In our last post, we covered the importance of networking, how to find events and tips and tricks to make the most of them. So I want to get more specific and go over all of the great networking opportunities that are available to agents within the Travel Quest Network!

Online Opportunities

• Travel Quest Agent Portal – Just over a year ago we launched a brand new portal for our agents called the TQ Agent Portal. Our Portal has lots of awesome features, but the forum is definitely one that is used the most. Agents are able to post questions, comments and concerns in the forum and receive advice from our network of over 500 agents! Our agents’ willingness to help each other out is truly amazing!

• Travel Quest Agent Private Facebook Group – Just before we launched our new portal, we started a private Facebook group for our agents. It’s no secret; Facebook is a pretty popular place to be! Our Facebook group is another great tool that agents can use to seek advice from their fellow TQ Agents.

In Person Events

• Travel Quest Regional Meetings – In 2015 we held our first annual regional meeting in Atlanta, GA and it was a hit among agents! We held classes that were focused around a theme, a small trade show with relevant vendors and followed by dinner and drinks! We hold one regional meeting a year, usually in the spring. We get our agents’ input to help us pick the locations and theme.

• Travel Quest National Meetings – Our annual National Meeting is held in Minneapolis every fall. This event brings staff, agents, vendors and non-agents together for two days of learning and networking. With break sessions taught by TQ staff, suppliers and others in the travel industry, Discovery Concourse (our version of a trade show) and our dinner and cocktail reception – there is a ton of time for networking!

• Travel Quest Meet Ups - Whenever we are attending an industry event, we try to plan a TQ Meet Up or dinner for any TQ agents attending or that happen to be in the area at that time! Much less formal but still a great, casual networking event.

• Travel Leaders Regional and National Meetings – Being an agent with Travel Quest means you also get the benefits of being a part of the Travel Leaders Network. It just so happens, they also hold some great in-person events each year. Their Regional Meeting is held every spring, typically in 3 locations across the country. What I love about their regional meetings is the smaller more intimate feel. They offer some great classes at these events with networking and team building opportunities.
  
  The Travel Leaders National Meeting is a beast! This multi-day event (typically 3-4 days) is jam packed full of classes, hand-on learning, networking, networking and MORE networking!

What I love most about this event is the amazing participation we see from Travel Quest agents. We generally have a great showing of agents; we reserve a table at meals and meet up for general sessions.We also host a special dinner with just our TQ agents which is my favorite part. It gives me (and our agents) even more time to get to know each other—I love just chatting with our agents!

• FAM Trips – We have 1-2 Travel Quest exclusive FAM trips each year. These are SO great! I typically work directly with different hoteliers to plan a custom FAM for our agents. I would say FAM trips are in my top 5 favorite times of the year. I get to take a small group of agents on a trip and spend time teaching and really getting to know them! What could be better than that?! Our FAM trips are often filled with both new and seasoned agents, which allows for a lot of learning and networking opportunities for everyone!

As you can see, there is no shortage of networking events in the TQ community! We love getting face time with our agents and so it is truly something we foster. That being said, if you’re ever in the Minnesota, drop by and say hi!