Learn the secrets of the entire romance travel spectrum from DWHSA's experts!
This fall, we're ramping up a huge schedule of new "Master Classes" to show you how to get started in romance travel, grow your sales volume next year, and streamline the ways you're managing and promoting your business.
And, for the very first time, DWHSA will open these online sessions to all U.S. and Canadian travel advisors (not just our own members) free of charge!
Why are we doing this? On Jan. 1, 2024, we'll roll out big changes in our rules for accepting new members. They'll be required to take (and pass) our certification exam before they can renew after their first year. And, they'll pay a new annual surcharge to use DWHSA's consumer marketing tools. (If you join the association by Dec. 31, 2023, you'll be exempted from these changes. This PDF explains how.)
Until then, we're inviting you to try out our training by attending any of these "Master Classes" this fall. Just click the links below to register for any sessions you'd like to attend. (If you register before any class and then cannot attend, GoToWebinar will email you the link for the video to catch up afterwards. We'll also link the videos and handouts for our past classes below on this page.)
Remember: If you enjoy this type of intensive training, you can join DWHSA at a specially discounted dues rate through Dec. 31 - check us out at JoinDWHSA.com!
NEW MASTER CLASS SESSIONS COMING THIS FALL
"Start Selling Romance Travel in 2024"
You're a newer agent who's heard there's money to be made selling romance travel - or, you got into travel because you planned your own honeymoon or destination wedding. Or, you've been selling other types of travel, but you're ready for a change. We'll pull back the curtains to share insider advice from DWHSA's 800+ members about how you can jump into this niche confidently next year by taking a few key steps this fall. We'll give you five practical things you can do by Dec. 31 to book more couples in 2024!
"Sell More Romance Travel in 2024"
You've gotten your feet wet selling honeymoons and destination weddings, but you really want to take your bookings to another level next year. Or, you've been a romance travel specialist for a while, but you feel you need a fresh start. Join us to review five steps you can take this fall to retool your marketing efforts and your workflows to grow your sales volume in 2024 (without working 24 hours a day in the process!).
"Creating Your Own Facebook Groups for Prospects With Cheryl Bailey" - Wed., Sept. 20 (4 pm EDT/1 pm PDT)
Instead of hunting down leads on social media, why not build your own Facebook groups to attract targeted prospects instead? Cheryl Bailey (Yellow Umbrella Events in Texas) draws crowds of couples every year who "pre qualify" themselves by joining her narrowly focused Facebook groups focusing on specific resort brands and destination wedding types. And, in this webinar, she'll show you how you can do the same!
"Creating (or Strengthening) Your Client Agreements for Romance Travel" - Mon., Sept. 25 (4 pm EDT/1 pm PDT)
There's a critical step when you book new romance travel clients: getting them to sign your client agreement that contains clauses specifically written for honeymoons, destination weddings, and other romantic getaways! In this session, we'll share a handy checklist - with sample language! - that you can use to create a new romance-focused template or tweak your existing client contracts.
"Building Your Romance Travel Teams With Kim Goldstein and Shelli Nornes" - Wed., Oct. 4 (1 pm EDT/10 am PDT)
Once you've grown past the limit of how many clients you can handle personally, how can you bring on helpers to grow your agency's volume further? Two longtime DWHSA members - Shelli Nornes (Romance Travel Group in Minn.) and Kim Goldstein (Journeys Travel Inc. in Va.) - have built amazing teams of employees and ICs to support their multi-million-dollar agencies. And, they've learned the hard way what works (and what doesn't!) to find great workers, keep them engaged, and retain them with effective compensation. They'll share those lessons with you in this webinar.
"Customizing Romance Travel for Your Clients With Nancy Barkley" - Wed., Oct. 11 (1 pm EDT/10 am PDT)
While many advisors rely on off-the-shelf honeymoon and DW packages for their clients, Nancy Barkley (Honeymoons and Getaways in Pa.) has built a global reputation for completely customized, bespoke romance trips for her couples. How does she approach individualized trip plans for her clients, how does she manage the workflow, and how does she make sure she's compensated well for her work? She'll share her secrets in this session!
