Our Travel Advisor Success Stories highlight how veteran travel advisors have achieved success. Here, we feature Amanda Scott, Owner and CEO of Tycoon Travel Club.
How did your career as a travel advisor begin?
I have always had a strong work ethic, an entrepreneurial spirit and a deep love for a customer-centric career. These passions naturally led me to start my own travel agency where I could combine my dedication to excellent service with my passion to help others.
How have you built your business over the years?
I've built my business by developing strong, long-term relationships with my clients. Rather than simply booking trips, I spend time understanding my clients' travel dreams, preferences and budgets. This personalized approach allows me to create a unique experience that exceeds my clients' expectations. By cultivating trust and showing that I genuinely care, my clients become advocates of my services, not just customers. Today, the majority of my clients come from referrals, highlighting the effectiveness of word-of-mouth marketing based on trust and satisfaction.
What are the traits that make you a successful advisor?
My unwavering tenacity, strategic planning, and dedication to exceptional customer experience are the secrets to my success.
Every aspect of my business operates on a strong foundation of core values, ethics and integrity to ensure trust and reliability. I collaborate with suppliers, hotels, destination transportation and tour teams to meticulously plan and execute strategies that align with my clients' goals and enhance their experience. Leveraging my in-depth knowledge and expertise in the luxury travel and corporate incentive travel sectors, I provide unparalleled insights and solutions tailored to my clients' unique needs.
What has been your biggest challenge so far?
Scaling my agency has been one of the most rewarding and most challenging aspects of my entrepreneurial journey. Growing a business comes with many hurdles, but I realized early on that finding the right talent was an especially difficult task. I initially considered a contract agency, but after trial and error, I found that building a foundational supportive management team was a more effective approach.
What is your greatest achievement?
One of my biggest accomplishments was securing over $500,000 in bookings in my first 12 months. This huge achievement earned my agency a top-tier position among suppliers and caught the attention of hoteliers. Since 2017, I have consistently maintained Platinum or above status with top brands such as Le Blanc, Palace Resorts, AIC Hard Rock Resorts, UNICO, and Sandals & Beaches Resorts.
In 2023, I quadrupled Playa Hotels and Resorts' standardized top production goal and earned the honor of being the #1 Travel Advisor nationwide for the company's branded Hyatt Ziva and Zilara all-inclusive resorts in Mexico and the Caribbean. These accomplishments demonstrate my commitment to delivering exceptional results for my clients.
What tips can you offer advisors new to the industry?
If you're just starting out, don't take the path of least resistance like I did. I recommend starting with a host agency or working as an independent contractor for a reputable, established agency. This allows you to join a valuable supportive community and learn the industry in a fraction of the time. It's important to take the time to do your due diligence so you can decide what best suits your goals and values.
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