(A social media post I did as a value post to my audience) My agency called me last night with a client who was absolutely distraught: her cruise had been cancelled and she had no idea why. My very first question was, “Did she add anything to her reservation after final payment… and not pay it or cancel it?” Most people don’t know this, but on many cruise lines: If you add something to your reservation after final payment (like an upgrade, add‑on, etc.) and it isn’t paid or properly cancelled… it can trigger a cancellation of your entire cruise. No refunds. No automatic rebooking. Just gone. That’s exactly what had happened here. To make it worse, by the time she realized it, the sailing was sold out. She was able to get on a waitlist, but that doesn’t magically fix everything. The cruise leaves in just 3 days, and the ship was overbooked. So here’s where using a travel advisor looks different than booking alone: While she was trying not to panic, I was the one: Refreshing availability over and over Calling and speaking directly with cruise line agents Advocating for her to get a cabin back on that ship It took persistence, a lot of back‑and‑forth, but we were able to secure her a cabin on that overbooked sailing. She’s going on her cruise. But it could very easily have gone the other way. If you ever: Change something after final payment Add a person, upgrade, or extra Or just feel unsure what a click will do to your reservation Please don’t guess. This is exactly why having a travel advisor in your corner matters: so you’re not the one on hold for hours, trying to decode policies and fight to fix a problem you didn’t even know you created. If you’re planning a cruise and want someone watching the details with you and for you, send me a message before you hit “book.” (this is where we show value)

Working through pricing on a New Orleans group trip right now… Curious how others approach this: Do you anchor higher with a premium hotel option first, or lead with the most accessible price point? I’m seeing pros/cons both ways depending on the audience.

It doesn’t. More posts just means you’re working harder… in the wrong place. What actually drives bookings is distribution + structure. And most agents are missing both. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Here’s the breakdown most people never think about: Facebook = Visibility Engine. This is where attention lives. - People scroll, react, and discover you - Great for stories, photos, “this could be you” moments - Weak for organization and actual decision-making 👉 Most agents post here… and stop here. That’s why they get likes but no bookings ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Meetup = Discovery + Intent Engine - People aren’t just scrolling — they’re looking for something to do - Built-in traffic (you don’t have to create all the demand yourself) - Events convert better than posts because they imply action 👉 This is where strangers can actually find you. Most agents ignore it completely. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Skool (or structured hub) = Conversion Engine - This is where decisions happen - You control the environment (no algorithm fighting you) - You can organize trips, answer questions, and build trust over time 👉 This is what most agents are missing entirely. No structure = no consistent bookings ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Why most agents stay invisible They’re doing all their work in one layer - Posting on Facebook - Maybe sharing a deal - Hoping someone reaches out But there’s no path. No system. No place for people to go next. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Most travel agents trying AI for trip building are getting one of two results: 1. Something surprisingly decent 2. Something that looks good… but would never actually sell Let’s test it. 👉 Go to Mindtrip (or whatever AI you’re using)👉 Paste this: Create a 5-day travel itinerary for [destination] for [type of traveler]. Keep it simple and structured like this: - Day-by-day outline - Hotel suggestions (2–3 options) - Estimated total budget per person - 2–3 standout experiences. Keep it concise and easy to review.” 👉 Use a REAL trip (client request or idea you’ve had) Then drop it below 👇 Quick gut check: - Would you actually sell it? - What feels off or generic? I’ll break down a few of these and show: - What’s actually usable - What wouldn’t convert - Where AI helps vs where it quietly hurts your trips

** This is long but well worth the read I promise you!!** I had a really interesting conversation with @Christine Berencz about targeting teachers as travel clients, and it sent me down a rabbit hole doing more research. The more I looked into it, the more I realized this isn’t just a niche — it’s a predictable, repeatable prospecting strategy for travel agents. If you're looking for ideal clients, stop thinking in demographics and start thinking in time-off patterns. Teachers are powerful because they have: • Predictable summers off • Spring break travel windows • Winter holiday travel windows • Built-in group travel (coworkers) • Advance planning habits • Repeat annual travel behavior But here’s the bigger realization… It’s not just teachers. It’s the entire school ecosystem. That includes: • Teachers • School administrators • Paraprofessionals • School counselors • Teacher aides • Bus drivers • School office staff • School nurses All of them share the same travel windows and often travel together. This creates: - Built-in group travel opportunities - Repeatable annual trips - Easier marketing messaging - Predictable booking cycles And once I started thinking this way, more seasonal-off professions showed up. Other strong prospect groups with predictable travel windows: College & University Staff • Professors • Advisors • Admissions teams • Campus admin ... Often lighter summers + winter breaks School Nurses & Travel Nurses • Contract gaps • Summer availability • Flexible scheduling.... Often ready for longer trips Accountants / CPAs • Busy Jan–April • Free late spring & summer ... Perfect for May–July departures Construction & Trades • Winter slowdowns (many regions) • Flexible project scheduling • Often travel in friend groups Event Industry (Wedding Pros, DJs, Photographers) • Busy spring & fall • Slower summer & winter pockets • Group travel friendly The key shift for us as travel advisors: Instead of marketing to: "Anyone who wants to travel"