Travel agents – Airbnb gives you a massive disruptive opportunity

100 ways to beat the OTAs by Best of Romagna – free

Your clients think that it’s easy to book their trip via Airbnb, Booking.com, Tripadvisor or whatever. Plus they can save money. What can you do?

BestofRomagna.com has been busy using its vast industry expertise to give travel agents ways to benefit from the OTAs intervention. – you can get them free – 10 at a time.

Here are the first 10…

1. Recognize your competition.

Their algorithms are their strength. Your personal committed service is your strength.

They only have algorithms, you have personal expertise and commitment. They are screen to screen whereas you are person to person. They can deliver low prices whereas you can deliver real guaranteed value. They can take clients time whereas you can give clients time. They can deliver deals but you can deliver sage advice.

2. Specialize

Pick a few destinations or activities and resolve to be a better expert at them than anyone else. Consumers now have access to so much travel information that they see themselves as travel agents. You need to be their ‘Master Class’

3. Treat them as friends and deliver a personal service

Differentiate yourself from DIY, self-service online solutions – and instead give consumers highly personalized service, recommendations, etc., right from your very first interaction with them — whether online, by phone or in-person.

4. Create your 20 second memorable verbal calling card

If anybody asks: "What do you do" What are the top three/five/ten messages? Rehearse them, memorize them, deliver them – personally and with fun!

5. Direct sell to local social groups, local businesses

Create a database by calling local churches, social organizations etc. Create specific tours based on their needs. Call them when you have something special.

6. Develop unique experiences

The value is in the experience. The more unique, the more value you’re adding.  The more you can get clients access to special events or people, the more differentiated you are.

7. Use your own creative algorithm – Segment your market

Do you want to spend your valuable time advising people who will then book online? Or do you want to create experiences for customers who will truly value them and use you again and again. Segment your market into the latter rather than the former.

8. Be an entrepreneur Work with net rates rather than take commission

If you’re doing something special (we hope you always are!) you’ll need to add a margin rather than take a commission. You need to see yourself and your client in travel relationship where you have the executive hand.

9. Become a "trusted advisor"

See yourself in your client’s team (like their lawyer, doctor or accountant). And act like it! Your advice is important – it helps them use their time to their best possible advantage.

10. Promote  your agency free – travel is BIG NEWS

To get yourself or your agency written up in national media or at least your local newspaper or website- all you need to do is to help them help you. Write a story with pictures of course. When its published either photograph it (if its in the paper) or get the URL (if its on a website). Use it as a post on your social media

You want the next 10? And the 10 after that?

To be sure of your extra free 10 – email [email protected]

More info on Best of Romagna HERE

Free downloads of more Romagna information HERE

Travel agents FAM trip program HERE