Last week’s discussions in the travel agent community were vibrant and insightful. Members shared strategies on sustainable travel, debating what truly makes a trip eco-friendly and marketable. Adventure safety was another hot topic, with agents exchanging their preferred continuing education resources. Additionally, there was considerable interest in tools that simplify itinerary management, particularly those that handle approvals and holds efficiently.
This Week’s Hot Topics
Sustainable trip design that actually sells
Members are diving into the nuances of sustainable travel and what makes these trips appealing to clients. It’s all about balancing ecological responsibility with marketability. Read more here
Your go-to CE for adventure safety
This thread is a goldmine for those looking to enhance their adventure trip offerings. Discussions focus on the best continuing education resources to ensure client safety. Read more here
Itinerary builder that manages approvals and holds
If you’ve ever struggled with itinerary management, this discussion explores tools that streamline the process, making it easier to manage client approvals and holds. Read more here
Wishing you a productive week ahead. Feel free to dive into the discussions and share your expertise.
If you’ve ever struggled with itinerary management, this discussion explores tools that streamline the process, making it easier to manage client approvals Switched to Travefy this fall — approvals dropped from two days of email ping‑pong to same‑day clicks, and I tag “low‑impact” and “locally owned” so the eco bits stand out. Caveat: adding a quick CO2 note via Thrust Carbon adds about 5 minutes, but it’s helped close sustainable trips.
I’ve run into this too — one small tweak that paid off was writing the expected outcome before touching the settings.
One tweak that’s helped me sell “sustainable” trips: I preselect the greener option and add one concrete impact line in the quote (e.g., rail saves about 180kg CO2 + funds reef survey), then note the flight alternative so clients still feel choice; I only do it when rail adds ≤2 hours. @helen_t92 have you tried framing it like that in Travefy?
I’ve been closing more trips by adding one verified line in the quote — “GSTC‑recognized lodge; 1% of room revenue goes to ranger training” — and linking to the supplier’s page (https://www.gstcouncil.org); it’s like sneaking veggies into pasta. @kwhite2021 small caveat: if the supplier can’t show a current audit, I swap to one that can rather than debate claims.
Started adding a one-page “risk + readiness” brief to hiking/rafting proposals, and conversions jumped because clients see the plan, not just the thrill. I lean on ATTA’s Safety & Risk Management template and require WFR‑certified guides, then drop a single line like “evac plan on file; guide cert verified” with a proof link: https://adventuretravel.biz/education/safety-risk-management. Minor caveat: it adds about 10 minutes per quote, so I only do it on higher‑risk itineraries.
Quick example: swapping short intra‑Europe flights for sleeper trains and labeling it “saves a hotel night + about 180kg CO2” with https://www.seat61.com makes it feel like an upgrade without paying for it. Small caveat: families on tight timelines still fly, so I pitch a hybrid leg; @kelsey_m91, have sleepers worked for you?