More than 90 per cent of travel agents who complete Aussie Specialist online courses or attend instructor-led training have reported the Aussie Specialist Program has increased their ability to sell Australia.
— Aussie Specialist Program Global Survey, 2019
United States-based agent Amanda Kelly has been an Aussie Specialist for the past eight years and has no doubt it has contributed to her business success.
‘There's something really unique about the specialist program that Australia offers as compared to other programs that are out there. What I mean by that is it's very in-depth. It allows you to really go into learning a lot more specific to the areas of interest to you, and to your clients as well and you've got monthly updates, so you’re constantly getting what's new and trending as well.’
Amanda encourages other agents to not only join the Aussie Specialist Program, but to take full advantage of the continually updated content.
'THere is so much to learn...
There are so many new properties, new suppliers, new things going on all the time,’ Amanda says.
Amanda and Marsha enjoying a taste of the Mornington Peninsula.
Amanda's tip
‘I'll be honest, there's not hundreds of agents specialising in Australia so if you have the opportunity to delve into that education and put yourself out there as being really knowledgeable in that area you can do really well — and it can be a really fun niche.’
She also suggests spending time on the Mornington Peninsula, in Victoria.
'It's such a fantastic area. If you can spend a few days simply enjoying the hot springs, checking out the wineries, sinking your toes in the sand and indulging in some delicious food, you won't be disappointed. It's a fantastic coastal escape.'
Relaxing at the Peninsula Hot Springs.
Whilst Canadian travel agent Marsha Ramage has decades of experience in recommending and planning trips Down Under, and has enjoyed 12 of her own, she credits the Aussie Specialist Program for much of her success in selling Australia.
‘I consider myself to be pretty knowledgeable on Australia, but I regularly sign up for the webinars and I go on the Aussie Specialist platform and do the training, because there's always new information coming out and there's always new hotels and tour operators and experiences being created. So, I still do it just to keep up to date with everything.
‘I tend to gravitate towards the various training options, as well as tools and resources, for quick access to training content on different niches of travel, such as adventure, wine and food, nature or culture. Learning about all these areas allows you to deliver according to your clients’ needs.’
Marsha loves selling bespoke trips, asking clients to fill in a questionnaire about their hobbies and interests before planning their itinerary.
‘I just tell them to tick anything that's of interest because you won't believe what’s out there that’s tailored to those interests,’ Marsha says.
‘Australia has got so much to offer. It's a country that's full of experiences. I've sent equestrians on four-night horseback treks through the Snowy Mountains. I've put sailing enthusiasts on small sailing charters through the Whitsundays. You've got people who are interested in art and you're able to sign them into an Aboriginal dot painting class where they get to make their own art and bring it home as a souvenir. Those are the sort of things that I think make Australia amazing for each individual person.
‘So again, it’s really great to use the various training options available, such as courses, virtual webinars, sample itineraries and guides — just select the interests that your clients have mentioned to learn more. The sample itineraries are especially a great way to cover off a lot of your clients' wish list.’
Marsha's tip
‘If you don't know much about Australia, the distances are always a shock for people. So, the interactive map is great because it tells you how long the flights are or, if you're driving, how long it's going to take your clients to drive between A or B. That's very important.
‘Melbourne (Victoria) always has a lot to offer with all the quirky shops and laneways and restaurants and everything there. You're never bored in Melbourne.’
Taking a closer look at one of Brighton Beach's famous beach boxes.
Based in Korea, Ye-eun Jung found the Aussie Specialist online training and famils to be invaluable when she started specialising in Oceania destinations, including Australia, earlier in 2022.
‘Before I learned about Australia through the Aussie Specialist Program, I thought Australia is all about beautiful beaches and the cutest animals, like kangaroos, however I realised that there are so many things that I didn't know. For example, there are different climate zones due to the huge size of the country and breathtaking scenery.
‘I used to face difficulty advising consumers on what to do or where to stay in Australia. But now I'm very confident after the Aussie Specialist Program.’
Ye-eun's tip
‘I'd like to recommend attending the online webinars. They deliver lots of product information, including the latest updates, which is hard to know, so I'm sure that it would be helpful for other travel agents.’
Ye-eun also recommends taking up one of the famil opportunities that the program offers as it helped broaden her understanding of the product offering here in Australia.
‘One of my favourite experiences was feeding a kangaroo when I went to the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary on the Gold Coast (Queensland). It was an experience that I couldn't easily do in other states of Australia, so I really looked forward to it before attending my first famil.’
Ye-eun's favourite Australian experience was Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.
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