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Questions

1.  Why would I want to become a travel agent?
2.  Who is Cruise & Travel Masters?
3.  What is an independent contractor?
4.  Does it cost a traveler more to work thru a travel agency?
5.  How do travel agents make money?
6.  How do I make a booking?
7.  How do you track my sales?
8.  When do I get paid?
9.  How will I get customers? 
10.  How will I keep informed about Travel Industry News?
11.  What kind of training will I receive?
12.  What kind of support will I receive?
13.  Do I get a discount for my personal travel?
14.   I am an experienced agent with existing clientele; do I need to start at the beginning?
15.  What are the CLIA & IATAN cards?
16.  Do I need the Error & Omissions Insurance?
17.  Do I have any additional expenses?
18.  How do I get started?

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Answers

1.  Why would I want to become a travel agent?    TOP

To take advantage of 3 emerging Trends:

• The Travel Industry. - A seven trillion dollar industry today, forecast to double in the next 5 years.
• Baby Boomers – The largest concentration of people in US history. A “baby boomer” now turns 60 every 8 seconds. This group of people will have a tremendous impact on the travel industry in the immediate future. Seventy-eight million baby boomers are now in their peak travel years.  Baby boomers consider travel a necessity not a luxury.  As experienced travelers, Baby boomers are seeking out exotic destinations, and more in-depth ways to see the world.  This is a fantastic time to help your friends and family make their wishes come true.

Become skilled & knowledgeable in one of the fastest growing industries in the world.
Reel in the excitement of helping:
-a couple plan their 50 year anniversary on a cruise with their family
-a couple plan their honeymoon
-a college graduation trip
-friends just getting away together
-a history class of students traveling thru Europe to see first hand the facts they are
  studying
-a company rewarding its highest salespeople with a weeks paid vacation in Mexico

• Home Based Business Boom – More Americans every month are opening a home-based-business or some kind… to increase income, as well as to work their own hours and reduce income taxes. Business Week says “By the end of the decade… half the homes in America will have one… because it’s the best defense there is for paying too much in taxes…” PERIOD!

 

2.  Who is Cruise & Travel Masters?   TOP

Cruise & Travel Masters innovated the concept of the home-based agent in 1984.
We recognized early on the many benefits of acting as the host agency to a successful business owner/travel agent.  Our emphasis over the years has been on:

-maintaining strong vendor relations to ensure quality vacations and maximum earning
  potential;
-providing consistent education to the traveling customer before and after their trip;
-creating skilled & knowledgeable agents;
-competitive pricing and value added packages;
-staying at the forefront with technology;
-organizing & maintaining a year round direct mail & email marketing campaign to help
  Agents increase sales.

We are a long established, legitimate “host agency”, and not a “card mill”, multi-level, network marketing or pyramid scheme.

3.  What is an independent contractor?   TOP

You are not an employee.  As an independent contractor, you are the owner of your own travel business and able to set your own hours, types of travel you want to sell and to whom you want to sell.  Each agent’s goals are unique.  Some are satisfied with minimal earnings to add to their household income, while others are extremely motivated financially and earn incomes in excess of $100,000 annually.  As a business owner, you are responsible for all of your business expenses, i.e., Business cards, postage, long distance, client gifts, overnight charges, etc.

4.  Does it cost a traveler more to work thru a travel agency?   TOP

NO!!!!!!
In every case, we are all buying the same travel product thru the same suppliers at the same price.  The online booking sites like Expedia and Orbitz are just travel agencies, like us.  We are able to match the online travel giant’s website prices as long as the same inventory is available and you are comparing apples to apples.

5.  How do travel agents make money?   TOP

As an agent, you will make reservations using our IATAN number.  Due to our years of buying power, we receive top commissions from Cruise Lines, Tour Companies, Hotels and Car rental agencies.  These commissions normally range between 10-17%.

In addition, you will have the opportunity to manage airline tickets (which are not commissionable), and charge a service fee for your time.  Agents also charge service fees for extensive destination research.

6.  How do I make a booking?   TOP

You the agent will access our agent booking site and log on using your unique user password.
You will then begin your search of cruises or tour from our booking engine.  Complete the booking, making full payment and receive a email confirmation from the supplier.
Travel documents are either emailed or regular mailed depending on the supplier.

Group bookings are typically done over the phone and will require guidance from your lead agent.

7.  How do you track my sales?   TOP

After confirming your reservation, select the invoice tab and transmit your booking details to the accounting dept.

8.  When do I get paid?   TOP

The suppliers send commissions to the host agency after your customer returns home.  All commissions and service fees will be added to your agent account for the month.  The 10th of the following month you will be sent a commission check for your contracted percentage of all last months earnings less any expenses you have accrued.

A 1099 form will be sent out to all agents earning $600 or more annually.

