“I enjoy getting to know my clients, and there’s nothing better than when they call you again for their 2nd, 3rd, 4th trip and start sending their family and friends to you. And I love it when they send me a picture of their family on vacation. That’s awesome!”
Sara Bitzer
Vacation Specialist with CruiseOne
Travel…we all do it every single day.
Whether by foot, bike, car, bus, train or plane, we all travel. For most of us, it’s simply a way from point A to point B – just part of our daily lives that offers little excitement. But for some lucky folks, travel means something entirely different. They live inside a fantastic world of voyages, adventures, and blissful relaxation – a world filled with oceans and rivers, beaches and resorts, entertainment and fun. And they have the opportunity and joy of sharing that with the individuals and families they serve every single day.
The Road Toward Travel
Sara Bitzer, Vacation Specialist with CruiseOne® , has always been interested in travel as a career. “But life has a way of taking over sometimes, and before I knew it, I was working full time as an office manager, getting married, and then eventually starting a family,” she shares, “so my career aspirations were put on hold for a while.” Years later, after her youngest child began school, she continued her own education, graduating from Lakeland Community College with an associates of business in 2011, specializing in Travel and Tourism. She was also honored with the 2011 Outstanding Travel and Tourism Student Award.
Sara went to work as an independent agent with a local home based company that specialized in Disney Destinations, but did not want to restrict herself to Disney exclusively. While researching the tourism industry, she considered the possibility of starting her own agency.
“During my research, I came across the CruiseOne franchise opportunity, and I knew I had found my answer. CruiseOne would give me the opportunity to run my own travel agency, yet at the same time, have the support and buying power of the largest cruise agency in the United States. Through CruiseOne, I can get my clients insider savings and special fares, rates, and offers that I would have never been able to do on my own. I have the support of over 80 staff members located in our Ft. Lauderdale headquarters as well as over 800 other franchise owners. Between all of us, I can’t imagine a place we haven’t been to!”
Making Dreams Come True
For Sara, her business is all about building relationships. “I work hard to get to know my clients. I want them to trust me, and I think they know that.”By taking time to get to know one another and building trust, I will find you the vacation you are dreaming of,” she says.
“Helping families build memories by taking vacations they will never want to leave – on budgets they can afford!”
Can Sara’s mission statement really be possible?
As the mother of three kids, Sara knows that vacations can be very expensive! “But where there is a will, I promise you, there IS a way. For example, cruises. Did you know you could drive to Cape Liberty, New Jersey in about 6 -7 hours? Cape Liberty is a popular cruise port. So families can save on air fare, and still take a great cruise. Or maybe they don’t mind driving or flying to Florida where there are several cruise ports.
“And you don’t have to take a 7 night, 8 day cruise. There are great 3, 4, and 5 night options. Or what about Disney World? I don’t just sell cruises! Families especially want to go to Disney World, but may not think they can afford it. I walk them through the variety of options that Disney has available to them and work with them to get a ‘magical’ vacation without breaking their bank.”
And how about this awesome perk?
“If a promotion is announced after they book their Disney vacations, I automatically rebook them at that rate.”
“Sara was awesome. She made all the plans for us to have a magical trip to Disney. We loved it!! By the end of all of our conversations, I felt like I had a new friend.”
~ Jeanie C.
Value vs Price
One of the things Sara stresses with clients is value over price. “I’ve had clients insist on the ‘cheapest’ options they could get…and then completely regret it. Again, this is where relationship building is important,” she restates. Taking time to develop a relationship with your travel agent is key to experiencing the vacation of your dreams.
Can’t pay everything up front? Opt for the payment plan! “This gives them the opportunity to contact me between the time they book and the time they travel to make smaller payments. That way, when the final payment is due, it isn’t as difficult to make.”
Destination – Where To?
Sara works with people of all ages, including multi-generational families. There is definitely a cruise or land vacation that every member can enjoy!
Popular destinations for first time cruisers tend to be the Caribbean since 80 percent of the population has never experienced a cruise. Afterward, they tend toward an Alaskan cruise. Then the more experienced cruisers start thinking about the Mediterranean.
