Mario Parker * Outstanding Travel Agent of the Month * August 2018

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

Heidi:

Hello and welcome to our August Outstanding Agent of the Month interview. I’m Heidi DeCoux with MarketingForTravelAgents.com, and I have an awesome travel agent who is also a member of our Travel Expert Marketing Academy.

Here with me today because he is our August Outstanding Agent of the Month, so I am excited about this interview today with Mario Parker.

Mario:

Hi Heidi, thank you for inviting me to this. I’m honored to be a part of this.

Heidi:

Awesome we are honored to have you, Mario. So for those of you that don’t, for those that are watching that don’t know you, we’ve got some travel agents and some prospective travelers both watching this interview. So for those that don’t know you, tell us a little bit about yourself and your travel agency.

Mario:

Okay well, it started a long time ago, actually when I was a kid. My family liked to go on little trips – weekend trips – a lot of times and then we would spend vacation like at Yosemite and Yellowstone National Park. We would always go to the beach and go fishing. So kind of like my love of the outdoors kind of started back then, and then I went in and got my college degree in wildlife management, so I’ve been working for various federal and state wildlife agencies.

And then so I decided to kind of go into business for myself and became a travel agent about four years ago. And a little over a year ago, I decided to get my own website because I wanted to specialize more in action type – Adventure Safari type vacations.

Heidi:

That’s great! Tell me a little bit more about the type of vacations that you specialize in – those action-packed adventures, safari vacations. We want to hear a little bit more about that.

Mario:

Okay well, I have a lot of interest myself and I do some kayaking, whitewater rafting. I’m a scuba diver, snorkeler. I fish, especially I love to fly fish, so whenever I go on vacation, I like to usually mix in those type of activities in with my vacation if I can do that. So my specialty is in African safaris.

Also, I’m with certified with Hurtigruten which does expeditions in the northern European sector. And also I have specialties and destinations such as Hawaii, Tahiti, Australia, New Zealand, and different countries in Asia as well.

Heidi:

Oh very cool.

So if you could message yourself when you were way back when you’re just starting your travel agency – so for those that are watching that are newer travel agents are looking for some tips and inspiration today – if you could message yourself back that what would you tell Mario just getting started in the travel business?

Mario:

I would say that I have a strong affinity for the outdoors and I have a good understanding of wildlife conservation, sustainability and so if the client is looking for that type of adventure then I can easily put together an itinerary that my client would like.

I pay attention to details. I’ll ask certain questions that will help give me a clue on what my client is looking for, and then provide several options that they can take a look at and decide their dream trip like that.

Heidi:

Awesome – and for the new travel agents watching this, what is your best piece of advice for them?

Mario:

I would say pay attention to what your client says and then make sure you understand the details of the trip and work hard and use whatever resources you have to find out how to craft a great vacation for your client.

Heidi:

Awesome. And if you had just one piece of advice other than that great advice that you just gave, like if there is another one piece of advice that you could give travel agents whether they’re new or they’ve been at this for 20 years. Like when they get stuck you as a successful agent – how do you get yourself unstuck?

What piece of advice do you have for a travel agent that’s just feeling a little stuck right now?

Mario:

I would say just probably take a break. You know, a little break and give your time, yourself some time to think about what you need to do, what you need to accomplish. And then go at it 100%.

Heidi:

Okay good advice! What’s been the hardest part of marketing your travel business and how have you overcome it?

Mario:

The hardest part is just trying to reach out to people, so that’s when I became a member of the Travel Marketing Academy. So I can learn about more ways – better ways – to market and get my client that would fit my niche and be able to sell a trip for them.

Heidi:

Yeah, awesome! And who is the ideal client for you? So we have a lot of travelers watching us that are interested in adventure travel. So who really is the ideal client to work with you?

Mario:

Well, the ideal client would be somebody who really loves the outdoors, who want to learn about making sure who wants to experience where the animals live and maybe and even become involved with some conservation efforts that are going on. There are some companies that do offer that opportunity.

So I think there’s more than just people going out on just a one-day tour and observing wildlife. If you go on a week-long or longer trip, then it gives you more opportunity to see all the wonderful things that are on Earth.

Heidi:

Oh yeah, great! Now for those prospective clients watching us today, where can they find you to get more information about your services and potentially book with you?

Mario:

Okay well, you can reach me at [email protected]

And there’s a little reason why it’s a little long – I realize but when you go on safaris, there’s different – some people don’t realize there are different types. There’s the land type and then there are ones that you have to go in the water, take a cruise, go to the Arctic or Antarctica, or you know just anywhere along the coastline or Pacific islands, South Pacific island then you have to go on cruises.

So that’s part of the reason why I added expeditions to it is to let people know there’s more than just land type tours.  And the rest of my contact you can call me or get on my website at www.MariosAdventuresAndExpeditions.com.

Heidi:

Awesome.  And Mario, what is your favorite part of being a travel agent?

Mario:

I like working with people. I like the challenge sometimes that it brings in trying to put a trip together and making them feel happy about what they’re buying.

Heidi:

And what is your biggest win today? Like you know, maybe like your biggest win you would say in your career as a travel agent or one of your biggest if you can’t narrow it down to one what’s one of the biggest wins?

Mario:

Well, I just joined the Roseville Chamber of Commerce, so that’s letting me connect with people nearby and so that’s something different for me and it’s just given me a better chance of letting people know what travel agents can do for them.

Heidi:

Yeah, awesome! Great, well thank you so much for being here today, Mario. And if you’re a traveler looking for an adventure trip, definitely check out Mario’s website.

And if you are a travel agent, I hope that you got inspired today, and I highly recommend checking out the Travel Expert Marketing Academy which is the premier Academy for helping travel agents – awesome travel agents – at all levels whether you’re just getting started or, like Mario, you’ve been at this a long time and you want to uplevel yourself as an agent. Go to MarketingForTravelAgents.com.

All right thank you so much, Mario!

Mario:

Okay, thank you, Heidi!