I know I am giving my age away by making the following statement:
I learned to type on a manual typewriter in my high school
typing class. There. I’ve said it! I
well remember the sound of the carriage returns clanging as each student began
typing a new line, and heaven help any of us if we made a mistake when typing
in triplicate through layers of carbon paper! Never in a million years would I
have dreamed of an era when I would be Skyping family far away, instant
messaging with my friend in London as she boards her train home after her work
day, texting by phone and posting a video of myself on Facebook as a marketing
tool to promote my travel business!
TTAND uses technology to support my business in a multitude
of ways. When I first made the decision to train as a travel agent with TTAND,
I was sent travel manuals which needed to be reviewed and referred to as I
began completing my online courses before taking the final exam for each course
segment. One of the advantages was that
I could schedule the training around my own time frame and determine how much I
could realistically cover and absorb each day. The course segments were very enjoyable.
Learning about new continents and travel destinations fueled my desire to
experience them for myself, as well as present them to future clients.
Once my contract was signed, log in information was sent to
me for our suppliers and training webinars began in earnest on TTAND’s extranet
and client file and invoicing system. I do remember feeling a little
overwhelmed at this point, but the excitement of beginning a new travel career
won out! Talking with my mentor helped
give me a plan and a focus. I currently share a website with my travel agent
mentor but added my personal biography and page with assistance from the
Marketing Department.
Regular email newsletters and communications from head
office aid in helping me feel connected, as do the monthly Town Hall meetings
when Flemming and staff members bring us up to speed and invite us to pose our
questions. The sharing of ideas and
advice on our social media pages by head office staff and TTAND travel agents
have also proved invaluable.
For more information about The Travel Agent Next Door
please visit www.thetravelagentnextdoor.com.
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