\u201cI had a group of amazing and loyal clients who followed me and were excited for me to go out on my own as a home agent.\u201d<\/p>\n
After researching many home-based agent companies, Amelia quickly realised MTA was to be her new home.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe rapport and support I felt straight away was the biggest factor with the MTA decision,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs soon as I signed up and went through training, I felt part of the family.\u201d<\/p>\n Having just emerged from yet another lockdown, this time just for two weeks, Amelia said being a Melbournian has been \u201ctough\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cIt [was] not a nice feeling, a bit of \u2018here we go again\u2019 coupled with a little PTSD of previous lockdowns,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n But, having been there before, Amelia was able to get back into \u201clockdown mode\u201d knowing she could rely on the support of her MTA community, which got her through Melbourne\u2019s mammoth 112-day lockdown.<\/p>\n \u201cThroughout the lockdowns, our Victorian-based MTA family jumped on Zoom calls at least once a week to check in on each other, to laugh, vent and have a cry if needed,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cIT WAS THE BEST [AND] IT REALLY HELPED US THROUGH LOCKDOWN, AS YOU NEVER FELT ALONE \u2026 ESPECIALLY ON THE BAD DAYS, AND THERE WERE A FEW!\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n \u201cI am lucky enough to have my MTA family, with the MTA Agents Facebook page or Messenger group chat at my fingertips,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Besides providing support and solidarity, Amelia said her MTA community has been an invaluable source of product knowledge and experience.<\/p>\n \u201c[Using] the MTA Agent Facebook page, we can tap into the whole MTA community\u2019s knowledge and expertise,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not a competitive environment at all, and we are all on there to help answer questions from accommodation to restaurant recommendations and, in recent times, how to navigate all the information on returning travellers, border permits and government restrictions.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite specialising in international sporting events before COVID-19 hit, Amelia has managed to keep her business afloat by keeping up to date on webinars provided by MTA and attending supplier events to grow her knowledge of the domestic market.<\/p>\n She has pivoted parts of her business to the domestic market by organising horse racing tours, as well as managing her repeat clients school holidays packages, birthday trips and domestic flight-only bookings.<\/p>\n \u201cEven though I may not make much money on a flight-only booking, it\u2019s so important to make sure you keep up the high standard of service you have anyways had,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cInternational travel will not be back for a while, so I need to make sure I stay relevant.\u201d<\/p>\n For Amelia, that has also meant making sure she is clear with her clients about service fees and cancellation costs.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are a service business and need to be remunerated for or services going forward,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n \u201cAS TRAVEL AGENTS, WE ARE SO VALUABLE, AND WE SHOULD NEVER SHY AWAY FROM TELLING PEOPLE OUR WORTH.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n \u201cI used to be nervous about charging my client a service fee for my work \u2026 not anymore!<\/p>\n \u201cAfter what I went through, I know now who I want to work with going forward and how important constant communication is with clients, so they know you are still in business and ready to book any trip for them, no matter how small.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.travelweekly.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Picture-2.png\")
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