I have been with Private Trade Winds since incorporation in 2007 and have covered every aspect of villa travel. This includes selecting, vetting, sales & marketing, asset management and training onsite property managers worldwide on the correct process and procedure involved in dealing with the luxury traveler and presenting the true Villa Experience. For 12 years, I have been immersed in everything villas, so when I say one of the most profound privileges I have had is being a part of the Professional Educators Program for The Travel Institute you know it speaks to the success of their incredible team and their dedication to travel agents.
I have enjoyed sharing my passion and expertise on selling “the villa experience” through blog posts and webinars. Last Wednesday, I hosted my sixth webinar, and it has been so exciting to see the attendance grow from 40 attendees in my first webinar back in 2012 to my sixth webinar on Wednesday with 155 attendees. Clearly villa travel is trending wildly, and the time is NOW for travel agents to jump on the band wagon to promote and sell this lucrative niche. Hopefully, you were able to join us on Wednesday for a more expanded lesson on Opening the Door to Villa Travel, but if you missed it you can find the Five Keys we covered below.
5 Keys to Selling Villas
1. Know Your Client
a. What does “vacation” mean to your client?
b. Who is traveling?
c. Is your client a villa traveler?
d. What type of villa is right for them – private villa or resort villa?
2. Know the Product
a. What is a Villa? Be prepared to answer this question for your client. There is a difference between a Vacation Rental and a Villa Vacation. The term “villa” is used rather loosely, and it is often connected to apartments, hotels, motels and more! Private Trade Winds defines a Villa as: any classic or modern vacation rental that has been upgraded to a superior status. Additionally, the asset must be in a highly sought-after vacation destination, in a coveted location within that destination and include all the amenities of a 5-star resort.
b. Break down Private Trade Winds’ definition of a villa and get all your questions answered! For instance, if it is a Classic Villa and when and what restorations and upgrades have been made. Also, where is the villa located within the destination? Is it on a golf course, is it ski-in/ski-out, are there ocean views or is it ocean front?
3. Supplier Knowledge: How well does the supplier know its product? Are you using an online villa supplier, or can you speak to a LIVE PERSON? (hint: pick the underlined one!)
4. Know how the villa is managed
a. Who will meet your client upon arrival?
b. Will there be a villa orientation?
c. What happens if a problem arises while your client is in the villa?
5. Know what service and amenities are available to your client (housekeeping, concierge, chef, welcome amenity, bath amenity, robes, bottled waters, prearrival grocery shopping)
BONUS!
6. Know what’s in it for YOU! Private Trade Winds offers our Preferred Travel Agent Partners 12% commission on the villas in our global villa portfolio. Go to our website and register for free at http://www.privatetradewinds.com/preferred-travel-agent-partner/
