Ralph Iyantusska. (Source: Ralph Iyanuska)
Success stories focus on veteran travel consultants and how they succeeded. Here is the view of Ralph Ianotoska, the owner of the iantosca travel, a company affiliated with travel experts.
How did you start as a travel consultant??
After graduating from the travel school, I worked at Horizon Air in different jobs, which included reservations and tickets. I applied for the position of AAA Travel travel agent at Great Falls Montana in 1993, which led me to move to Dallas in 1997.
I was recruited by the American Express Travel and offered luxury travel. In 2001, I participated with their new programs for independent advisers, allowing me to be freedom to be creative and earn my own income with my clients.
In 2006, my private company, Googirl, started, and I rented many advisors who wanted to travel. In 2017, I realized that I love sales and creativity more than the management of others, so I became an independent consultant again.
How did you build your work over the years?
Before I became independent in 2001, I liked the design, construction and promotion of collective travel. I got to know the radio groups in 1993 with the first position of my adviser and realized the possibility of obtaining a large income, as well as the social benefits of those who travel together. I still enjoy seeing the friendships and bonds that are made when those who do not know each other. I would also like to examine the large committee that comes every quarter – it doesn’t take much time to promote a group.
What are the characteristics that make you a successful advisor?
The existence of limits and the ability to say no. Understand what you want and you will not do and think about who you want to work for and the type of travel you sell. I encourage new advisers to consider the total treatment and think about their investments in terms of time and experience before accepting the opportunity to help the customer. Do they know what their return? How many hours will they invest? Will their resource help in his heart quickly? Is this their field of experience?
I have a set of my bases. I will not jump and take any reservation that the customer tries to reserve directly and stumbling. I am not partial reservations. If you do not want to pay me for my time and experience, you are alone. It may seem harsh for some, but it is a good way to stay away from problems.
The best referrals of a good job focus on my experience. I encourage new advisers to think about what makes them happy and meet a new candidate before saying yes. Are potential customers studied and vocal? Do they treat you as a commodity or do they appreciate what you offer?
You don’t have to say yes because of the person who referred them to you. If it is not appropriate, I say, “I am sorry, I will not be able to help you. Thank you for checking with me. I have a reputation and I need to provide what I said to those who pay me for my time and experience.
What are your biggest challenges?
Trading with my clients was difficult. I used to have customers who were prevalent, not profitable and I was never able to buy the travel I wanted to sell. With happiness and sincere as they were, I was not happy and needed to find a way to help me move forward professionally – and to continue to receive what they want. I had to learn to tell them politely that I could not help in their new inquiry and find a referral agent who could accommodate them.
My advice is to know the peers present there who love to sell things that you do not do, which will allow you to allow you to do what you want to do, and attract customers who want what you do. At that time, it was very difficult for me. I had a great feeling of guilt, but I did so anyway.
I just sold two TCS Jet missions and received more than $ 40,000 of reservation alone. I think I have passed it! Switch the way for what you want. If I stay in this place, I will not have the ability to give how time I need the wealthy customers I serve today.
What are your greatest achievements?
I run a business model through an invitation. The savage deportation, gorilla trips and safaris.
One of the best benefits of the model in which I work is the ability it provides for me to travel. This year was an epic. Customers hosted the National Geographic solution from Lindblad Experedits in January, went to walk long distances in Patagonia and then returned to the picturesque eclipse to Antarctica. In May, I traveled to Ecuador for 11 days. In June, I spent 24 days in the Kimberley area of Australia and Indonesia with Lindledbols on National Geographic Orion and spent summer to work away in Montana. In this fall, I will host a group to Zambia, then return to Rwanda and host another group to see the tigers in India, followed by flights in Bhutan.
What tips can you provide to new consultants in this industry?
Focus on attracting and keeping wealthy customers without always trading. Payment of my dues at the beginning of my career was useful. However, I wish someone had shown me a luxurious/luxurious travel slide and how to start from there. I would like to join an agency with a focus and educational platform to meet the needs of wealthy travelers.
I would also like to think about the investment you do with a new customer. If the new consultant is presented to a wealthy customer who has time and means, I will learn more about the customer bucket list.
I recommend that I focus less on marketing on “new” clients and more on preparing the largest possible number of trips for the same customer and learning about the circle of their influence. Reviews at the same level are really what my work is. My experience has taught me that it is fun to work for those who really like and know them, and the referrals talk about themselves.
Be an expert in the destination. For example, I love Rwanda. It only attracts advanced travelers, as the average average night rate is more than $ 5,000 per night in Volcanoes National Park. Gorilla permits are $ 1500 a day. Focusing like this, the consultant will continue to return year after year and attracting new rich customers through their experience with that destination, allowing them to slowly develop their business with the correct type of the customer.
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