How to Start a Travel Agency Online

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Are you interested in starting a travel agency online for FREE? If YES, here is a complete guide to starting a travel agency from home with NO money and no experience plus a sample travel agency business plan template.

In this article, we will be considering all the requirements needed to become a travel agent and start a travel agency. All over the globe finding a reliable means of transportation has been a thing of importance. It is no wonder that the government of the united states of America have continued to work at having a top notch transport system for its citizens.

The travels and tourism industry of which travel agencies belong to is a big and profitable industry in the United States of America and of course all across the globe. The travels and tourism industry provide jobs directly and indirectly to countless numbers of entrepreneurs all over the globe. The opportunities that is available in the industry cuts across service deliveries and product sales et al.

One thing is certain, it is a fact that the travels and tourism industry is not all about tourists but also about all those who travel from one country to another, from one city to another for various purposes and with the help of traveling agencies.

This is why any investor or entrepreneur who is looking towards starting a business in the travels and tourism industry should consider starting a travel agency.

The line of business (travel agency) is open to both big time investors who have the financial capacity to invest in the travel and tourism industry and also aspiring entrepreneurs who just want to make a living but don’t have start – capital.

As a matter of fact, aspiring entrepreneurs who don’t have start – up capital can start out as freelance travel agents if they are diligent enough, they can build a big and well organized traveling agency.

Simply put, travel agencies renders services that cover all aspect of traveling. They help their clients in securing visas (especially transit visas), purchase flight tickets, book hotels, book taxi cabs and bus shuttle services and of course make arrangement for sightseeing amongst other services.

They work in conjunction with service providers such as airline companies, car rentals companies, cruise lines companies, hotels, railways, tourist sites managers and perhaps interpreters and security agencies (supply of bodyguard, et al for celebrities and other VIP clients).

So, if you are looking towards starting a business in the travels and tours industry, then one of your best options is to start a travel agency. It is a cool way of making money from the industry and with little start – up capital a serious minded entrepreneur can successfully launch this type of business.

How Do Travel Agencies Make Money?

The norm in this industry is that travel agencies make their money via the commission they get by offering traveling related services such as booking for flight tickets, securing transit visas, booking for shuttle buses / taxi cabs, car rentals, hotel bookings and cruise line bookings amongst many other services.

Travel agencies also generate incomes from selling of traveling related insurance policy covers, sale of travel guide books and through the sale of foreign currencies.

Lastly, one good thing about travel agencies is that there is readily available market for their services simply because people would always have cause to move or travel from one destination to another be it local travels or international travels.

Steps to Starting a Travel Agency Online for FREE

1. Understand the Industry

It is on record that Brownell Travel which was founded on July 4, 1887 by Walter T. Brownell is the oldest travel agency in the United States of America and it took several years, in the 1920s to be specific for travel agencies to become a popular business that looks promising and profitable.

Interesting Statistics About the Industry

Statistics has it that as far back as 2009, the total market size for travel agencies in the United States experienced a sharp decline, dropping from an estimate of $17 billion in 2008 to $14.5 billion. Cruise line booking remains one of the most profitable aspects of travel agencies, as a matter of fact, they handle an estimate of about 77% of bookings in that line of business and also an estimate of about 73% of packaged travel tour as it relate to cruise line services.

Available data also shows that employment of travel agents is projected to decline 12 percent from 2014 to 2024. This is so because the ability of travelers to use the Internet to research vacations and book their own trips is expected to continue to subdue demand for travel agents.

Since 1995 till date, many airline companies around the globe and most airline companies in the United States of America no longer pay commissions to travel agencies whenever they help a client book airline tickets. What traveling agencies now do is to ensure that they add their commission to the price of the tickets whenever they are selling to their clients.

In recent times, with the advent of the internet and the general public accessing the Internet, many airline companies have started selling their tickets directly to their target market via their online portal. So also it is now easier for other business in the value chain of travels and tours industry to now directly sell their services via their online portal to their target market.

Service providers such as airline companies, car rentals companies, cruise lines companies, hotels, railways, tourist sites managers and perhaps interpreters and security agencies et al. which is why you can’t find any airline company paying commissions to travel agents on each ticket they sold.

No doubt the travel agency line of business cannot be said to be oversaturated despite the challenges most traveling agencies are facing. The source of the challenges cannot be far – fetched; as a matter of fact, with many people swapping to self-service internet websites, the number of available services and even jobs as travel agents is decreasing despite the fact that there are more travelers than ever before.

