Jan Kief (Source: Jan Kief)
Travel Advisor Success Stories focus on veteran advisors and how they achieved success. Here’s a look at Jan Kief, an independent Cruise Planners’ franchise owner.
How did you get your start as a travel advisor?
I am an emergency department and internal medicine physician and our family has always loved to travel. We have traveled all over the world, including to China and adopted two daughters from China.
After transitioning to less clinical hours by becoming faculty at our medical school, I was looking for something else meaningful to do. After a couple of years of a serious illness, I recognized the importance of time with family, and it became our mission to help people travel and make memories with people that they love.?
After research, we bought our franchise with Cruise Planners. I even took advantage of their veteran’s discount to purchase the franchises for my son and I. That was almost 15 years ago now – and it’s the best decision we have made!
How did you build your business over the years??
After doing as much education as we could, we announced our new company to friends and family verbally, in social media and locally with press releases. It just started growing from there!
I was working as a travel advisor part time while still part of the faculty at our medical school. I started booking lots of travel for colleagues and co-workers from work, as well as from my husband’s job. My son kept busy with booking his friend’s travel.
Over time, we became CLIA luxury certified and are now specializing in luxury travel to all seven continents.
We still service our families and contemporary cruise line and land travelers, but are really booking extensive expedition and luxury travel. This is something that evolved as we visited and experienced luxury destinations ourselves.?
One of Kief’s specialties is expedition travel to destinations like the Galapagos. (Source: Ashton Ray Hansen/HX)
What characteristics make you a successful advisor?
The keys are attention to detail, being a great listener and also being a life-long learner. These are also characteristics of a great physician. Accuracy is key in travel with so many ?complexities and details. We take time to listen to the client, ask the right questions and match them with a great vacation. The tagline for our Your Cruise Doctor website is ‘The Prescription for the Perfect Vacation.’
We are proud members of CLIA and ASTA. I have earned the highest CLIA certifications – Accredited Cruise Counsellor, Master Cruise Counsellor and Elite Cruise Counsellor – in addition to our luxury cruise certification. Your knowledge proves your worth as a travel advisor.
What have your greatest challenges been?
Although trips go very well 98 percent of the time, I dwell on the ones that do not go as planned, with air delays, missed excursions and the rare complaint about a resort or cruise line. I really take this ?to heart, even though most factors are out of my control. I want my clients to be happy, and when they are not, that is stressful.
Another challenge was finding the right associates when our agency grew so big in volume. There were a couple of missteps, but I believe we have now found a great team!
What have your greatest accomplishments been?
I have really enjoyed planning expedition travel for groups There are a lot of moving parts, but these groups are quite fun. The ones that I have enjoy planning the most are to the Galapagos, Antarctica, Arctic and the South Pacific.
We are also so proud to be members of Cruise Planners’ Millionaires Club repeatedly over the past several years.
What tips can you provide advisors new to the industry?
Realize that relationships matter. Cultivate relationships with business development managers, and remember your relationships with friends and co-workers. Make sure you make friends and clients feel special – they will remember how you made them feel. Follow up is important, especially in marketing events like travel nights and bridal shows. Always call the client upon return from their vacation.
Stay up to date and current on your offerings and plan some continuing education each week. It is impossible to know all vendors and lines, so choose the ones that you feel you will use the most.?
Technology is your friend! Take advantage of the great tech tools that your host agency uses or seek out ones that are recommended. Technology can save you time and make your business more efficient and effective.?
Pace yourself and be patient, as the only constant is change in the travel industry. Start every day with a smile and gratitude that you are in one of the best fields that there is!
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