9.  How will I get customers?    TOP         

• Print off the Agent Introductory Letter found on your website.  This letter will Discuss the training and skills you have obtained, and will encourage your prospects to choose you to help manage their  travel arrangements.  Mail this letter to family, friends and neighbors.

• Email flyers on special offers will be provided to you several times throughout the month.  You can forward these to an email address or print and leave them at Doctor offices, Hair Salons, etc.

• Direct Mail & Email Marketing Program.  Submit your mailing list & email addresses to CTM, and then choose to participate in over 60 promotions directed to your customer with you as the call to action.  The email program is free.  The direct mail pieces are generally 4-6 full color panels advertising a supplier and destination.  The only cost to you, should you participate, is the postage ranging between $.50 to $.95 depending on the size of the promotion piece being mailed.

• Talk about travel to everyone you meet.  Your passion for the excitement of traveling the world will be your best sales tool.  Be sure to ask for the business.

• Direct your friends, family & neighbors to your website, where they can easily book their reservations by themselves.

10.  How will I keep informed about Travel Industry News?   TOP

• You will receive weekly email specials with supplier discounts and agent bonuses.

• You will receive weekly email invitations to attend web training on various destinations and supplier’s products.

• Attending the annual Convention held every June.

11.  What kind of training will I receive?   TOP

            -Orientation to CTM (mandatory)
            -Travel Agent Training Course (mandatory)
            -Destination & vendor web classes
            -Familiarization trips promoting hotel properties and a variety of destinations
            -Annual convention offering hundreds of training classes

12.  What kind of support will I receive?   TOP

            Host Office Hours 7am-6pm MST Monday – Friday
                                         10am-2pm MSN Saturday

            -You will be assigned to a lead agent with a minimum of 5 years experience as an
              Agent
            -Personalized client quotes & proposals
            -Automated Servicing tools for customers
            -Detailed commission reports with your checks
            -CTM service staff to help with questions regarding reservations, accounting and
              marketing.

13.  Do I get a discount for my personal travel?   TOP

Some of the great perks of being a professional travel agent are the travel discounts, upgrades and FAM trips that are available to you and your family:

• If your planned trip, or any part of it is commissionable, you will receive 70% of the commissions, resulting in huge reductions in your travel expense.
• We have a “property inspection” department with procedures that you will follow anytime you wish to include an inspection as a part of your travel plans. We cannot promise that you will always receive an upgrade or discount on a car rental, hotel room or ship cabin, but we will always assist you by using the power of our Company in negotiating on your behalf, if we are notified in advance where you are going, and which properties you will be inspecting.
• You will be advised of numerous FAM (familiarization) trips that are made available to our agents, and which trips you will qualify for.

14.   I am an experienced agent with existing clientele; do I need to start at the beginning?   TOP
           
            No, You will have a consultation to discuss your goals and needs.  A business
            model will be designed to get you back in business and operating as efficiently as
            possible.         

15.  What are the CLIA & IATAN cards?   TOP
           
            1.  CLIA agents are required to complete so many CLIA classes and complete
                at least one cruise booking to be eligible for their discounted membership card.

            2.  IATAN requires that you have personally earned thru your 1099 at your host
                agency a minimum of $5,000 in gross commissions annually.  There is also
                a 6 month waiting period to receive a card from the time you are placed on
               this list.

You do not need either of these cards to begin your career as a travel agent.

16.  Do I need the Error & Omissions Insurance?   TOP

We strongly urge you to protect yourself by securing your own policy of E & O insurance. We have arranged through our E&O company that for only $50 per year, you can be added to our policy which provides up to $1,000,000 in coverage. Our “umbrella” policy costs thousands of dollars a year, but you can have the same protection for only $50 per year.

17.  Do I have any additional expenses?   TOP

Remember, you are a business owner and will experience expenses as they relate to postage, long distance charges, overnight deliveries of documents, client gifts, etc.

18.  How do I get started?   TOP

• Fill out the Independent agent contract and submit online with your registration fee.  This contract discusses you being an independent business owner and in charge of paying your own taxes.
• Take the Orientation class sent to you in your welcome email. At this time you will be further introduced to CTM and your lead agent.
• Complete your online training classes.

These classes will take approximately 20 hours to complete.  If you need to make a reservation prior to completion, your Lead Agent will complete the booking for you and split the commission with you.

Order business cards.  A template has been prepared for you and can be found on your Tools website.  These cards are customized with your name or company name, your contact info, and that you are “an authorized agent with Cruise & Travel Masters”.

• Check with your local business listing department for what you need to get licensed.  There are some states that require that you register as sellers of travel.
• You are now ready to start making bookings via your online booking engine. 
• Review your emails daily, as this is our main means of communicating with you.

 

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