you for listening to the Home Based Travel Agent Podcast.

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posted by Barry at 6:33 PM 0 comments

Sunday, October 16, 2011

308 - Travel Agents Learn How to Become Full Service by Selling Airline Tickets


Podcast Number 308

Try GoToMeeting free for 30 Days!




COHOSTED SEGMENT

Bobbi Hamida joins us for part two of his interview. Bobbi is the Strategic Air Director for the host agency Nexion. In this segment we discuss how travel agents can become full service agents without purchasing and learning a Global Distribution System (GDS). Why book a cruise for your clients and then send them to the internet to find flights to their embarkation point. That's a recipe for giving away business. Nexion has developed a point and click interface that allows you to book air for your clients and collect a commission. You can learn more about this exciting service by listening to the show.




Travel News

National Cruise Vacation Week offers travel agents the opportunity to give their clients exceptional value for a cruise vacation.

Disney World turns 40

The best all inclusive vacation values




Visit us on Facebook –

Barry at http://www.facebook.com/barry.kantz

Lorene at http://www.facebook.com/lorener

Gary at http://www.facebook.com/gary.ebels.

Join the Home Based Travel Agent Show Facebook Group.

On Twitter

Lorene’s Twitter name is lorener

Barry’s Twitter name is kantzb

Gary's Twitter name is gary222

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

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 and Gary at wdwgary@gmail.com.











The Good FeelingChristian McBride Big Band
"Brother Mister" (mp3)
from "The Good Feeling"
(Mack Avenue Records)
Buy at Amazon MP3
More On This Album

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posted by Barry at 2:32 PM 0 comments

Sunday, September 21, 2008

173 - Is River Boat Cruising a Niche for You?

Podcast Number One-hundred-seventy-three

Mike Davies of River Discount Cruises joins Lorene and Barry to talk about selling in the niche market of river boat cruises. Mike is an independent home based travel agent. Mike shares with the audience ideas and tricks to help you enter this lucrative niche market. Come on board and learn more.

Mikes other river boat cruising websites are:

www.riverdiscounts.com
www.danubecruising.com
www.rhinecruisingforless.com
www.cruisingrussia.com
www.rivercruisereports.com

Mike discusses the five major river boat tour operators:

Gate One
Avalon
Amadeus
Tauk
Scenic Tours


GotoMeeting is now available for the Mac. Get a 30 day free trial at http://www.gotometting.com/podcasts.

Learn, enjoy, produce and prosper!

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!

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



Be That WayThe Hot Club of San Francisco
"Be That Way" (mp3)
from "Be That Way"
(Panda Digital)

More On This Album

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posted by Barry at 1:02 PM 0 comments

Sunday, July 20, 2008

165 - NCL University, Learn, Have Fun and Boost Your Business

Podcast Number One-hundred-sixty-five

Schools about to start and what better time to sign up for NCL University. NCL University is the most interactive informal travel training available today. At NCLU you will receive training, receive CLIA credits and qualify for discounted cruises aboard NCL. Listen to the show and learn more about the NCLU.

I received an email from Monika looking for more information about becoming a space tourism specialist. She heard about this specialty in HBTA Show 100 and wanted more information. I did some research and discovered the only host agency working with Virgin Galactic, the space tour company, is Virtuoso. Watching the movie on Virtuoso's specialty page is fascinating and makes me want to sign up for the space journey. I've included a link to the page HERE.


Check out the new AGENT2AGENT forum at http://agent2agent.lefora.com/forum/

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!

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



Funky JibaroYomo Toro
"Mambo Oriental" (mp3)
from "Funky Jibaro"
(Soundscape)

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

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posted by Barry at 5:51 PM 0 comments

Sunday, May 25, 2008

157 - Become Recognized as a True Travel Professional!

Podcast Number One-hundred-fifty-seven

Is credibility, competence, education and experience important to you. You can bet those qualities are important to the clients and suppliers you serve. The problem is telling the world you possess these essential qualities. The Travel Professionals Network is developing designations you earn by demonstrating such qualities. The Travel Professional Network designations will help you tell the world you are a professional travel agent. Listen to the show and learn more about the Travel Professionals Network and the process to earn these important credentials.


Other links we discussed in the show:

The Amateur Traveler Podcast

The Aetna Insurance Company - for individual health insurance

The American Community Insurance Company - for individual health insurance


Check out the new AGENT2AGENT forum at http://agent2agent.lefora.com/forum/



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



ExperienciasYolanda Duke
"Ya te olvide" (mp3)
from "Experiencias"
(Amigos Music)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody
Buy at Napster
Buy at Rhapsody
Buy at GroupieTunes
Buy at mTraks Download
More On This Album

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posted by Barry at 9:25 PM 0 comments

Sunday, May 18, 2008

156 - How to Stand Out As A Travel Agent

Podcast Number One-hundred-fifty-six


In this show Barry and Lorene talk about things you can do for your client that will make you stand out as a travel agent. Listen and learn about a variety of resources available for your clients where they can learn about destinations, walking tours, weather, hotel rooms and much more. Plus you have the opportunity to attend a virtual travel expo coming up soon. Listen and learn more!

Links we discussed in the show:

Double Tree Hotel in Bay City, Michigan

Agent at Home Magazine

The Virtual Home Based Expo

The Weather Underground

The Amateur Traveler Podcast

Tips for Travellers

Notes From Spain

Alask Airlines

Check out the new AGENT2AGENT forum at http://agent2agent.lefora.com/forum/



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
The Shanghai Restoration ProjectThe Shanghai Restoration Project & Dez
"Miss Shanghai" (mp3)
from "The Shanghai Restoration Project"
(Undercover Culture Music)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Buy at eMusic
Buy at Rhapsody
Buy at Napster
Stream from Rhapsody
Buy at Amazon
Buy at GroupieTunes
Buy at mTraks Download
More On This Album

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posted by Barry at 1:38 PM 0 comments

Sunday, December 23, 2007

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



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

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

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posted by Barry at 6:45 PM 0 comments