Travel Consulting Business.
Pam Lopez shares her experiences and insights from operating her successful Travel Consulting small business, and working with her spouse and other family members in business.
Pam Lopez is a business owner, and her latest business venture is L3 Destination, a custom travel consulting business she started in 2014.
Over the past 10 years she has successfully helped her travel clients to create custom voyages around the world. From European trips to adventures in Alaska and Antarctica, and Crises to all parts of the world – Pam has helped hundreds of individuals and families realize their travel dreams!
Pam started her work career as a flight attendant with American Airlines, and after 14 years with American she took an early retirement package to stay home and raise her daughter Makena.
Her first small business experience came when she helped Henry with Old World Salons, a salon suites business we bought, owned for six years, and then sold in 2014. Pam was responsible for the back-office operations, including accounts payable and banking, and managed the front-desk staff.
A travel consulting small business specializes in helping clients plan and book their travel experiences, whether for leisure or business. It offers personalized services that may include creating customized itineraries, booking flights and accommodations, arranging tours, and providing travel advice. This small business often focuses on niche markets, such as luxury travel, adventure travel, cruising, or specific destinations, allowing consultants to provide expert knowledge and tailored recommendations.
Travel Consulting Business:
- When you were younger (as a kid, in college or when you were working for American), did you ever think you might own a business some day?
- What do you remember about how you felt going into helping me run Old World Salons?
- What do you think is the biggest personal challenge you overcame as you successfully helped operate Old World Salons? What are one or two key skills you had to develop?
- What were the challenges of working with your husband, and other family members, in this business? What advice would you offer someone considering starting a business with their spouse?
- Why did you decide to start your Travel Consulting business?
- What was an early challenge that you had to overcome, and perhaps did not expect?
- What are a couple of the key reasons you have been successful with your travel consulting business?
- What do you enjoy most about being a travel consultant?
- What are the main challenges with this business?
- What’s one big misconception about being a travel consultant?
- What advice would you offer to someone who may be considering starting a travel consulting business?
- Briefly explain, at a high level, what a host agency is and the role they play.
- How have you benefited from joining industry associations like CLIA and IATA, and attending their conferences?
- Who are your ideal clients? For whom does it make most sense to use a travel consultant?
- Pros and Cons of Travel Consulting Business:
- Pros:
- Flexibility
- Travel
- Low Start-Up Costs
- Host Agencies and Industry Associations
- Cons:
- Low Barrier to Entry – Lots of Consultants!
- Downward trend on commissions
- Competing with the internet and other discount travel providers
- Not consistent – your income may not be consistent.
- Pros:
- What do you enjoy about being your own boss?
Episode Host: Henry Lopez is a serial entrepreneur, small business coach, and the host of this episode of The How of Business podcast show – dedicated to helping you start, run and grow your small business.
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