Travel Partners Digital Marketing

29/05/2024

For those that have asked, my recent Italy journey started with 11 days in Sicily on Globus' The Sicilian tour (linked below). This is a great way to see the entire island and not feel too rushed - after all, Sicily is basically the same size as Massachusetts or New Hampshire and the tour is 10 days. A great mix of cities like Palermo and Syracusa and small towns/villages like Ragusa, Noto, and Taormina - and most meals and sightseeing is included. I'm sure Globus BDM Tim Statz would be happy to work with you on group space as he has done with many of my Travel Partners Digital Marketing agency clients - get in touch. ~ Paul

06/03/2024

Technology is awesome. Except when it isn't. Much like all of you - our travel industry friends and partners - can never accurately advise clients ALL of what you do for them, it would also be impossible for us to do the same for you.

In the last two days, there have been MAJOR outages for Facebook, Instagram, and now Constant Contact. Outages that most of our partners knew nothing about - as it should be when you have a professional team working for you. ~ Paul 😎

01/03/2024

There is always something to work on for our agency partners - but it isn’t happpening tonight. 😁 Have a great weekend, folks! ~ Paul

02/10/2023

(POSSIBLE) UNPOPULAR OPINION - especially from a digital marketing company...but most of you know I don't often hold back on my opinion.

If you're only marketing outreach is Facebook - or any social media platform - you are wasting your time. PERIOD. Organic reach (the number of people that see any given post you make) has been dropping like a stone for years. It is impossible to gain any traction with new followers by simply posting links to special offers or travel news. What's worse is that since you do NOT own your social media followers, Facebook, Tic Toc, IG, or any of these platforms can decide tomorrow to shut you down for any reason (or start charging $$$ for business pages) and you have ZERO recourse.

The GOOD news? When you focus on an overall digital marketing strategy that includes email and website marketing - and cultivating your clients through those channels - social media posting can really drive business to you as a small part of that strategy.

14/07/2023

One thing we are asked ALL THE TIME is how best to leverage your agency's Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or other social media channels to gain new clients. Three of our favorite agency partners are traveling right now and showing all of you how to do just that - and all three are posting to their personal and business pages.

This is ALL great info we can then use on their website, in email marketing campaigns, and on social to create LOTS of great content in the coming weeks and months (years?) - thus solidifying them as experts in that destination and gaining their agency new business! You would be absolutely AMAZED as to how many of your fellow travel pros travel several times a year to amazing destinations - yet never post about their travels. How do you expect people to want to seek you out for that destination?

20/03/2023

NOTE: Long post incoming…and this post was NOT created by AI 😁

Did you know that you could be utilizing AI tools like ChatGPT to help your efforts to more efficiently create amazing website copy, email marketing campaigns, and social media content for your travel agency?

Historically, travel agencies – especially smaller ones with limited time and marketing budget – are slow to adopt to new technologies. This often means important, digital marketing avenues like email automation and targeted social media campaigns are lacking in their digital marketing portfolio. AI can, and eventually will change all this for even the smallest of agencies.

Real world examples of what travel agencies are doing RIGHT NOW using AI include:

1. First drafts of topical blog posts, including fam trip reports, new destination, hotel, or cruise ship reviews and more - Including lists of relevant keywords to help focus on SEO.
2. Full day-by-day, itineraries for clients – even for destinations where the agent has no firsthand knowledge.
3. Insightful, creative yet professional, social media posts on virtually any travel related topic - including lists of relevant hashtags - on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
4. Full outlines and suggested sequencing for automated email campaigns through software providers like Constant Contact, Mailchimp and MailerLite.
5. First drafts and scripts for filming short, or even long form video on platforms like YouTube, Vimeo, and TikTok.

And this is just the start. The AI space is moving so quickly that before most of you even read this, there will be new versions with even greater capabilities available to the general public. In fact, both Google and Microsoft announced earlier this week that they will be integrating AI tools into their online products over the coming year.

However, just as there will always be a need for the professional services of travel agencies, there will also be a need for the services of professional, efficient, digital marketers. Especially those (like me) that understand all facets of the travel industry, from client to travel agency to supplier.

(BTW: this image is from Virtuoso Travel Week in 2017, and may be the last time I wore a suit for business purposes!)

01/03/2023

On this day in 2018, I officially created The Travel Partners Group! Since then, TTPG has grown into a social media, email marketing, and new website creation and management firm - with over 30 agencies and tour operators in our portfolio of partners!

Here's to taking hold of the future of our great industry - a journey I am happy to be taking with all of you. Cheers! ~ Paul

23/12/2022

WHAT a year this has been. From the utter uncertainty as we entered to the amazing recovery and boom as we exit, 2022 is sure to be remembered as the year it all changed for the better in our industry.

