President's Message
"We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity, and its first chapter is New Year’s Day." (Edith Lovejoy Pierce)

New Year’s Resolutions for OSSN Agents
By OSSN President Gary Fee

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Every year, Melody and I say the same thing: We really, truly believe that 2008 will be the best 12 months yet for OSSN agents!

I’d like to share with you my thoughts for positive resolutions that we hope home-based travel agents follow in 2008:

In 2008, I will serve my clients as a professional travel counselor, not just a travel agent. Honestly, it’s gotten easier in some ways to buy travel from suppliers and the big travel agencies over the phone or via the Internet. What hasn’t changed, though, is that home-based agents continue to offer much higher levels of personal service than our competitors. Don’t allow yourself to be satisfied this year with offering minimal service levels to your clients. Remember that they can get airline tickets or book hotel stays anywhere – you must give them a reason to come back to you!

In 2008, I will take every opportunity to improve my travel agent skills. This spring, OSSN will launch its new Online Education Center. We’ll continue scheduling Webinars with leading suppliers and travel experts. We’ll offer seminars at events such as the Home Based Travel Agent Show in San Diego in late April, on trips such as our upcoming conference in China, and through our local chapters. Make it a priority this year to continue growing as a travel professional.

In 2008, I will become THE local travel expert. This idea is a perennial resolution that I revisit every year. In 2007, did you talk to enough local prospects, and contact enough local businesses and organizations, and promote yourself enough to local media – week in and week out, all year long – so that you’re known in your neighborhood and your city as THE go-to travel retailer? If not, you have lots to do in 2008 to catch up!

In 2008, I will always treat my clients as real people, not sales figures. Think back over the recent year-end holidays. Remember what it was like trying to get customer service help at the mall, or the grocery store, or your bank? That’s the experience many travelers have when dealing with the airlines, the big online travel sites, and other retailers. Successful OSSN agents know that the sale just begins when the final payments have been made. Your clients will judge you based on how you handle them from that very first contact to the thank-you card you send when they return home. Make sure you give them plenty of reasons to come back to you!

Please accept our best wishes from OSSN Headquarters for a safe, happy, prosperous, and successful 2008!

Gary M. Fee founded the Outside Sales Support Network [OSSN] in 1990. Today, OSSN is North America’s largest home-based travel agents association. He may be reached at info@ossn.com.

(Credit: OSSN)