With a Bachelors and Masters degree in accounting, Tomaka Bennon knew she had a solid foundation in terms of the financial side of starting a business. And she absolutely loved travel!

Tomaka traveled frequently before becoming an agent, and always helped her friends and family plan their vacations too.

Tomaka on a Sandals FAM trip

However, when she started her South Carolina travel agency in 2010, she was still unsure about how to sell destinations and resorts that she hadn’t been to. Many new travel agents come across this challenge, and it can leave them lacking the confidence they need to promote themselves.

To overcome her challenges, Tomaka decided to buckle down and spend time visiting the destinations she wanted to sell. She is now specializing in trips to the Caribbean and Mexico, and cruising.

“I went on two KHM FAMs to Mexico, a regional training in Savannah, and a seminar at sea with MSC,” Tomaka says. “Every KHM live training is so informational, and each I get more and more excited.”

Her agency, BBD Travels, reached KHM Travel’s Pinnacle Elite Level in 2015.

Tomaka with her family, in St. Thomas.

She loves being able to be there for her clients, from beginning to end. Having so much first-hand travel knowledge under her belt allows her to enhance her clients’ experiences even more. Now, her favorite part of her job is being able to create memories for her clients that they’ll never forget.

“My clients become friends,” she adds.

In fact, she became such good friends with one of her clients, that in 2015 she added her to her agency’s team!

Tomaka (left), with her former client and now subagent, Sommer, at Delta Vacations University in 2016.

Tomaka’s advice to new agents is to be patient and not give up. If you genuinely love travel, it is possible to immerse yourself in learning, and have fun at the same time!

Not only has Tomaka become one of our top-producing travel agents, she does it all while maintaining a full-time position as an accountant!

Congratulations Tomaka on your success. We appreciate you sharing your story to benefit and inspire your fellow KHM Travel Agents!

If you’d like to learn more about starting a fun, rewarding travel agent career from home, fill out the form on the right of the screen or call 1-888-611-1220 so we can send you our Travel Agent Information Guide.