Travel Sales Made Easy! - The Wealthy Travel Agent
Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal and business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Dan Chappelle, President of The Wealthy Travel Agent, located in Bellevue, WA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I teach and coach travel advisors (agents) how to proactively close more sales.
Tell us about yourself
I have spent over 30 years in the cruise and travel industry. I began as a dive instructor onboard cruise ships and then switched to the Pursers (business) Office of the ship, where I discovered at the time that most of the problems we dealt with onboard could be traced back to the travel agent. Times were different then. A travel agency made virtually all of its revenue selling airline tickets; cruise vacations were an afterthought. I started a cruise-only travel agency in Austin, Texas, and over the course of 10 years, it grew into one of the largest sellers of cruises in the U.S.A. After selling the business, I joined the Carlson Travel Franchise Group and later helped launch Expedia Cruises in the U.S. market. Finally, I rounded out my corporate career as Vice President of Global Sales with Windstar Cruises.
What I learned from fifteen years of corporate life is that I suck as an employee. I achieved much of my success in each of the roles by teaching travel professionals how to proactively "sell" travel vs. the reactive practice of "order taking," a trap to which so many fall prey. I decided to create a practice that helped travel business owners achieve success. Little did I know how great the demand would be for my services.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
There is more than one single thing. I fulfilled my dream of authoring a book. It was a best seller in its categories when it was first published and continues to sell well. "Get Your S.H.I.P. Together - The Wealthy Travel Agent Guide to Sales" (available on Amazon & Audible) has gained fans outside of travel for the message it delivers. The sales professionals I have had the privilege to coach individually and the organizations that have trusted me with their team's success are what drive me.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
COVID shut down the travel industry for 2 1/2 years and consequently by practice as well. Coming to the realization that something completely out of my control was going to put me out of business effectively was a sobering thought. It forced me to search for opportunities to prosper in the crisis outside my comfort zone.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Make sure you can monetize your passion. Adopt systems and processes for efficiency. Build a team - whether you are outsourcing or hiring, surround yourself with people whose skills complement yours. The last thing you want to end up with is a "job"!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.wealthytravelagent.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WealthyTA/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danchappelle/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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