[Travelandtourism] Travel Impressions' Trade Base Rises to 25 Percent for Home Based Agents! Career opportunities for the Blind from Cheryl Echevarria

[cheryl echevarria]

Good morning all:
I am cross posting this on the travel and tourism and jobs list.
Being a travel agent might be an option for you, whether you want to be an Independent Contractor, which I started out as, or move forward afterward to owning your own business, it might be an option for you.
If you are interested you can contact myself or Vice President, Maurice Shackelford of GA, or Anahit LaBarre of Colorado, that work as travel professionals and can guide you into that profession.
The information below I read this morning from one of my associations that the Home Based Agencies rise 25 Percent.
Dated 7/1/2012 from OSSN Travel News!
With 20-25 percent of their travel agents now in the home based camp, Steve Gorga - president and CEO ofTravel Impressions (TI)- said in a far-reaching telephone interview with the Travel Show Marketing Group that this community, the fastest growing in the travel industry, was an emerging force which his company not only deemed as very important, but also represents a sales group on which TI continues to increase its marketing focus!In addition to his strategic remarks about the expanding influence of the home based travel agent, Gorga - a two-time keynoter at the Home Based Travel Agent Forum - said that this show and conference was endowed with a fantastic agenda and a fantastic opportunity to enhance education, among other striking assets. Gorga, who will speak at the forthcoming Home Based Forum in Atlantic City on Tuesday morning, October 23, at the General Session, will again address this home based gathering with the subject still to be determined. Gorga also said that this forum was "the easiest way to reach the home based agent." Expounding on this point, Gorga said the forum attracted a "captive audience, attentive and committed, and provides us at TI with a meaningful opportunity to share our information and programs with them."At the helm of TI since 2001, Gorga said it was not until four years later that this American Express subsidiary began its reciprocal sales romance with the home based agents, who were beginning to come into their own. He also made a strong point about the fact that TI is a "pure wholesaler," with the public encouraged to troll the internet for the TI tour products of their choice, and then execute the booking directly with the travel agent. "We don't sell our product directly to the public," stressed Gorga, adding that "there are no exceptions."Gorga said that his company's objective was to attract travel agents who would become repeat clients, in effect drawn to TI by its emphasis on service, reliability, attractive products, and a pledge not to compete with its own customers that is absolute. Gorga now turned to TI's web-based Resource Center, which he said is particularly important for those home based agents who lack the inventory, as well as other information, to be able to effectively close the sale. Gorga said the Resource Center was a "repository of everything about booking travel including electronic brochures, email and immediate responses."TI is also trying to leverage its own assets with social networking outlets and mobile and digital devices. He is expanding TI's use of webinars, with a series of enticing titles such as "60 Tips in 60 Minutes" and "Best Bang for your Buck: 42 Ways to Save Money, Save Time and Drive More Sales."Describing himself as "cautiously optimistic" for 2013, Gorga cited the uncertainty generated by such happenings as the U.S. elections in November, the European challenge of looming instability and the recurring recession, and the various issues that are brewing in Iran. At the same time, he also observed that 2011 was "the best year in company history," and that 2012 was looking better than 2011. His reference to the "best year ever" was apparently designed to reflect an increase in the number of travelers carried by TI, rather than a record year in dollar revenues. "Travel agents are resilient," said Gorga, adding that "those who are still in business today are probably enjoying the best year ever, having grasped the fundamental advantages of technology."Big opportunities for 2013 are seen by Gorga for travel agents, as the U.S. economy continues its rebound, however slowly. Gorga pointed out that there is "a lot of business on the books for 2013," with the best sellers identified as destination weddings and family reunions, among other growing group activities. Three years ago, Gorga said there were 12 people in his group department; that number has surged since then to 50 employees.Gorga concluded that he anticipates a "great show and conference" in Atlantic City on Oct. 22-24 at the new $2.4 billion Revel Resort, a property drawing terrific reviews despite the fact that it opened only last month.



Leading the Way in Independent Travel!
Cheryl Echevarria, Ownerhttp://www.echevarriatravel.com631-456-5394reservations@echevarriatravel.comhttp://www.echevarriatravel.wordpress.com
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