How do Travel Agents Get Free Trips?
How do Travel Agents Get Free Trips?
There are perks travel agents can take advantage of that would cause their travel to be reduced. However, there are also instances where they can experience tremendous savings and even not pay in the long run. This article will show just how agents can go for free!
Yes: Travel Agents DO Travel For Free
There are several scenarios that could allow travel agents to travel for free. In this article, I will explain four ways that how agents can save and even travel for free when they travel
Booking Groups Could Get You a Free Pass
There are incentives for booking groups (the fact that group travel is the most lucrative bookings in the travel industry should be incentive enough). If an agent books so many rooms (hotel) or cabins (on a cruise); they could get a free room or cabin credit (not counting the commission) that they could be used toward their room or cabin. Of course this all depends on the vendor’s group policy, quantity needed and who is assigned as group leader.
Actually you do not have to be a travel agent to get this benefit I am described above. If you are not a travel agent and you decide to book a group, if you are the group leader, you could very well get these benefits (ask your travel agent they should inform you of any perks available). This is the only way (outside of a frequent guest program) that a non-travel agent could get perks extended to them… so if you want to get some perks out of your trip…think in groups!
Travel Agent Contests
Another way an agent could go free could be based on sales volume for a specific property or destination in a particular niche. Some travel vendors and agencies may offer free trips to top agents as incentive or awards for sales performance. These kinds of awards are offered as contents too! I’ve seen some really exotic destinations offered to contest winners in my agency, which makes it really worth trying to get your sales
Travel Agent Perks Can Be Good
Travel agents can sometimes take advantage of extended ‘courtesies’ or perks, which is an added benefit of being in the travel industry. We call them courtesies because no vender is obligated to extend perks just because a travel professional identifies themselves as such. If an option for a room upgrade or car rental upgrade is available, agents will ask first if of course, and it’s up to the vendor to extend free services, amenities or perks to agents up presentation of valid credentials. These perks may also include shows, attraction tickets, tours and much more.
Home-Based Travel Business Tax Deductions
This is the part I love about being a home-based travel agent! It really is all free in the long run! How is that? Travel professionals are allowed to legitimately write off their travel 100%. Yes, they can, so regardless if you are a travel agent paid for their trip, they are in the business of travel, which makes all your travel 100% tax deductable. So if you are a travel agent, the key is to document your trip and save your receipts so you can legally write off your trips at the end of the tax year!
Just to recap, there are 4 main ways travel agents can travel for free:
Booking groups and getting room, cabin, or monetary credit
Agency and Vendor Contests
Perks & upgrades
Write-off your travel 100%
Travel Agents… save those receipts and document, document, document! If you are not a travel agent and you are an avid traveler, you are throwing money away. Learn how to become a part time travel agent and get the benefits of owning a home-based online travel business.
Natalie is very passionate about entrepreneurship and building successful businesses, especially her online Travel and e-Commerce business. She enjoys mentoring her team of independent Travel Agents and e-Commerce Business Owners, helping them to take full-advantage of all the income opportunities available with their business and achieve success! Natalie provides coaching to those who are committed and serious about building a successful internet business from home. Visit www.1stStateTravel.biz to learn more.