Travel advisors at Dream Vacations/CruiseOne’s 2025 National Conference on the Star Princess offered insight on how to thrive in today’s competitive landscape. From luxury “surprise and delight” touches to niche-building and stronger supplier relationships, these are the standout tips they swear by.
How to Stand out
- Luxury travelers live an extravagant lifestyle, so try to give them surprises and delights that they’re not expecting. Email the onsite [property] people and tell them that they have a special guest coming. —Christy Scannell, Dream Vacations Franchise Owner
- Reach out to everyone of your clients. Travel with your groups—they really like that; the more you travel, the more you can sell. —Jessica Slater, Dream Vacations Jessica Slater & Associates
- Knowing the product is crucial. If you don’t know it, you can’t sell it or can’t sell it with confidence. —Nancy Shirey, Stowaway Travel Group
- Be available as much as possible and get enthusiastic for every client who travels. For land clients, reach out to the property before your clients travel to make sure the [visit] will be tailored to them; clients don’t expect that. Treat them all the same—from the $2,000 trip to the $50,000. Don’t send someone somewhere where you wouldn’t go yourself. —Melissa Cohn, Melissa Cohn Dream Vacations
Advice to Find Your Niche
- What is it that really sparks you? Whatever it is, do it and don’t look back. Do that thing that is going to make you happy because you’re going to be able to get your clients excited about it. —Christy
- Get out of your own head. Find someone that is there to support you within the industry. Find your people that will inspire you. —Jessica
- Know the product but find what makes you happy. It’s all about relationships—know who you can call; they are your partners and are there to support you. Take their advice. Answer your phone when it rings. Answer your email…and it’s ok to say No. —Nancy
- Be passionate about what you sell; live vicariously through every client you have. Research and create relationships with BDMs. —Melissa
