Somewhere, beyond the sea... Somewhere, waiting for me?
November 2, 2008 10:20 PM Subscribe
Does anyone have experience with or as a cruise agent/planner franchisee? I'm thinking about chucking it all in and following my boyhood dream of owning a travel agency. This seems like a relatively low-cost (and part time) way to get my feet wet.
Is this like being an Avon lady but with cruise pamphlets rather than catalogs full of skin-so-soft? Telemarketing with "leads" provided? Something worse? Better? I'm looking specifically at these two but any information on similar options is great and maybe even preferable.
And I know a lot of this business is becoming web-based DIY booking but there are a lot of people who can't/won't do that. Plus I have some web-based travel industry ideas of my own I think I'd like to explore after I get a taste of things...
Is this like being an Avon lady but with cruise pamphlets rather than catalogs full of skin-so-soft? Telemarketing with "leads" provided? Something worse? Better? I'm looking specifically at these two but any information on similar options is great and maybe even preferable.
And I know a lot of this business is becoming web-based DIY booking but there are a lot of people who can't/won't do that. Plus I have some web-based travel industry ideas of my own I think I'd like to explore after I get a taste of things...
Best answer: My limited observation is that these are great businesses -- for the franchising company, not necessarily the franchisee.
As far as I can tell the advantages of the franchise operations are only these:
- Business leads. They essentially use you as an outsourced call center. America's Vacation Center seems to be the leader in this area. They also have some good training seminars, but you don't actually have to be in their network to attend.
- Some training / support. Maybe. But frankly if you already cruise you probably know way more than most. And if you're on Metafilter I doubt you need their help making a website or navigating the technical aspects of the industry
Frankly I never saw a lot of benefit -- you can get a CLIA travel agent's license, which is really all you need apart from your local business permits, for around $350. Go to CLIA's website and read up on it. Once you have a "CLIA number", you can go to each of the cruise lines and get onto their online booking system as well as their phone banks. (To this day even many big agencies still just call the cruise lines rather than using the online systems.)
Good luck, and feel free to MeMail me if you have general industry questions.
posted by CruiseSavvy at 7:08 AM on November 3, 2008 [1 favorite]
As far as I can tell the advantages of the franchise operations are only these:
- Business leads. They essentially use you as an outsourced call center. America's Vacation Center seems to be the leader in this area. They also have some good training seminars, but you don't actually have to be in their network to attend.
- Some training / support. Maybe. But frankly if you already cruise you probably know way more than most. And if you're on Metafilter I doubt you need their help making a website or navigating the technical aspects of the industry
Frankly I never saw a lot of benefit -- you can get a CLIA travel agent's license, which is really all you need apart from your local business permits, for around $350. Go to CLIA's website and read up on it. Once you have a "CLIA number", you can go to each of the cruise lines and get onto their online booking system as well as their phone banks. (To this day even many big agencies still just call the cruise lines rather than using the online systems.)
Good luck, and feel free to MeMail me if you have general industry questions.
posted by CruiseSavvy at 7:08 AM on November 3, 2008 [1 favorite]
It seems like you'd have a hard time of it; I've talked to a number of travel agents, and it sounds like the economy notwithstanding, the travel agency business has been headed downhill since it's become so easy to book flights, hotels, and cruises online.
posted by craven_morhead at 10:55 AM on November 3, 2008
posted by craven_morhead at 10:55 AM on November 3, 2008
Response by poster: FWIW, after asking this question here I also remembered CruiseCritic and posted a thread there. No definitive answers there yet. Thanks for your answer CruiseSavvy. Best of both websites so far.
posted by the christopher hundreds at 9:25 PM on November 3, 2008
posted by the christopher hundreds at 9:25 PM on November 3, 2008
Response by poster: Plus now I've got a new cruise-related website in my bookmarks, CruiseSavvy.com.
posted by the christopher hundreds at 9:27 PM on November 3, 2008
posted by the christopher hundreds at 9:27 PM on November 3, 2008
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So what can you do to position yourself for when the economy picks up? I suspect that most current workers in the field are starry-eyed about travel, so it probably makes sense to work on the skills that are in shorter supply -- like business management.
Good luck
posted by Idcoytco at 3:27 AM on November 3, 2008