Travel Professional Name: Shawn Power
Email Address: Shawn.Power@AvoyaNetwork.com
Agency Name: Powerventures Travel Services Ltd., an Independent Agency in the Avoya Travel Network
Location: Langley, BC
Host Agency Name: Avoya Travel
Years as a Travel Professional: 10
Specialization or Niche: Cruises (luxury, river and upper-premium)
What led you to be a Travel Professional?
I had a passion for travel and cruising and wanted to help others discover this great way of vacationing and seeing the world, which is why I decided to become a travel professional. Cruising has become my favorite way to experience the world and by combining my love for it with personal experience and first-hand knowledge of various cruise ships and ports-of-call, I’ve been able to own a rewarding and profitable business creating life-changing vacations for my clients.
Did defining your Specialty or Niche increase your business? If so, how did you find your Niche?
Defining my specialty has dramatically improved my business because it allows me to set myself apart from other travel professionals. I only sell cruises, and even though many people told me in the beginning that you have to sell everything, I discovered early on that I could be more successful selling the products I know inside out and love. This has allowed me to save time, be more efficient, and deliver the best vacation experiences possible to guests.
What three things about working with your Host Agency has been the most useful and helpful?
As an independent agency owner in the Avoya Network I’ve found Avoya Live Leads to be the most helpful with growing my business and taking it to the next level. In addition, Avoya’s relationship with suppliers has been a huge benefit because it allows me to provide travelers with exclusive deals and amenities that can’t be found anywhere else.
Being a member of a host agency network allows me to thrive as a business owner because Avoya provides the support and resources that give me the opportunity to live a lifestyle of success. I also have the flexibility to work anywhere in the world, whenever I want. In fact, I travel three to four months out of the year while still running my business.
What aspects of your Host Agency led you to your decision to join their programs?
Live Leads is the number one reason I decided to join Avoya. Selling travel is more competitive than ever before and it can take a significant amount of time and resources to connect with new customers. I like that Avoya continues to invest in its marketing and technology so that travel professionals can continue to grow their businesses and turn Avoya Live Leads into lifetime customers.
What advice would you offer to someone looking to work with a Host Agency?
Before searching for a host agency, it’s important to know what support you need as a business owner and to ask good questions about the programs offered. Marketing for customers was the biggest challenge for me, and for many travel professionals. I made sure to look into each host agency’s lead program to determine if I was getting the best resources and support and Avoya had the best program I found for sending the most qualified new customer leads.
Please share a couple of things have been the most important to your success so far?
A few things have been important contributors to my success. First, I treat my business seriously and work with Integrity and Professionalism. I also have a passion for selling travel and knowing the ins and outs of the products I specialize in. Passion is what sells vacations, not brochures.
Another reason I’m successful is because I have the freedom and flexibility to travel three to four months out of the year. This allows me to maintain a diverse portfolio of personal vacation experiences and expand my travel expertise.
What are your plans to grow your business in the next year?
Every year I travel and try to experience new products, destinations, and itineraries to help with booking new clients and providing my existing customers with new vacation ideas. I’ve already booked personal vacations for Tahiti, Egypt, and Europe.
I’m also planning to grow my business with repeat and referral customers. I have a great repeat booking rate because I’m able to exceed my clients’ expectations and deliver an enjoyable and trusted vacation planning experience.
Do you feel that getting yourself out there and traveling is important for your business? If so, how do you make yourself get out there and take those trips?
Getting out there and traveling is not just important, it’s how I’ve built my business. As soon as I wake up I want to travel! That is how I get myself out there. Plus, the travel perks as an independent agency owner in the Avoya Network are great.