Some of the factors that encourage entrepreneurs to start their own travel agencies could be that the business is easy to set up and the start – capital is indeed affordable; you can actually start your own travel agency business from the comfort of your home. All you need to do is to create an office somewhere in your house.

2. Conduct Market Research and Feasibility Studies

Demographics and Psychographics

The demographic and psychographics composition of travel agencies cuts across people from all works of life; there is no clear distinction on those that would naturally need the services of travel agencies.

Although a travel agency might decide to concentrate on high – income earning clients, and another travel agency might only concentrate on corporate clients. The bottom line is that anyone that can afford to travel from one country to another is a potential client for travel agencies.

3. Decide Which Niche to Concentrate On

These are some of the basic niches ideas within the travel agency line of business that an entrepreneur who is looking towards starting a travel agency can specialize in;

Independent Traveling Agencies
Consortium Traveling Agencies
Regional Traveling Agencies
Mega Traveling Agencies (They have offices in different cities of the world)

The Level of Competition in the Industry

The level of competition in the travel agency line of business depends largely on the location of the business and of course the niche of your travel agency. If you can successfully create a unique brand identity for your travel agency or carve out a unique market, you are likely going to experience less competition.

For instance if you are one of the few travel agency in your country or state that handles pilgrimage travels, you are show going to be making constant mega box year after year. This is so because religious faithful are always traveling for pilgrimage journey annually.

Although the competition in the travel agency line of business is not just within travel agencies but also other travel related service providers. For example; it is now easier for you a traveler to book his or her hotel accommodation, book flight ticket, reserve taxi cab or rent car ahead of his journey from the comfort of his or her home with the aid of the internet simply because most of the service provider are by – passing travel agencies and taking their services directly to their target market.

In essence, as a travel agency in order to stay afloat in the industry and continue to make profits despite the competition in the industry, you must ensure that you continue to come up with creative marketing ideas that will help you attract your target market and stay competitive and also travel agencies can stay competitive, by simply offering travel consultancy services.

4. Know Your Major Competitors in the Industry

These are some of the well – known travel agencies in the United States of America and perhaps in most parts of the world;

The American Automobile Association (AAA)
American Express
Frosch Travel – Houston, Texas
En Route Travel – Pacific Palisades, CA
MK All Around Travel, Inc. – Oak Lawn, Illinois
TravelStore – Sacramento, California
CruiseOne, Hargarther, Thaler & Associates LLC – Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
Independent Agency of Avoya Travel – Dearborn, Michigan
Cary Travel Express – Cary, Illinois
Frosch Travel – New York City, New York
CWT Vacations – Hammond, LA
Connie Lemmon Travel, an Independent Agency of Avoya Travel – San Diego, CA
Avenues of the World Travel – Flagstaff, AZ
LoBracco Travel, LLC, an Independent Agency of Avoya Travel – Margate, FL
Beachfronts Travel – Stamford, CT
World Travel – Tulsa, OK
First in Service – New York, NY
Bluegreen Travel Services – Indianapolis, IN
CruiseOne – Gary E. Smith & Associates – Eugene, OR
My Paradise Planner – Clearwater, FL

Economic Analysis

If you are looking for a business that requires less stress to set – up and perhaps minimal start – up capital to start, then you can consider starting a travel agency business. The cost of running a travel agency business when compared to the turnover you get annually can be poles apart (this is applicable only when you have been able to establish your feet in the industry and secure retainer – ship with big corporations).

People that start travel agency can as a matter of fact start the business from a small office space / shared office space and still make headway in the business. One thing is certain when it comes to travel agency business, you are sure of making profits in form of commissions when you are able to successfully book flight tickets, hotel reservation, taxi cab reservation and any other travel related services for a client. You are going to get your cut as soon as they make payment.

The truth is that the cost of running a travel agency can be kept to the barest minimum because there are always ways you can cut operational and overhead cost. As a matter of fact, most people that run travel agencies have abandoned the “brick and mortar” agency for a home-based business just for the sole aim of reducing overhead, and maximizing profits.

5. Decide Whether to Buy a Franchise or Start from Scratch

When it comes to making a choice whether to start a business from the scratch or to buy a franchise, there are loads of factors that should influence your choice. Generally, the reason why you may want to start a business, your business goal, business mission and vision should help you make informed decision.

