The COVID-19 pandemic may have temporarily slowed down travel bookings, but that doesn’t mean travel agents aren’t staying busy. Why not use this opportunity—including that extra time spent on hold—to tackle some of those perpetual back-burner tasks? These six items will help you be productive during COVID-19 and make sure you’re ready to hit the ground running as travel demand increases.

Get Organized

Tax records, client files, email inbox—Use this time to purge your physical and digital storage areas. Do you have an abundance of information gathered from conferences, site inspections, and FAM trips? Programs like Evernote, Google Keep, and OneNote make it easy to electronically organize images and notes for future reference.

Update and Automate

Having access to myTravelCRM is a valuable part of your KHM Travel Group membership. This powerful tool allows you to organize client information, create automatic email campaigns, issue invoices, collect payment information, and much more. Now is the time to create personalized templates and automate your processes, setting yourself up to work more efficiently as business picks up.

Refresh Your Branding

Quarantine makeovers are trending, so don’t forget to freshen up your business’ image while you’re at it. Do your current logo and tagline reflect your travel specialty? Are they appealing to your ideal client? A graphic designer can provide professional input and help polish your image. You can find a freelance artist online using websites like Upwork, by contacting your local college’s art department, or asking for recommendations from other business owners in your network.

Spruce Up Your Social Media

Speaking of makeovers, now is also a great time to rejuvenate your social media accounts. Do a quick audit of each profile to make sure your information is correct and consistent between platforms. Have you updated your profile and header images recently? Add those FAM trip photos that you’ve been meaning to post, and make sure existing albums are properly labeled and captioned. KHM Travel Agents will find easy-to-share messages, graphics, and videos in the Marketing section of MyTravelAgentPortal.

Learn Something New

The educational opportunities for travel advisors are abundant. This travel slowdown is a chance to update your existing certifications and start working toward new ones. Beyond supplier and destination courses, you can learn how to use a new social media platform, improve your sales skills, or book travel for a new niche.

Remember the Good Times

During the current challenges, it can be tough to remember why you got into the travel business in the first place. Take some time to stroll down memory lane. Reminisce with your family and friends about your past adventures. Create a scrapbook or photo board with images from your favorite destinations. Read positive reviews from your clients. Remind yourself why you love to travel!

KHM Travel Group is dedicated to providing the tools and services that support our independent travel agents and help them stay productive during COVID-19. Thanks to all our advisors for giving us the opportunity to serve you as we move forward in this ever-changing industry.