Matt Wahlgren (Source: Matt Wahlgren)
Travel Advisor Success Stories focus on veteran advisors and how they achieved success. Here’s a look Matt Wahlgren, owner of Matt Travel, an affiliate of KHM Travel Group.
How did you get your start as a travel advisor?
I had been working in tech in Silicon Valley my entire career, but had always had an eye open for starting my own business. I just didn’t know what that would look like. Then one evening my boyfriend invited me to join him for dinner with a client he was working with on a custom platform for travel advisors. That’s how I met Anita Pagliasso, who owned a host agency. Soon after, I started building my travel business. This was just the kind of business I didn’t know I wanted to start – after having lived in Europe for a couple of years in the Peace Corp where I discovered my love for travel.
How did you build your business over the years?
I talked about travel whenever I got the chance: with friends, family, co-workers (before I quit my day job), the Uber driver, etc. I’d talk about travel with anyone I met. If they seemed like they had a passion for travel like I did, I’d offer to help them with their next trip.
I also joined local networking groups and the chamber of commerce. I usually attended at least one professional event every week looking for those who needed help with their travel plans. I encourage my clients to review me online and refer me to anyone they think could use my help. Most of my new leads come from referrals and Google these days.
What characteristics make you a successful advisor?
You need to have attention to detail and strong organization skills. There are a lot of moving parts with some trips, and if one little thing is off, your client’s trip could be ruined. I am constantly educating myself, not only in the travel space, but also on how to run a successful business.
Then, I get out and travel as much as I can to inspire my audience and learn about the destination. That’s the best part of the job. I’ve had extended stays in Puerto Vallarta, Hawaii, Italy and Spain, which has given me a much deeper knowledge of these destinations – much more than I ever learned by just visiting for a few days. Plus, I’ve made a lot of great friends along the way who help me stay up to date on any changes happening in those areas of the world.
What have been your greatest challenges been?
The biggest challenge was enduring the pandemic. It took a lot of work to navigate and advocate for my clients. Still, I probably learned more about how this industry operates during that time than I did the previous five years. When everything started opening up again, Matt Travel started to flourish more than it ever had.
What have your greatest accomplishments been?
Last year, Matt Travel hit its 10-year anniversary. We are now a team of five and have been hitting goals I never thought were attainable when I first started doing this as a side gig.
What tips can you provide advisors new to the industry?
I think my biggest mistakes have always been when I hesitated. I took a while to announce that I had entered the travel industry for fear that the floodgates would open and I wouldn’t be able to handle all the business. When I finally made the announcement, it was just a trickle that flowed in. I wish I would have announced my business sooner, as it took years to build my clientele.
A few years in, I had the idea to partner with local business owners to create a memorable group trip with their clients. Well, it took me a few years to muster up the courage to talk with these business owners. I wish I would have started those conversations sooner. So, my advice would be if you have an idea, go for it. Don’t hesitate. You’ll see the fruits of your labor sooner than you expect.
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