Amy Jordan (Source: Amy Jordan)
Travel Advisor Success Stories focuses on veteran advisors and how they achieved success. Meet Amy Jordan, owner of Travel Bug.
How did you start working as a travel advisor?
A friend of mine told me a story about how she and her daughters traveled and went to Walt Disney World and made some great memories. I thought she was crazy because I had never been there. (She is now one of the top sellers on my team.) I went on a trip to Disney World and loved it, but I thought it could have been a better trip.
The next time I went I used Travel Advisor and had a better experience. Then a friend of mine became a travel advisor and convinced me that I should too. I needed more experience, so good luck! I had to travel more.
After that, I became a contract agent and focused on increasing my training and helping families have better Disney vacations. I spent hours thinking about strategies to keep my clients out of long lines at parks, determining the best times to ride certain rides, considering restaurants, etc.
After 4 years I decided to open my own agency. That was a big step for me because I don’t make decisions easily. I am very grateful for the support of my team and family. I wouldn’t be here without them!
We are currently planning vacations to various destinations, but when hiring, we start with Disney. I call Disney the gateway drug for travel advisors. There’s so much passion there, and once you get used to the routine of sales and serving customers, it’s easy to transition to other destinations.
How have you built your business over the years?
We’ve built our business the classic way: through word of mouth. We also use social media, Google ads, and sometimes mailers. I used to go to four shows a year to connect with families and collect email addresses. I once made 500 Mickey-shaped Rice Krispies for a festival. One family refused them because they had marshmallows and the family was vegan. I learned a lot doing shows all the time!
What characteristics make you a successful advisor?
Our success is determined by how well we serve our customers throughout the planning and travel process. More than just a booking agency, we know our customers by name, care about their travels as if we were with them, and ensure they have what it takes to have the vacation of their dreams. We strive to be your agent.
“Our success is determined by how well we serve our customers throughout the planning and travel process.” (Photo courtesy of Ensemble)
What is your biggest challenge?
One of our recent challenges has been finding advisors who are aligned with where we want to go. Bringing people on board who are passionate about sales and helping families have great vacations is just the beginning. Do they also have a not-so-secret secret that they are willing to learn and work hard to build a customer base over time?
I heard someone say that they view working with independent contractors as an experiment of sorts, so it takes some of the pressure off finding the perfect contractor. There’s always a tension between growing our team and enjoying where we are as a company.
What is your greatest accomplishment?
Building a team that supports each other, cares about clients, and responds promptly to emails feels like a pretty big win. I love it when new advisors start to integrate into the team. It’s also a really thrilling experience when you bring someone on board and they really start working.
What tips can you offer advisors new to the industry?
The best advice I heard as a new employee was to treat business like a long game. When you’re busy, building habits and improving processes can be very helpful. The follow-up to clients is very thorough!
I also save my hype folder for those down days. We include some thank you cards from our first clients to remind us why we do what we do.
When you have time, pursue further education, write newsletters, schedule posts, and pursue certifications from tourism boards in destinations that interest you.
Don’t downplay what you do or call it a side hustle. For someone who has always wanted to travel, you can make a big change that can affect their quality of life.
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