CARVER ’ S ADVICE FOR NEW ADVISORS
• Find a mentor .
• Take as many educational opportunities as you can .
• Learn your niche .
Kendra Carver with a bride and groom .
making a good impression , explaining the benefits of using an advisor and especially seeing the whole experience out from start to finish , even making it a point to call each client after their trip .
“ I find that a lot of clients don ’ t want these cookie-cutter trips anymore . They want experiences . They want to do things . They don ’ t just want to stay on the resort anymore ,” Carver said , adding that she designs trips based on each client ’ s interests . This has resulted in satisfied returning customers as well as new business from referrals .
Carver also places importance on education , and this aids in the growth of her business . She continues to not only attend seminars and trainings but to travel herself .
“ I try to keep up with a lot of training and things that are going on in the world just to keep myself abreast of everything ,” Carver said . Growing her unique brand and defining what her agency means to her have also been huge components of her success . For Carver , it ’ s all things romance . She not only books destination weddings but also attends them too , taking care of pre-wedding meetings , scheduling hair and makeup trials and preparing welcome bags for guests , among several other tasks .
“ My destination wedding business has been growing incredibly , and I think I add a little bit of a different element because I travel with the majority of my destination wedding groups and do group coordination and management ,” Carver said . “ I love it . I love love , and it ’ s great to kind of see everything that you ’ ve been planning for the last year kind of come together in one single day .”
While her destination wedding business is really taking off , Carver currently books all things romance , including proposal trips , elopements , honeymoons , anniversaries and vow renewals .
FUTURE GOALS With all successful businesses come future goals , and Carver has several . In addition to hiring a Client Experience Manager and one day solely focusing on destination weddings , she also hopes to become a mentor for new travel advisors .
“ It would have been so much easier , so much better , if I had the tools to be successful . I didn ’ t have that when I started my agency ,” Carver said . “ I would love to be able to mentor someone who ’ s in my same position who maybe doesn ’ t have anyone that they can go to . I want to be able to be that light for someone .”
When it comes to advice she has for new travel advisors , Carver stresses the importance of finding a mentor , continuing to learn and declaring a niche – in addition to remembering that “ every client is not my client .”
“ Niching down will really make you the expert in your field ,” she said . “ It ’ s going to take time because you have to be okay with saying no to things that don ’ t align with your brand , that don ’ t align with your vision .”
For Carver , her vision is clear and was brought to life with hard work , dedication and passion .
SUMMER 2023 / THE COMPASS / 25