Help me figure out if there's a market out there for what I want to do?

August 5, 2013 5:17 PM

I have been a travel agent at a small incentive company for 10 years and am considering starting my own freelance business. How do I determine if there is a market out there for what I want to do?

For 10 years I have handled group incentive travel and business meetings. Our group size has been 24 to 2000 people, and while most of our destinations are domestic (United States), I have also planned and executed a handful of large programs in Europe, Canada and Mexico. I have travelled to Asia on personal trips.

I am considering the idea of starting a web based freelance business, offering personalized travel services. I picture myself working with Executive type clients who are willing to pay for VIP handling. (I have worked with people like this in my current position and have seen how they are willing to pay for someone else to make their arrangements.) I also see myself becoming active on travel forums, blogging, podcasting, etc, and developing an online presence as a "travel expert", available for consultations and independent booking. I could see myself helping people plan their trips on an hourly basis, planning complete itineraries for executives (possibly even accompanying them on complicated trips, to advance all elements), and possibly doing some smaller bookings here and there as well for normal people (like me) online.

With my experience in group travel, I could pursue group bookings - companies that have regional meetings, small incentive programs, etc. At my current company, we occasionally get requests for people who are planning trips (personal or business) for small groups, like 24 people, and they need some help. It's too small for our company to handle but as a freelancer, it would be perfect for me. I could even go on the trip as a tour coordinator, hopefully developing repeat clients for small groups or organizations that take annual trips (college professors? retired persons associations?).

Technically speaking - I am a travel agent with an IATA card. I believe I would need to start my own small business and register for my own IATAN number so that I can get commission from bookings. I would probably work with an airline specialist (like someone at my current company) to handle air bookings for me.

So my question is - how do I determine if these are realistic ideas? I'm not asking about the question of freelancing vs having a steady job. I'm prepared for that and I think I would thrive on my own. I'm asking more about this specific idea, and how to figure out in advance if it's a good one.

posted by kdern to Work & Money (5 answers total)

my first thought is to search around the blogosphere and related areas of your industry and find out if anyone ELSE is doing this. But it sounds like a difference in degree, not a difference in kind, from what you're already doing.

Would your existing company allow you to talk to some of those wanna-be customers who aren't good prospects for their services, so as to find out more about their quality as prospects? Might you even be able to do and stay on with the company on at least a part-time basis?
posted by randomkeystrike at 5:25 PM on August 5, 2013

I think people are doing this, but I have no idea if people are doing this full time as their main source of income.

Most of what I've seen is travel writers/bloggers doing trip planning consults where you say "I want to go to Italy" (or wherever) and they plan the whole thing. No idea what the going rate for that even is.
posted by Sara C. at 5:32 PM on August 5, 2013

I think one thing I would be mindful of is the existing services that cater to these "executive type" clients. At some of the companies where I've worked (law firm / financial services) there is an existing relationship with one or more travel companies for business and personal travel (American Express Travel Services and one place, and a couple others whose names I can't remember). In addition, we've had access to various concierge services to make bookings.

I've never been at the high levels within these organizations--but these services were available to me as a relatively junior person. I expect the services only increase at the higher levels. As you develop your business plan, I think you should consider 1) what distinguishes you from these competitors and 2) why a client should call you rather than the number listed in the corporate benefits handbook.

One other point--who's running the shop (finding new business, making the relevant bookings, etc.) while you're on a tour with other customers? Two weeks out of the office while you're on location in Tuscany or Peru or wherever may make it difficult to line up the next customer and make their arrangements. Don't expect "executive types" to accept anything less than 110% of your time and attention.

Good luck!
posted by Admiral Haddock at 7:07 PM on August 5, 2013 [1 favorite]

If you are already aware of groups that have looked for services like yours, you may have a chance.

If you are looking for people who might be interested in your service, well, good luck.

G
posted by gnossos at 8:54 PM on August 5, 2013

I have a cousin who is an Executive Assistant to a CEO. One of his duties is to arrange this kind of travel. Unless you have a handful of actual people who are willing to be your clients right now, I'm not sure you could make a go of it.

How about writing the blog NOW? See if you can get a following.

Google terms that describe your proposed services and see if there are others out there providing them.

Frankly, I'm surprised there are still travel agents. It's just one of those professions claimed by the Internet.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 5:43 AM on August 6, 2013