"Organize Your Online Marketing in Just 60 Minutes a Week" - Mon., Oct. 16 (4 pm EDT/1 pm PDT)
Feeling overwhelmed with your email, social media, and web site to-do lists? We'll show you how to plan ahead and organize your online marketing - items for your client emails, content and images for social media posts, and more - in just an hour a week! We'll show you the shortcuts that DWHSA members use to stay in control as they juggle marketing with the rest of their workloads.
"Adventure Romance Travel With Arleta Cosby" - Wed., Oct. 18 (1 pm EDT/10 am PDT)
Many couples don't want to sit around the pool all day on their romantic getaways - they prefer hiking, biking, ziplining, and staying very active in their destinations! Arleta Cosby (Cosby Travel Consultants in Va.) will discuss how she's focused her agency on adventure travel - matching couples with trips and destinations focused on outdoor activities and wellness services!
"Build Your Authority as a Romance Travel Expert" - Mon., Oct. 30 (4 pm EDT/1 pm PDT)
When prospects want to book their honeymoons and destination weddings, they can choose among so many different booking options: your fellow travel advisors, online travel agencies, direct-selling suppliers, even Google! How can you stand out in the crowd to capture the attention of those couples - and even upgrade the quality of your client base over time? We'll share very specific strategies for growing your reputation as a recognized expert in romance travel - not just an agent who specializes in this niche, but a true authority that couples who don't know you yet can trust with their oh-so-important trips!
"Growing Your Honeymoon Sales With Shannon Rae Grunewald" - Wed., Nov. 1 (4 pm EDT/1 pm PDT)
Honeymoons can be challenging for many advisors - finding newly engaged couples isn't easy, many of them lean toward planning these trips themselves, and every booking is different from the others! Shannon Rae Grunewald (Blissful Honeymoons & Destination Weddings in Wis.) will share how she's built a thriving specialty in honeymoons - how she finds and qualifies prospects and how she promotes herself as a honeymoon specialist!
"5 Ways to Elevate Your Romance Travel Website" - Wed., Nov. 15 (4 pm EST/1 pm PST)
Your romance travel website is the foundation of your business - your 24/7/365 "store" that's the hub for all of your online and offline marketing efforts! What specific tweaks and upgrades can you make - affordably! - to make your site really stand out to couples? Tami Santini and her husband Lou (Paradise Getaways in Mich.) will walk you through five steps to make your site a lead-generating, client-retaining machine!
"Getting Started on TikTok With Nick Stark" - Wed., Nov. 29 (4 pm EST/1 pm PST)
He's a pharmacist by training, but Nick Stark (Nick's Easy Travel in Texas - @nickseasytravel) exploded his travel business by concentrating his marketing efforts on TikTok during the pandemic. Today, he's gathered almost 57,000 followers and 487,000 likes on TikTok! (His Sept. 1 video on his pick for the world's best all-inclusive resort generated 1.6 million views.) Learn how he got started on TikTok and what he recommends his fellow advisors do to maximize their exposure on this popular social media tool.
"'Microniching' Your Romance Travel Business" - Mon., Dec. 11 (4 pm EST/1 pm PST)
In today's crowded, distracted world, it's even more difficult promoting your romance travel business to huge audiences everywhere. Many DWHSA members have switched gears to focus on "micro niches" - smaller specialties that are easier and more affordable to target (everything from wine country weddings and eco-friendly honeymoons to LGBTQ familymoons and specific resort properties). We'll share examples of this trend and show you how to promote your own micro niche (including a big discussion of Facebook groups!).
"Branding Your Romance Travel Business With Jennifer Doncsecz" - Wed., Dec. 13 (1 pm EST/10 am PST)
In one of Pennsylvania's most competitive market areas, Jennifer Doncsecz (VIP Vacations Inc.) learned early on the power of branding her romance travel business - from choosing pink as her trademark color (her agency's offices are in a pink Victorian house) to adopting the motto "No Stresspassing" for her business. Learn how you can follow the steps she took to make her agency really stand out with its branding!
