We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Nikki Butler a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Nikki, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

At Derivel, we specialize in corporate client entertainment travel. Client entertainment travel is hosting a current or potential business colleague, customer, associate, or acquaintance with some form of travel experience. It’s more than just the standard lunch or dinner date. It’s an exclusive opportunity to blend business and pleasure; to really get to know your fellow professional on a personal level and strengthen the relationship. Given the right environment, it’s a chance to instill comfort and trust. It’s an opportunity that you don’t want to get wrong. So, using the right travel expert to assist in all the meticulous details is important.

The essentials of client entertainment travel are unique. It is not your typical vacation experience. The environment needs be specific to the client’s preferences and foster an atmosphere of conversation. This is where having a travel agency that is familiar with this niche is essential. Our mission is to help our clients think outside of the standard ballgame or concert. We are passionate about creating unique experiences that leave a positive lasting impression. Experiences that leave your clients talking long after the trip has ended. Experiences that create a true bond with the host and their clients.

We also understand that each company or business has different limitations and requirements regarding client entertainment. We spend time learning and understanding our client’s company travel management policies and help ensure the requirements are fulfilled. That saves our client’s time, money and helps them remain compliant. This supports our mission of creating a completely inclusive agency to cover all the corporate client needs.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

The name Derivel comes from the word derive. Derive meaning to obtain something from a specific source. So, a “L” was added to the end to make Derivel. Derivel will derive an amazing travel experience for you and your clients!

Derivel is much more than a travel agency. We are the ultimate, all-inclusive travel assistant and concierge agency. We consult, research, plan, finalize, book, and provide in destination support. We organize all the travel details into a customized branded itinerary that helps promote your company’s image. A well developed and organized itinerary grossly improves communication and will definitely impress your clients. We want your company’s brand displayed on the top, so they know how organized and well communicated your company is in all aspects, including travel experiences. The itineraries are not only visual pleasing for promoting and marketing, but they are also functional with interactive maps, multi-language support, off-line access capabilities, can exported as a PDF and/or shared on any device.

The in-destination support and assisting that Derivel offers is a real game changer for client entertainment travel. It allows the host to remain in the moment and present with their clients while trying to fulfill requests or change the evening’s dinner reservation. We recently had a client that was hosting a trip and while at lunch their clients mentioned wanting to add on spa services. Without leaving the table and missing out on the conversation, our client texted us the request and we sprang into action. We made the reservations and before the meal was over, he was able to notify the clients that their request was fulfilled. This highlighted our client’s attention to detail and ability to make things happen for their clients. All new reservation information was automatically updated to their customized electronic itinerary and immediately available for their review.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

GUIDE Culture has been significantly impactful for me. GUIDE Culture has a unique approach to sales. They have built a program to teach and improve sales skills while continuing to focus on your desire to love and serve others. They allow you a platform to practice your sales skills in a positive and uplifting environment. They are slowly dissipating the negative salesman or saleswoman stereotypes and make you proud to be in sales. They believe in a whole-person approach to sales and that completely aligns with Derivel’s mission. GUIDE Culture has so much content and resources. They have full programs, podcast, engaging social media account, playbooks, helpful emails and much more.

These are my current top choices for books that have helped navigate my entrepreneurial journey: Faith driven entrepreneur by J.D. Greear, Chip Ingram and Henry Kaestner, Bluefishing by Steven Sims, The High 5 Habit and The 5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins, The Secret by Rhonda Byrne, The Psychology of Winning by Denis Waitley, The Psychology of Selling by Brian Tracy, Atomic Habits by James Clear, The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks

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

I believe in creating genuine and authentic relationships. Building trust through honesty and listening. Having clients understand how much I truly care about their ultimate success. Being realistic and reliable. Having a sincere interest in them. These characteristics and desires help develop a sincere relationship between my clients and myself. I always ask how my clients prefer to keep in touch and respect their answer whether that be verbally, email or text. I’m intentional and persistent on my follow up. I understand that my clients are busy might not be quick to respond and want them to understand that I’m here to make one aspect of their lives easier.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.derivel.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/derivel.travel
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/derivel.travel