Good enough any entrepreneurs that want to start a travel agency business have the options of either purchasing a franchise from a successful travel agencies like America Express and The American Automobile Association (AAA) et al or starting from the very scratch.

One thing is certain, if you want to have full control of your business and you intend exploring every form of creativity within your capacity, then it will pay you to start your travel agency from the scratch. But if your desire is just to own a business portfolio in the travel and tourism industry, then buying the franchise of a successful travel agency is your best bet.

6. Know the Possible Threats and Challenges You Will Face

If you decide to start your own travel agency business today, one of the major challenges you are likely going to face is the presence of well – established travel agency brand within the same location where yours is located. The only way to avoid this challenge is to create your own market; concentrate on specific market. It could be individual clients or corporate clients’ et al.

Another threat and challenge that you are likely going to face when you start your own travel agency is economic downturn; if the economy is in bad shape it will automatically affect the purchasing power of the general public and that can impact your business negatively. So also unfavorable government policies, could as well affect the profitability and growth of travel agencies.

7. Choose the Most Suitable Legal Entity (LLC, C Corp, S Corp)

No doubt starting a travel agency is indeed a serious business especially when you have the goal of building Mega Traveling Agency that will have offices in different cities of the world. In essence, the legal entity you choose will go a long way to determine how big you want the business to grow.

choosing a legal entity for a business can be a bit challenging. When it comes to choosing a legal entity for your travel agency, you have the option of choosing from a general partnership, a limited partnership, an LLC, a “C” corporation, or an “S” corporation. It is important to clearly state that these different forms of legal structure for business has its own advantages and disadvantages; which is why you must weigh your options properly before making your choice.

These are some of the factors you should consider before choosing a legal entity for your travel agency business; limitation of personal liability, ease of transferability, admission of new owners and investors’ expectation and of course taxes. If you take your time to critically study the various legal entities to use for your travel agency business, you will agree that Limited Liability Company; an LLC is most suitable. One good thing about LLC is that, you can start your travel agency business as limited liability company (LLC) and in future convert it to a ‘C’ corporation or a ‘S’ corporations especially when you have the plans of going public or selling franchise.

Upgrading to a ‘C’ corporation or ‘S’ corporation will give you the opportunity to grow your travel agency so as to compete with major players in the industry; you will be able to generate capital from venture capital firms, you will enjoy separate tax structure, and you can easily transfer ownership of the company; you will enjoy flexibility in ownership and in your management structures amongst other benefits.

8. Choose a Catchy Business Name

When it comes to choosing a name for your business, you should be creative because whatever name you choose for your business will go a long way to create a perception of what the business represent. Usually it is the norm for people to follow the trend in the industry they intend operating when naming their business.

If you are considering starting your own travel agency, here are some catchy names that you can choose from;

Emerson and Sons Travels, LLC
Chris Williams Travels and Tours, Inc.,
Travelers Choice Company, LLC
New York City Express, Inc.
World Tour Ltd
Anderson Global, Inc.
A to Z Travels and Tours, LLC
Greater Sights and Sound Travel Services
Sam and Sarah Vacation Services
Destination X Travels and Tours, Inc.

9. Discuss with an Agent to Know the Best Insurance Policies for You

In the United States and in most countries of the world, you can’t operate a business without having some of the basic insurance policy cover in place that is required by the industry you want to operate from. So it is important to create a budget for insurance and perhaps consult an insurance broker to guide you when it comes to choosing the best insurance policies for your travel agency business.

Here are some of the basic insurance covers that you should consider purchasing if you want to start your own travel agency business in the United States of America;

General insurance
Health insurance
Risk Insurance
Credit insurance
Deposit insurance
Payment protection insurance
Liability insurance
Workers Compensation
Overhead expense disability insurance
Business owner’s policy group insurance

10. Protect your Intellectual Property With Trademark, Copyrights, Patents

If you are considering starting your own travel agency, usually you may not have any need to file for intellectual property protection / trademark. This is so because the nature of the business makes it possible for you to successful run the business without having any cause to challenge anybody in court for illegally making use of your company’s intellectual properties or trademark.

But if you just want to protect your company’s logo and other documents or software that are unique to you. Then you can go ahead to file for intellectual property protection. If you want to register your trademark, you are expected to begin the process by filing an application with the USPTO. The final approval of your trademark is subjected to the review of attorneys as required by USPTO

11. Get the Necessary Professional Certification

Professional Certification is one of the main reasons why some travel agencies / travel agents stand out. If you want to make impact as in the travels and tourism industry as a travel agent, then you should work towards acquiring all the needed certifications in your area of specialization as it relates to the industry. You are strongly encouraged to pursue professional certifications; it will go a long way to show your commitment towards the business.