PAST MASTER CLASS VIDEOS AND HANDOUTS
Below, you'll find the links to access the materials from the full schedule of Master Classes we've done this summer! These links will be available through Dec. 31, 2023. To watch any video, click its link below, and GoToWebinar will ask for your name and email address - then, you'll see the video recording to play at your convenience. (Note: You may view each video, but you can't download it.) To see the handouts, click any link below to see the Adobe PDF file - or, you may "right click" (PC) or "control click" (Mac) on the handout link to bring up a menu on your screen that lets you choose how to save the PDF onto your computer. (You are allowed to download the handouts this way.) If you have questions, please contact us at support@dwhsa.com!
"How to Handle Your First Destination Wedding" (June 5, 2023)
Video link
Handout link
"Growing Your Honeymoon Sales Through 2023 and Beyond" (June 7, 2023)
Video link
Handout link
"Customizing Honeymoons (and Planning Them From Scratch)" (June 12, 2023)
Video link
Handout link
"'Bucket List' Honeymoons" (June 14, 2023)
Video link
Handout link
"Babymoons and Familymoons" (June 19, 2023)
Video link
Handout link
"Cruises for Romance Travel" (June 21, 2023)
Video link
Handout link
"Vow Renewals and Anniversary Trips" (June 26, 2023)
Video link
Handout link
"Engagement Trips and Elopements" (June 28, 2023)
Video link
Handout link
"LGBTQ+ Romance Travel" (July 5, 2023)
Video link
Handout link
"Bachelor and Bachelorette Trips" (July 10, 2023)
Video link
Handout link
"South Asian Destination Weddings" (July 12, 2023)
Video link
Handout link
"Becoming a Destination Wedding Ceremony Planner" (July 17, 2023)
Video link
Handout link
"Breaking Down the Destination Wedding Workflow" (July 19, 2023)
Video link
Handout link
"Breaking Down the Honeymoon Workflow" (July 24, 2023)
Video link
Handout link
And, for the very first time, DWHSA will open these online sessions to all U.S. and Canadian travel advisors (not just our own members) free of charge!
Why are we doing this? On Jan. 1, 2024, we'll roll out big changes in our rules for accepting new members. They'll be required to take (and pass) our certification exam before they can renew after their first year. And, they'll pay a new annual surcharge to use DWHSA's consumer marketing tools. (If you join the association by Dec. 31, 2023, you'll be exempted from these changes. This PDF explains how.)
Until then, we're inviting you to try out our training by attending any of these "Master Classes" this fall. Just click the links below to register for any sessions you'd like to attend. (If you register before any class and then cannot attend, GoToWebinar will email you the link for the video to catch up afterwards. We'll also link the videos and handouts for our past classes below on this page.)
Remember: If you enjoy this type of intensive training, you can join DWHSA at a specially discounted dues rate through Dec. 31 - check us out at JoinDWHSA.com!
NEW MASTER CLASS SESSIONS COMING THIS FALL
"Start Selling Romance Travel in 2024"
You're a newer agent who's heard there's money to be made selling romance travel - or, you got into travel because you planned your own honeymoon or destination wedding. Or, you've been selling other types of travel, but you're ready for a change. We'll pull back the curtains to share insider advice from DWHSA's 800+ members about how you can jump into this niche confidently next year by taking a few key steps this fall. We'll give you five practical things you can do by Dec. 31 to book more couples in 2024!
- Mon., Sept. 18 (4 pm EDT/1 pm PDT)
- Mon., Oct. 23 (4 pm EDT/1 pm PDT)
- Mon., Nov. 20 (4 pm EST/1 pm PST)
"Sell More Romance Travel in 2024"
You've gotten your feet wet selling honeymoons and destination weddings, but you really want to take your bookings to another level next year. Or, you've been a romance travel specialist for a while, but you feel you need a fresh start. Join us to review five steps you can take this fall to retool your marketing efforts and your workflows to grow your sales volume in 2024 (without working 24 hours a day in the process!).
