KHM Travel Group is excited to announce its new Advisory Board, which is comprised of 18 committed, experienced travel agents. This is the second edition of the Advisory Board, and while some of the original members are serving again, we are also excited to welcome many new faces!
Bill Coyle, KHM Travel’s Industry Affairs Specialist, oversees the board. Bill has more than 20 years of experience as a travel agent with Encompass the World, and has also served on Delta Vacations’ advisory board for two years. He currently sits on the advisory board for AMResorts.
Having an Advisory Board allows our staff to bounce ideas and potential programs out to a select groups of agents before rolling them out to our entire agent base. Gathering agent feedback allows KHM Travel to continue to improve the tools, training and programs that are offered to all of our agents.
The current Advisory Board members will serve two years:
- Linda Allen
- Karen Beasley
- John Best
- Crystal Cox Walker
- Susan Fithian
- Brian Gamble
- Donna Gilmore
- Michael Hazelhofer
- Gudrun Jenkins
- Rob Kemmet
- Emily Kladivo
- Angelina Lafasciano
- Emily Magri
- Michael McCarthy
- Hollie Schmitt
- Alison Turner
- Vineet Unadkat
- Marcus Williams
The agents selected have a proven track record of success, but they also represent a variety of business models.
“We wanted more diversity so that we can get different perspectives,” says Bill. “We want to get more people to that $1 million figure, and we need to find more ways to do that.”
Bill added that the current board was purposefully put together with a mix of geographic areas, and sales levels. Many board members have reached Pinnacle level, but there are also Basecamp-level agents in the group.
Understanding the needs of minority businesses was also a driving factor in putting together the Advisory Board.
“An agent in the inner city isn’t going to be able to sell something you can only sell in the suburbs,” Bill says. “We’re learning about their mix of business so we can better serve them.”
Another goal of the KHM Travel Group Advisory Board is to prepare the agents, who are leaders within the KHM Travel family, for roles on other advisory boards in the travel industry. It is hopefully a stepping stone to getting more involved with industry organizations, and having a voice for travel agents on a higher level.
For instance, agents on supplier advisory boards often provide feedback that impacts their booking engines, or how that supplier expands into various destinations and markets.
The KHM Travel Advisory Board convenes four times a year via conference call, and this year, an Advisory Board trip is also in the works!
As we welcome new KHM Travel Group Agents to the Advisory Board, we would also like to sincerely thank the founding members of the Advisory Board. We appreciate your time and dedication to helping KHM Travel Group over the past two years.
KHM Travel Group can help you pursue your passion for travel as a home-based travel agent. Receive our free Travel Agent Information Guide by filling out the form on the right side of the screen or by calling 1-888-611-1220.