Marcie Muensterman

This week on the No BS Travel Advisor Podcast, Marcie Muensterman gets personal before diving into one of her most requested Q&A episodes yet.

Marcie opens up about navigating another birthday without her dad, shares exciting updates inside Travel Advisor Training by Marcie, the upcoming 2027 retreat, and announces the launch of her brand-new Maximize Your Escorted & Hosted Travel Advisor Group Business Facebook community, a free space dedicated exclusively to helping travel advisors plan, market, and sell out profitable hosted and escorted group trips. You’ll also be first in the know for the Spring 2027 LIVE coaching experience called Lead the Manifest®️: THE ONLY Escorted Groups course that teaches you how to build a repeatable, profitable groups travel business.

Join here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/maximizeyourescortedgroupsbusiness 

It’s a spin-off of her regular group, which boasts 16,000 TAs who talk business EVERY SINGLE DAY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/maximizeyourtravelagentbusiness 

Then it's time for your questions, which she plans to do MONTHLY on the podcast.

Can travel advisors really earn six figures? What should you do during slow booking seasons? Should you create another stream of income? How do you know if your business is actually healthy? When should you start planning group travel? And what mistakes are keeping travel advisors stuck?

In this episode, Marcie covers:

• The realistic income potential for travel advisors
  • What to do when bookings slow down
  • Whether multiple income streams make sense
  • The numbers every travel business owner should track
  • Common time-wasting habits that hurt business growth
  • Why implementation matters more than information
  • Her consultation-to-close sales process
  • Host agency contracts and protecting your business
  • Facebook vs. TikTok marketing
  • Growing your travel advisor network
  • Building an audience before launching escorted or hosted group travel
  • An introduction to her new Hosted & Escorted Groups Facebook community

Whether you're brand new to the travel industry or an experienced travel advisor looking to grow your income, increase commissions, improve your marketing, or start selling profitable group travel, this episode is packed with practical strategies you can put to work immediately.

If you're searching for travel advisor coaching, travel advisor marketing, travel business training, host agency advice, consultation fees, Facebook group strategies, escorted group travel, hosted group trips, or sales systems for travel advisors, you're in the right place.

Use PODCAST11 on all courses at checkout to save 11%: https://thetraveladvisormarcie.com/courses 

Travel Agent Frequently Asked Questions:

Can travel advisors really make six figures?

Marcie believes they absolutely can, but it doesn't happen overnight. Building a six-figure travel business takes consistency, charging planning fees, increasing average booking values, creating repeat business, earning referrals, and treating a travel business like a real business instead of a hobby.

What should travel advisors do during slow booking seasons?

Marcie doesn't believe every slow season is a bad thing. When business slows down, she recommends creating content, networking, organizing your CRM, improving your business systems, and giving yourself permission to rest. Sometimes a slow season is exactly what your business needs before the next busy one arrives.

Should travel advisors create multiple streams of income?

Marcie believes it depends on where you are in your business. If you're still building your client base, she recommends focusing your time on marketing and networking instead of starting another business. Once your travel business is stable, adding additional income streams can make much more sense.

What numbers should every travel advisor track?

Marcie believes every travel advisor should know their numbers. A Profit & Loss statement tells the real story of a business. She recommends tracking income, expenses, projected commissions, and profitability so you can make informed business decisions.

What do new travel advisors waste the most time on?

According to Marcie, many new travel advisors spend too much time consuming information instead of implementing it. Buying another course or attending another webinar won't grow a business if the systems you've already learned are never put into practice.

Should travel advisors focus on Facebook or TikTok?

Marcie believes travel advisors should focus on the platform where their ideal clients already spend their time. For her business, that's Facebook. She has built successful businesses using Facebook Groups because they create meaningful conversations, build trust, and generate qualified travel clients.

How do travel advisors build a strong client network?

Marcie believes relationships are the foundation of every successful travel business. She encourages advisors to volunteer, attend networking events, join community organizations, and consistently build genuine relationships with people who already know, like, and trust them.

Should travel advisors charge planning fees?

Yes. Marcie believes planning fees are one of the fastest ways to build a healthier, more profitable travel business. Travel advisors deserve to be paid for their expertise and time, not just when supplier commissions arrive after travel.

What makes a successful travel advisor consultation?

Marcie teaches that every consultation should establish expectations, discuss a realistic investment level, explain planning fees, and clearly outline the next steps. The goal isn't simply to sell a vacation, it's to confidently guide clients through a professional planning process.

What should travel advisors know before signing a host agency contract?

Marcie strongly recommends having an attorney review every Independent Contractor agreement before signing. Understanding the contract from the beginning can prevent costly mistakes and help travel advisors protect their businesses for years to come.

When should travel advisors start hosting group trips?

Marcie believes successful escorted and hosted group trips begin long before they're announced. She encourages travel advisors to first build an engaged audience, earn trust, grow their community, understand their financial risk, and then create an experience people can't wait to join.

Is Facebook still worth it for travel advisors?

Absolutely. Marcie believes Facebook Groups remain one of the most effective marketing tools available for travel advisors. They help advisors build trust, educate potential clients, create community, and generate repeat business.

Why does Marcie emphasize implementation over education?

Marcie believes implementation is what grows a business. Owning more courses or attending more webinars won't create results unless advisors consistently apply what they've learned to build systems, workflows, and better client experiences.

How can new travel advisors survive the first few years?

Marcie believes success comes from patience, networking, consistent marketing, and smart financial planning. Building a profitable travel business takes time, but advisors who continue showing up, building relationships, and marketing consistently are far more likely to create long-term success.

Where can travel advisors learn more about selling escorted and hosted group travel?

Marcie recently launched her free Facebook community, Maximize Your Escorted & Hosted Travel Advisor Group Business, to help travel advisors learn how to plan, market, and sell profitable escorted and hosted group trips while building sustainable businesses.

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