- Mon., Oct. 2 (4 pm EDT/1 pm PDT)
- Mon., Nov. 13 (3 pm EST/12 noon PST)
- Mon., Dec. 4 (4 pm EST/1 pm PST)
"Creating Your Own Facebook Groups for Prospects With Cheryl Bailey" - Wed., Sept. 20 (4 pm EDT/1 pm PDT)
Instead of hunting down leads on social media, why not build your own Facebook groups to attract targeted prospects instead? Cheryl Bailey (Yellow Umbrella Events in Texas) draws crowds of couples every year who "pre qualify" themselves by joining her narrowly focused Facebook groups focusing on specific resort brands and destination wedding types. And, in this webinar, she'll show you how you can do the same!
"Creating (or Strengthening) Your Client Agreements for Romance Travel" - Mon., Sept. 25 (4 pm EDT/1 pm PDT)
There's a critical step when you book new romance travel clients: getting them to sign your client agreement that contains clauses specifically written for honeymoons, destination weddings, and other romantic getaways! In this session, we'll share a handy checklist - with sample language! - that you can use to create a new romance-focused template or tweak your existing client contracts.
"Building Your Romance Travel Teams With Kim Goldstein and Shelli Nornes" - Wed., Oct. 4 (1 pm EDT/10 am PDT)
Once you've grown past the limit of how many clients you can handle personally, how can you bring on helpers to grow your agency's volume further? Two longtime DWHSA members - Shelli Nornes (Romance Travel Group in Minn.) and Kim Goldstein (Journeys Travel Inc. in Va.) - have built amazing teams of employees and ICs to support their multi-million-dollar agencies. And, they've learned the hard way what works (and what doesn't!) to find great workers, keep them engaged, and retain them with effective compensation. They'll share those lessons with you in this webinar.
"Customizing Romance Travel for Your Clients With Nancy Barkley" - Wed., Oct. 11 (1 pm EDT/10 am PDT)
While many advisors rely on off-the-shelf honeymoon and DW packages for their clients, Nancy Barkley (Honeymoons and Getaways in Pa.) has built a global reputation for completely customized, bespoke romance trips for her couples. How does she approach individualized trip plans for her clients, how does she manage the workflow, and how does she make sure she's compensated well for her work? She'll share her secrets in this session!
"Organize Your Online Marketing in Just 60 Minutes a Week" - Mon., Oct. 16 (4 pm EDT/1 pm PDT)
Feeling overwhelmed with your email, social media, and web site to-do lists? We'll show you how to plan ahead and organize your online marketing - items for your client emails, content and images for social media posts, and more - in just an hour a week! We'll show you the shortcuts that DWHSA members use to stay in control as they juggle marketing with the rest of their workloads.
"Adventure Romance Travel With Arleta Cosby" - Wed., Oct. 18 (1 pm EDT/10 am PDT)
Many couples don't want to sit around the pool all day on their romantic getaways - they prefer hiking, biking, ziplining, and staying very active in their destinations! Arleta Cosby (Cosby Travel Consultants in Va.) will discuss how she's focused her agency on adventure travel - matching couples with trips and destinations focused on outdoor activities and wellness services!
"Build Your Authority as a Romance Travel Expert" - Mon., Oct. 30 (4 pm EDT/1 pm PDT)
When prospects want to book their honeymoons and destination weddings, they can choose among so many different booking options: your fellow travel advisors, online travel agencies, direct-selling suppliers, even Google! How can you stand out in the crowd to capture the attention of those couples - and even upgrade the quality of your client base over time? We'll share very specific strategies for growing your reputation as a recognized expert in romance travel - not just an agent who specializes in this niche, but a true authority that couples who don't know you yet can trust with their oh-so-important trips!
"Growing Your Honeymoon Sales With Shannon Rae Grunewald" - Wed., Nov. 1 (4 pm EDT/1 pm PDT)
Honeymoons can be challenging for many advisors - finding newly engaged couples isn't easy, many of them lean toward planning these trips themselves, and every booking is different from the others! Shannon Rae Grunewald (Blissful Honeymoons & Destination Weddings in Wis.) will share how she's built a thriving specialty in honeymoons - how she finds and qualifies prospects and how she promotes herself as a honeymoon specialist!
