In episode 145 Steph co-hosts with Connie Miller of Montecito Travel and they tackle your probing and ever-helpful questions.

Questions :

1. I would love a conversation about how to execute charging fees when different trips take such a different amount of time. Some people know what they want - some don't. I've been experimenting and every person I've given an hourly fee (I've tested it at $75 and $100) and my estimated timeline, they've passed on my services. So I haven't gotten any fees in the six months I've been working on this. I've had some great success, but I have also wasted a ton of time with people shopping me and then taking my itinerary and booking it elsewhere to save $20 (especially on FIT trips). I've got to take control of my time and energy and make sure I'm spending time with the right people. But I have no idea how to actually implement fees and what a reasonable rate/package is. And I don't want to scare off people who could become great clients. --Kristina C.

2. Are Interline rates accessible by any travel agent? Hosting agency? I’m a newbie here looking for a HA -- majority of friends, family and neighbors are airline employees, so this would be a rather large target market for me (and frankly my niche in the cruise market). I'm familiar with Perx/ID90/Interliner, etc-- but can a new agent under a hosting agency access these rates? Or is there some sort of authorization process an agent needs to obtain in order to book these rates for clients? –Sean R.

3. Can you help me understand the technology needed to be a travel agent? What is most important if you are on a budget? –Jamie T.

TODAY’S RESOURCES:

(HAR’s webinar on using HAR’s research reports to grow your agency)

(Chart of fees)

(A guide to charging fees)

(What are interline cruise rates and who qualifies?)

(List of host agencies)

(Montecito Village Travel’s HAR profile)