These are some of the certifications you can work towards achieving if you want to run your own travel agency;

Certified Travel Agent (CTA)
Travel and Tourism Professional (TTP)
Total Travel Certification (TTC)
Professional Travel Agent (PTA)

Please note that you can get most of these certifications from IATA professionals and also it is worthy to mention that the higher your qualifications and experience (expertise), the easier it is for you to secure high profile travels and tours contracts as a travel agent.

12. Get the Necessary Legal Documents You Need to Operate

These are some of the basic legal document that you are expected to have in place if you want to run your own travel agency business in the United States of America;

Certificate of Incorporation
Business License
Business Plan
Non – disclosure Agreement
Employment Agreement (offer letters)
Operating Agreement for LLCs
Insurance Policy
Online Terms of Use
Online Privacy Policy
Apostille (for those who intend operating beyond the United States of America)

13. Write a Business Plan

One of the first steps that you are expected to take if you are looking towards starting any business is to consult experts to help you draft a good and workable business plan. The truth is that, in order to successfully run a travel agency business, you would need to have a good business plan in place.

A Business plan is the roadmap that is needed to successfully run a business; with a workable business plan in place, you will reduce the trial and error approach of doing business. You will be able to manage your business with purpose and perhaps precision; you will know what to do per time and how to handle business challenges and business growth / expansion.

In essence, if you want to start your own travel agency, you are required to write a detailed business plan that can pass reality test when subjected to it; you should work with the facts, figures and other indices in the travels and tourism industry as it applies to the locations / country you intend starting your travel agency.

The whole idea of writing a business plan is not just for the sake of having a business document in place; but a detail guide on how to effectively run your business from the scratch. Your business plan should outline and cover strategies on how you intend to manage and grow your travel agency. The rule of thumb in writing a business plan is to try as much as possible to be realistic and never to over project when putting figures on income and profits et al. As a matter of fact, it is safer to underestimate when writing a business plan so that you won’t be so disappointed when reality sets in.

These are the key areas that should be covered in your business plan;

Executive summary and Company’s descriptions

You are expected to write about the concept of your business, descriptions of your company, your company’s vision statement, mission statement and where your company will be located and also if you intend partnering with other companies or opening branches in different cities in the United States of America and in other parts of the world.

Other key components that should not be missing out from your travel agency business plan are product offering, SWOT analysis, competitive analysis, marketing and sales analysis / strategies, target market, market goals, pricing, costing and financial projection, publicity and advertising strategy, expansion and growth strategies, budget and start – up capital generation et al.

14. Prepare a Detailed Cost Analysis

Starting a travel agency business can be cost effective; this is so because on the average, you are not expected to acquire expensive machines and equipment. Basically what you should be concerned about is the amount needed to secure a standard office facility in a good and busy business district, the amount needed to furniture and equip the office, the amount to purchase the required software applications, the amount needed to pay bills, promote the business and obtain the appropriate business license and certifications.

When it comes to starting a small scale travel agency, the following expenditure should guide you;

The Total Fee for incorporating the Business – $750.
The budget for basic insurance policy covers, permits and business license – $2,500
The Amount needed to acquire a suitable Office facility in a business district 6 months (Re – Construction of the facility inclusive) – $40,000.
The Cost for equipping the office (computers, software applications, printers, fax machines, furniture, telephones, filing cabins, safety gadgets and electronics et al) – $ 5,000
The Cost of Launching your official Website – $600
Budget for paying at least one employees for 3 months plus utility bills – $10,000
Additional Expenditure (Business cards, Signage, Adverts and Promotions et al) – $2,500
Miscellaneous: $1,000

Going by the report from the research and feasibility studies conducted, you will need about $70,000 or less to set up a small scale but standard travel agency business in the United States of America

You will need over two hundred and fifty thousand (250,000) U.S. dollars to successfully set – up a medium scale but standard travel agency business firm in the United States of America.

If you are considering starting a large scale travel agency business with several professionals under your payroll and offices in key cities in the United States of America and other parts of the world, then you should look towards budgeting from 1 million United States dollars and above.