The VAST majority of agency owners I connect with nowadays are having banner sales year. What's better is that those increased sales and commissions are coming in partnership with their ideal clients. And THAT is what it's all about.

Things are no different here at The Travel Partners Group. 2022 will go down as my most profitable year ever...and I've been doing it with partners that I LOVE to work with.

Here's to a continuation of our booming industry, more profitable partnerships, and even greater friendships in 2023!

Wishing you all Happy Holidays & a Prosperous 2023!

~ Paul

02/10/2022

Hey Travel Partners - it’s been a minute since I posted, but with good reason. I’ve been busy 😁

Sound familiar? If you are anything like my travel partners, you are currently in the middle of one of your busiest years in a while. Here is what my summer has been comprised of:

👉🏻 Doing LOTS of work for my agency partners - including crafting social media posts, creating email marketing campaigns, and managing/updating their websites

👉🏻 Working on my own all-new website at thetravelpartnersgroup.com to better highlight my portfolio, partners and projects - and ways we can work together to lighten your digital marketing load.

👉🏻 Updating my certifications and expertise with digital marketing partners like at Constant Contact, Squarespace and Facebook.

In short: we’re all busy - and I wouldn’t have it any other way!

03/06/2022

There is always something to work on for our agency partners - but it isn’t happpening tonight. 😁 Have a great weekend, folks!

04/05/2022

Happy Global Travel Advisors Day!

In my 25+ in this industry, I have always appreciated the relationships I have built with my partners in travel. In fact, it was the reason I chose the name for my company, The Travel PARTNERS Group. I consider many of you friends. Not many people know better than I do what it is you all do for your clients EVERY DAY - even when they don't know about it. For that, I just want to say THANK YOU...
..On behalf of my family and friends who have used you for their travels over the years. ..On behalf of your clients that I don't know - and may not thank you as often as they should for your work. ..And especially on behalf of me and my team at The Travel Partners Group - we could not have launched, grown, and survived without you!

THANK YOU - and HAPPY GLOBAL TRAVEL ADVISORS DAY!

04/03/2022

In honor of 2022 National Employee Appreciation Day, I’d like to thank myself. I couldn’t have done it without me. 😁 ~ Paul

01/03/2022

On this day in 2018, I officially created The Travel Partners Group! Over the past four years, we collectively went from having some of the most profitable years to having ZERO income...and now we're working our way back, slowly but surely. My company is as strong as it has ever been, my partners are loyal and healthy, and I am looking forward to the next chapter as I continue to create something great for my friends in the travel industry.

Here's to taking hold of the future of our great industry - a journey I am happy to be taking with all of you. Cheers! ~ Paul

28/02/2022

Now that things are REALLY picking up, have you been wondering if we might be a great fit in helping you transform the social media, email marketing, or website of your travel agency?

Schedule one of our free Discovery audio or video sessions now by clicking this link: https://TheTravelPartnersGroup.as.me/

Schedule your appointment online The Travel Partners Group

26/01/2022

Organic (ie: non-paid) Facebook reach and engagement are NOT dead! One of our agency partners, with the help of our targeted business page posts, just saw these results over the last week.

Reach = people that saw given posts
Engagement = comments, likes, shares on given posts

The key? Sharing your business page posts on your own personal page or within local community groups that you think would benefit from the posts. It takes work, but this agency's time and effort have paid off with dozens of new clients in the last few months.

24/12/2021

My favorite day and week of the year are upon us...and I can not be more thankful for all of you - my travel partners!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you - and stay tuned for some great things coming in 2022 for The Travel Partners Group AND our amazing travel industry! ~ Paul

17/12/2021

Travel industry friends - have you read this?

https://www.travelpulse.com/opinions/column/covid-19-positive-and-symptomatic-on-vacation-now-what.html

Three questions:
1. The US REALLY needs to eliminate the need to test for returning US citizens, especially vaccinated US citizens. At what other time in world history has a country refused reentry to their own citizens because they were sick? Until that requirement is eliminated, I fear our industry will NOT recover fully.
2. Medical evacuation in a client's travel insurance policy should be a REQUIREMENT in today's travel environment. Without that, this story may have had a VERY different outcome. Why are clients - especially unvaccinated clients - so willing to risk their lives for a few hundred $$$?
3. Was she vaccinated? It says she took a PCR test prior, which is only required of unvaccinated visitors to the Bahamas. Being vaccinated has PROVEN to reduce symptoms and potential negative outcomes, so unless there is an underlying medical condition she has that prevented her from getting vaccinated, the blame lies with her.

Thoughts?

A 62-year-old Montana resident shares her experience testing positive for COVID-19 on vacation.

16/12/2021

Want to see our latest and greatest website development project? Check it out here: https://www.travelconnectionsltd.com/

Travel Connections is a West Springfield, MA based full-service travel agency serving both vacation and business travel clients.