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.

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Email Barry at barry@hometravelagent.net

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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.

The Home Based Travel Agent Show, Lorene, or Barry, receive no compensation from the guests on our show, or from the companies they represent unless we state otherwise during the show. We invite guests to our show because they offer something of value to the travel trade community. The Home Based Travel Agent Show is primarily funded from the resources of Barry Kantz and Lorene Romero.

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

Podcast Number 308

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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.

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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

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Visit us on Facebook –

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

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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.

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Christian McBride Big Band
"Brother Mister" (mp3)
from "The Good Feeling"
(Mack Avenue Records)
Buy at Amazon MP3
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283 - NACTA The Travel Agent's Water Cooler, Where You Go For Support and Education

Podcast Number 283

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BUSINESS SEGMENT

Learn how to become a well known travel expert in your hometown.

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CO HOSTED SEGMENT

Bob Duglin, the Director of Industry Relations for the National Association of Career Travel Agents (NACTA), joins Lorene and Barry in this week's co-hosted segment. Bob talks about the many services NACTA offers the independent travel agent. NACTA offers many educational opportunities for travel agents including fam trips and seminars at sea. If you are not a member of NACTA you can take advantage of a special discount offered by Bob for the listeners of our show. When you sign up for your NACTA membership enter the key word "sponsor" for a $50 discount on a year's membership.

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TRAVEL NEWS

Geo Tour Guides you to the hot spots and interesting locations wherever you are.

Traveling with your pet is now easier!

The nation's second happiest/healthiest city - Holland, Michigan

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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.

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Jay Gaunt
"Catnip" (mp3)
from "Harmonicopia"
(JBG Music, LLC)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
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253 - TravelQuest, A Host Agency for the New and Seasoned Travel Agent

Podcast Number 253

Stephanie Lee from TravelQuest host agency describes the benefits of their host agency. TravelQuest was founded in 1998, by Bonnie Lee. Bonnie saw a need for a quality, values based host agency. Bonnie's vision came from her experiences with host agencies that failed to pay commission and offered poor service to their agents. Bonnie, and her daughter Stephanie have built a host agency that is focused upon what a travel agent needs to succeed - including training and strong back office support. Listen in and learn more about TravelQuest.

Sponsor: Hold your meetings online for just $49 a month Try GoToMeeting free.

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TRAVEL NEWS

Vintage canvas travel bags re-crafted for today's traveler.

Who's going where - people moving into or out of states and cities.

The cruise industry is unaffected by the oil spill.

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Visit us on Facebook – Barry at http://www.facebook.com/barry.kantz, and Lorene at http://www.facebook.com/lorener. Join the Home Based Travel Agent Show Facebook Group.

Keep up with us on Twitter.com Lorene’s Twitter name is lorener, Barry’s Twitter name is kantzb

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.

On The Spot Trio

"Straight Out the Garden" (mp3)

from "Straight Out The Garden"

(U & L Records, Inc.)

Buy at Napster

Buy at iTunes Music Store

Buy at Amazon MP3

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185 - A Host Agency Who Sends You Customers

Podcast Number One-hundred-eighty-five

Travel agent Deb Gronski joins Lorene and I to talk about host agencies. Deb shares her positive experience with her host agency America's Vacation Center.

Travel News:

Boeing Delays 787

Lay Away Plans for Vacations

Regent Seven Seas 2010 Around the World Cruise

Learn, enjoy, produce and prosper!

Keep up with us on Twitter.com

Lorene's Twitter name is lorener

Barry's Twitter name is kantzb

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!

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 Airmen of Note
"Blues for Mundy" (mp3)
from "Today"
(Altissimo!)

Buy at Rhapsody
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154 - Are You Connecting With Your Host Agency?

Podcast Number One-hundred-fifty-four

Permalink

Connecting with your host agency is important. Getting to know the host agency's procedures, training opportunities, back office support and people is critical to your business. Lorene talks about her experience at the Nexion conference where she connected with her host agency Nexion.

Barry received an email from a listener asking for advice on how to market his travel business. John Jantsch of the Duct Tape Marketing Podcast describes the marketing process as, "know, like, trust, buy, repeat and refer." Barry describes this process on the show in his response to the listener email.

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

Oshari
"Way Of The Zen Warrior" (mp3)
from "Samurai"
(MG Music Ltd)

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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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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)

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