15. Raise the Needed Startup Capital

Starting a travel agency business can be cost effective- particularly if you choose to run the business from your home, share office space with a friend or make use of virtual office. Securing a standard office is part of what will consume a large chunk of your start – up capital, but if you choose to start the business on a small scale, you may not have the need to go source for fund to finance the business.

No doubt when it comes to financing a business, one of the first thing and perhaps the major factors that you should consider is to write a good business plan. If you have a good and workable business plan in place, you may not have to labor yourself too hard before convincing your bank, investors and your friends to invest in your business.

Here are some of the options you can explore when sourcing for start – up capital for your travel agency business;

Raising money from personal savings and sale of personal stocks and properties
Raising money from investors and business partners
Sell shares to interested investors
Applying for Loan from your Bank / banks
Pitching your business idea and applying for business grants and seed funding from donor organizations and angel investors
Source for soft loans from your family members and your friends.

16. Choose a Suitable Location for your Business

The fact that you can operate your travel agency business from your home does not mean that location has little influence on the success of this type of business. If you have taken your time to study the travels and tourism industry, you will realize that travel agencies are always located around airports and business districts as well.

As such, if you are looking for a location for your travel agency business, ensure that it is a place that is located in the hub of business in your city, a place that is visible and easily accessible or in and around an airport facility. Of course you would not want to locate this type of business in the outskirt of town. Your clients should be able to drive down and locate your office with little or no difficulty.

Having said that, these are some of the factors that you should consider before choosing a location for your insurance company;

The demography of the location
The nature of business activities in the location
The purchasing power of the residence of the location
Accessibility of the location
The numbers of travel agencies in the location
The local laws and regulations in the community / state
Traffic, parking and security et al

17. Hire Employees for your Technical and Manpower Needs

Generally, travel agencies are evolving and they have developed a very strong internet presence of their own which is why you will find host of travels and tours websites, top notch websites and fantastic software applications that make it easier for them to conduct their businesses.

There is hardly any travel agency that doesn’t make use of major computer reservations systems applications (Global Distribution Systems – GDS) as their technical partners. There are also some software applications such as Amadeus CRS, Galileo CRS, SABRE, and Worldspan (a subsidiary of Travelport) that are available for travel agencies to use when it comes to booking, selling of airline tickets, making hotel reservations, booking cabs / bus shuttle services and of course other travel related services. These are the basic technical requirements for travel agencies.

When it comes to choosing between renting and leasing an office space, the size of the travel agency you want to build, and your entire budget for the business should influence your choice. If you have enough capital to run a mage travelling agency, then you should consider the option of leasing a facility for your office; when you lease, you will be able to work with long – term planning.

As it concerns the numbers of employees that you are expected to kick start the business with, you would need to consider your finance before making the decision. Averagely, you would need a Chief Executive Officer or President (you can occupy this role), an Admin and Human Resource Manager, Consultants and Associates (Different areas of specializations as it applies to your business), Business Development Executive / marketing Executive, Customer Service Officer or Front Desk Officer, and Accountant.

Over and above, you would need a minimum of 10 key staff to effectively run a medium scale travel agency.

The Service Delivery Process of the Business

The truth is that, the way travel agency works varies from one agency to another agency, but ideally, a travel agency’s key function is to act as an agent for travels and tourism services provider; they sell travel products and services on behalf of these services provider. One good thing about travel agencies is that they don’t need to spend their money to purchase any travels and tourism product (i.e. airline tickets or hotel reservations et al); they only make purchase when a client demands for it.

Generally, the modus operandi of travel agencies revolves around sourcing for better deals (booking for flight tickets, securing transit visas, booking for shuttle buses / taxi cabs, car rentals, hotel bookings and cruise line bookings amongst many other services.) from service providers and then retail to their prospective clients. If the deal pulls through, they will earn their commissions.

18. Write a Marketing Plan Packed with ideas & Strategies

People and organizations will hire your services as travel agent to help them handle all their travelling needs if they know that they are going to get value for their money which is why you should have done your proper homework about the travelling product your intend marketing.

Thus, when you are drafting your marketing plans and strategies for your travel agency, make sure that you create a compelling personal and company’s profile. Aside from your qualifications and experience, it is important to clearly state in practical terms what you have been able to achieve in time past as it relates to helping people handle their travel needs from the planning stage through the trip and back to destination. This will help boost your chances in the market place when sourcing for contracts from corporate organizations.