"5 Ways to Elevate Your Romance Travel Website" - Wed., Nov. 15 (4 pm EST/1 pm PST)
Your romance travel website is the foundation of your business - your 24/7/365 "store" that's the hub for all of your online and offline marketing efforts! What specific tweaks and upgrades can you make - affordably! - to make your site really stand out to couples? Tami Santini and her husband Lou (Paradise Getaways in Mich.) will walk you through five steps to make your site a lead-generating, client-retaining machine!
"Getting Started on TikTok With Nick Stark" - Wed., Nov. 29 (4 pm EST/1 pm PST)
He's a pharmacist by training, but Nick Stark (Nick's Easy Travel in Texas - @nickseasytravel) exploded his travel business by concentrating his marketing efforts on TikTok during the pandemic. Today, he's gathered almost 57,000 followers and 487,000 likes on TikTok! (His Sept. 1 video on his pick for the world's best all-inclusive resort generated 1.6 million views.) Learn how he got started on TikTok and what he recommends his fellow advisors do to maximize their exposure on this popular social media tool.
"'Microniching' Your Romance Travel Business" - Mon., Dec. 11 (4 pm EST/1 pm PST)
In today's crowded, distracted world, it's even more difficult promoting your romance travel business to huge audiences everywhere. Many DWHSA members have switched gears to focus on "micro niches" - smaller specialties that are easier and more affordable to target (everything from wine country weddings and eco-friendly honeymoons to LGBTQ familymoons and specific resort properties). We'll share examples of this trend and show you how to promote your own micro niche (including a big discussion of Facebook groups!).
"Branding Your Romance Travel Business With Jennifer Doncsecz" - Wed., Dec. 13 (1 pm EST/10 am PST)
In one of Pennsylvania's most competitive market areas, Jennifer Doncsecz (VIP Vacations Inc.) learned early on the power of branding her romance travel business - from choosing pink as her trademark color (her agency's offices are in a pink Victorian house) to adopting the motto "No Stresspassing" for her business. Learn how you can follow the steps she took to make her agency really stand out with its branding!
PAST MASTER CLASS VIDEOS AND HANDOUTS
Below, you'll find the links to access the materials from the full schedule of Master Classes we've done this summer! These links will be available through Dec. 31, 2023. To watch any video, click its link below, and GoToWebinar will ask for your name and email address - then, you'll see the video recording to play at your convenience. (Note: You may view each video, but you can't download it.) To see the handouts, click any link below to see the Adobe PDF file - or, you may "right click" (PC) or "control click" (Mac) on the handout link to bring up a menu on your screen that lets you choose how to save the PDF onto your computer. (You are allowed to download the handouts this way.) If you have questions, please contact us at support@dwhsa.com!
"How to Handle Your First Destination Wedding" (June 5, 2023)
Video link
Handout link
"Growing Your Honeymoon Sales Through 2023 and Beyond" (June 7, 2023)
Video link
Handout link
"Customizing Honeymoons (and Planning Them From Scratch)" (June 12, 2023)
Video link
Handout link
"'Bucket List' Honeymoons" (June 14, 2023)
Video link
Handout link
"Babymoons and Familymoons" (June 19, 2023)
Video link
Handout link
"Cruises for Romance Travel" (June 21, 2023)
Video link
Handout link
"Vow Renewals and Anniversary Trips" (June 26, 2023)
Video link
Handout link
"Engagement Trips and Elopements" (June 28, 2023)
Video link
Handout link
"LGBTQ+ Romance Travel" (July 5, 2023)
Video link
Handout link
"Bachelor and Bachelorette Trips" (July 10, 2023)
Video link
Handout link
"South Asian Destination Weddings" (July 12, 2023)
Video link
Handout link
"Becoming a Destination Wedding Ceremony Planner" (July 17, 2023)
Video link
Handout link
"Breaking Down the Destination Wedding Workflow" (July 19, 2023)
Video link
Handout link
"Breaking Down the Honeymoon Workflow" (July 24, 2023)
Video link
Handout link