Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Alena Warfield. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alena , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So, let’s start with trends – what are some of the largest or more impactful trends you are seeing in the industry?

There are many trends present in the travel industry. One large one I’ve experienced amongst my clients is a larger budget focused more on financing one of a kind experiences.
Clients who are honeymooning are putting more finances toward their honeymoons ( more luxurious and longer travel times ) as opposed to their wedding day celebrations.

Family travelers are taking those bucket list trips with budgets focused on including authentic experiences with local flair. Like cooking classes, farm to table experiences or even private guided day trips with locals.

The common thread amongst these trends seems to be the allocation of funds to more unique experiences. As well as hefty budgets to support those more off the beaten path experiences!

Alena , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I lightly entered the travel industry back in 2018, starting out working at one of our brands, Vincent Magical Vacations, selling theme park travel packages. I sold solely theme park travel for roughly a year and a half before deciding to take the leap to selling international travel as well. This was at the end of 2019, I was just getting my footing in the industry when COVID struck – this was a huge learning curve, but nonetheless was a great learning phase. I was able to pour myself into brand trainings and better myself for my future clients.

As a travel advisor, I take my client’s ” wants/ to-do lists ” for their trips and pull them into a perfect itinerary. Flushed out with every detail they may require. Often times travelers come to me with a large picture idea, ” I want to go to Scotland for this golf event” and I take that piece of information and dive into what/ how / where they want to spend their time. This is where my knowledge of destinations, properties and tour companies is crucial.
I pride myself on finding the best properties for my client’s because a hotel is not just a place to sleep, it is where they will start each day of their amazing adventure!

I work with my clients to handle payments, travel protection policies and any pre- travel details. When the trip has finally begun, I make myself available to my travelers for problem solving / concerns etc. while they are in destination. I use a travel app to help keep clients organized while traveling and to alert them of any changes or delays.

Often times, using a travel advisor doesn’t cost a client anything additional. They get to bask in the glory of a well planned trip, by an expert, who will be in the corner through every aspect of the planning and travel experience. As a travel advisor, we run our business on referrals and client word of mouth!

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

At the start of any small business, you have to be mindful of how to grow your business without much additional cost involved. Those early years are growing years and you rely heavily on social networking to maintain your business. As time goes on and you begin to develop a customer base, their word of mouth and positive experiences become your marketing campaigns.

I utilize social media heavily for my marketing, but to continue to grow my clientele, I rely on my past client’s positive experiences and reviews and sharing of their travel stories on social media.
So the next time one of their friends in their social circles talks travel, my name is in the conversation!

Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?

Keeping your name and your company in a client’s mind is key to retaining them or gaining them as a client! I do this in a few ways, email being the simplest, newsletters advertising great promotions or destinations that are hot is an easy way to remind them that I’m the person to talk to when they’re ready to book their next trip. But I also send out personal emails for birthdays, anniversaries etc, to maintain a personal relationship without throwing deals and promos into their inbox.

Following up with clients after trips, prior to departure and occasionally during travel has been extremely helpful for me when creating brand loyalty. Doing these simple touch base communications reminds them that I am here for them every step of the way, that I care and that I am responsive. This has been so successful for me when it comes to retaining clients and growing my client base !

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.vincentvacations.com/agents/alenawarfield/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travelingwithalena/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/972962003057086/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alena-warfield-3009668b/
• Other: https://pin.it/4GMHngAkE

Image Credits

n/a