Please note that you when you bid for contracts from corporate organizations, you will be called upon to defend your proposal, which is why you must add presentation skills as part of your marketing skills.

Here are some of the platforms you can utilize to market your travel agency business;

Introduce your business by sending introductory letters alongside your brochure to all the corporate organizations and businesses in the United States ( if you are just starting out as an independent travel agency, you may want to concentrate on individual clients)
Promptness in bidding for contracts
Advertise your business in relevant travels and tours magazines, radio stations and TV stations (make yourself available for travels and tourism related talk shows and interactive sessions on TV and Radios)
List your business on local directories / yellow pages
Attend relevant travels and tours expos, seminars, and business fairs et al
Create different packages for different category of clients in order to work with their budgets
Leverage on the internet to promote your business (when you blog regularly on key issues as it relates to your travels and tours, people will consider you an expert in the field and would want to do business with you)
Join local chambers of commerce around you with the main aim of networking and marketing your services; you are likely going to get referrals from such networks.
Engage the services of marketing executives and business developers to carry out direct marketing for you especially if you can afford it.

19. Develop Iron-clad Competitive Strategies to Help You Win

The travel agencies line of business is a competitive business, and you must come up with a unique strategy to be able to outsmart your competitors in the industry. Part of what you need to do in order to stay competitive is to continue to ensure that you go all length to make available cheaper airline tickets, good travelling packages and affordable services to your clients and potential clients alike. The truth is that people will always come to you when they know that they are likely going to get what they are looking for.

Another competitive strategy you should adopt is to maximize the internet when it comes to marketing your travels and tours products and also ensure that you form partnership with several travels and tours services providers.

20. Brainstorm Possible Ways to Retain Clients & Customers

When it comes to business, no matter the industry that you choose to pitch your tent in, one of the easiest ways to increase customers’ retention and perhaps to attract new customers is to satisfy your customers always. If your customers are satisfied with your services delivery, they can hardly source for alternative service provider or products.

Statistics has it that one of the major reasons why clients source for alternative service provider or product is when there is a drop in quality or if when most often than not they tend not to get what they are looking for when they visit your shop or office as the case may be. Another reason is poor customer service. If you can continue to improve on the quality of your customer service delivery and also give your customers options, then you won’t struggle to maintain loyal customers.

When it comes to managing your customers and building loyal clientele base, you should purchase a customized CRM software. With a customized CRM system you can easily stay in touch with your clients (you can carry out quick survey, you can introduce new products and prices to them without any hitch, you can felicitate with them on their birthdays and other anniversaries, you can keep track of their progress when they embark on a trip especially if it is a package trip, you can send bulk SMS and customized e – mails and above all you can easily receive compliant and feedback from them).

21. Develop Strategies to Boost Brand Awareness and Create a Corporate Identity

If you are in business and you are not deliberate about boosting you brand awareness and communicating your corporate identity to the public, then you should be ready to take on whatever the society portray your business to be. One of the secret of larger corporations is that they are willing to spend fortunes year in and year out to boost their brand awareness and to continue to communicate their corporate identity the way they want people to perceive them to be.

If your intention of starting a travel agency is to grow the business beyond the city where you are going to be operating from, then you must be ready to spend money on promoting and advertising your brand.

In promoting your brand and corporate identity, you should leverage on both print and electronic media. As a matter of fact, it is cost effective to use the internet and social media platforms to promote your brands, besides it is pretty much effective and wide reaching.

Another strategy is to sponsor relevant TV and radio programs, advertise your business in relevant travels and tours magazines and newspapers.

22. Tips for Running a Travel Agency Business Successfully

The truth is that, irrespective of the kind of business you run, your ability to get all the members of your team on same page at all times is one of the keys you would need to successfully run the organization.

As the chief executive officer or president of the travel agency, it is you responsibility to give direction to the business. Part of what you need to do is to ensure that you create time for office meetings; a time where challenges, feedbacks, projections and relevant issues are discussed. The meetings could be daily, once in a week or once in a month – just ensure that it is consistent.

Carrying out appraisals on a regular basis and training your employees will help you run your organization effectively. Encourage your employees to pursue certifications in their various area of specializations as it relates to your business; it will help your organization’s profile and of course it will help the individuals. You can choose to sponsor some of the certifications or pay part of the fee.

Lastly, you should keep your doors open for suggestions from members of your team and you should be willing to reward excellent performance as at when due.