Interview Summary: Mark Murphy with Rob and Kerri Stuart of Creative Magic Vacations
About Rob and Kerri Stuart
Rob and Kerri Stuart are the owners of Creating Magic Vacations, which they started in 2018 after previously working with a franchise. They began their journey in the travel industry with a podcast called "Disney Travel Secrets" in 2017, which they still produce weekly (now at episode 429). They later added a second podcast called "Travel Inspired." Their business grew primarily through their podcasts, which attracted both clients and travel advisors who wanted to join their team.
Business Model and Philosophy
* Currently have approximately 150 independent contractors across the country.
* Focus on creating professional travel advisors rather than hobbyists.
* Emphasize business training and personal development, not just travel knowledge.
* Their goal is to have the highest average sales per agent rather than being the biggest agency.
* They personally onboard and train each new agent.
* They require agents to earn their credentials rather than giving them out on day one.
River Cruising Insights
A significant portion of the interview focused on river cruising:
* They've experienced multiple European rivers and have four European river cruises scheduled for next year.
* They noted a demographic shift in river cruising from primarily 65-85 year old travelers to now including people in their 30s and 40s.
* They recommend river cruising as a great "sampler" of European destinations, allowing travelers to visit multiple countries in a week.
* They highlighted AmaWaterways as their preferred river cruise line, though they also discussed experiencing different brands.
* They mentioned the powerful experience of visiting Normandy during a river cruise.
Travel Industry Observations
* They criticized "MLM" (multi-level marketing) travel agencies and "card mills" that focus on recruiting rather than actually selling travel.
* They shared success stories including a full-time nurse who now sells over $1 million in travel per year, and a new person who reached $1 million in sales within 15 months.
* They're launching a new program specifically to help military spouses become travel advisors through their "CMV Heroes Project".
* They partner with Folds of Honor charity to support military families.
* They emphasized the importance of in-person relationships and phone calls over relying solely on social media.
* They've seen their best sales ever in early 2024, with February being their strongest month in seven years.
Advice for Travel Agents and Travelers
* Lead with travel when introducing yourself to potential clients, not with your other jobs.
* Be proactive when business slows down - that's when agents need to work harder.
* Look for trends (like popular TV shows set in destinations) and use them as selling opportunities.
* Focus on building relationships rather than posting deals online.
* Consider creating specialized Facebook groups for specific travel interests.
* Take advantage of favorable exchange rates for Americans traveling abroad right now.
* Push back against excuses and focus on solutions.
The interview concluded with Mark, Rob and Kerri discussing the current strength of the U.S. dollar and how it creates excellent opportunities for Americans traveling abroad, while also acknowledging that economic conditions can sometimes be used as excuses for poor sales performance.
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