For land vacations, over 90 percent of Sara’s clients are booking Disney World and Universal Studios Orlando vacations.
And now that her business is growing, she is beginning to offer even more options. “River cruising is becoming more and more popular and, although you can cruise the Mississippi, I am talking about cruises on the European rivers like the Danube or the Rhine. I am currently becoming specialized in the river cruise market and plan on taking one myself this summer. The average age of a river cruise is 55+. These are truly amazing experiences on smaller ships (150 average passengers) that offer guests the opportunity to really get into the areas they are traveling to. I am planning on hosting a few information nights about river cruises in the near future, so if anyone is interested in attending they can contact me.”
How To Choose Your Travel Agent (and why it matters!)
Planning a vacation can be overwhelming. “A client may call and be ready to take their first cruise. Great! Now it’s up to me to help them to decide where, what ship, how long, etc. This is where it’s important to really get to know the client. Asking questions that revolve around what they like, not what they think they may like, is crucial.”
For a young couple with no children on a limited budget who want a busy, active schedule, a 4-5 night Eastern Caribbean Carnival cruise would be the perfect choice. However, an older couple who wants to relax and enjoy quiet time together would be very disappointed if a travel agent booked that same venue. “It’s all about asking the right questions and getting to know your client,” says Sara.
Here is a list of questions to consider as you search for a qualified travel agent.
1. Is the agent full time or a ‘hobby’ agent?
Sara is full time agent who makes a living from this career and takes her job very seriously.
2.. Do they have adequate training?
Sara has a degree in Travel and Tourism, industry training through her suppliers and through CruiseOne, and completed a week long course when she became a franchise owner before opening her business.
3. Can they address all of my concerns?
Sara has taken several vacations to Disney World along with several cruises and can personally identify with clients’ travel concerns. Because she is also associated with over 800 other agents through CruiseOne, any travel question you may have is certain to be addressed.
4. Has the agent undergone a background check?
Sara has an annual background check through CruiseOne. “Our clients are giving us their names, birth dates, addresses, and credit card information. Make sure your agent is LEGIT!” You don’t want to find fraudulent charges on your account!
5. Is the agent licensed?
Sara is fully insured.
6. How and why did your agent present a quote so far below others?
“If you are “comparison shopping,” keep this in mind: most travel agents will provide quotes for the same dollar amount because we are all working with the same suppliers. Some agencies, like CruiseOne, for example, may have an exclusive special, and that’s great. However, if your travel agent is offering you a much lower rate than someone else, ask how and why. I have had clients tell me they got a lower price only to find out that the agent put them in a category that wasn’t acceptable to them, or worse yet, forgot something all together, like travel insurance. Always ask HOW and WHY the price is lower: compare apples to apples!”
Building Bonds, Changing Lives
Your vacation is sure to be filled with unexpected benefits. “Taking vacations gives families the time to disconnect from technology and reconnect with each other,” says Sara. “I would honestly say that most of my clients, if not all, said that they did not miss their Facebook, email, or text messaging capabilities, and although you can do these things when you travel, people tend to just put it aside and enjoy the moment.”
Group travel is also very popular. “Consider putting together a cruise for a family reunion, a church group, or a club that you are a part of. I do all the work for you, and you get to have an amazing vacation with people you know and want to spend more time with!”
“I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Sara Bitzer for your travel planning needs. As a mom of a pre-schooler planning their first trip to Disney, Sara’s expertise and organization skills were invaluable! She did all the work for us, and was responsive to our needs along the way. I can’t wait to work with Sara again to plan a future cruise!”
~ Tricia C.
Stay Informed
CruiseOne vacation destinations offer great deals throughout the year. Visit Sara’s CruiseOne website and sign up to receive the weekly newsletter. “You can also visit my website to try to win a free trip for two, another great incentive to being a CruiseOne client. We have quarterly give-a-ways including 7 night cruises!”
And did I mention that Sara’s services with CruiseOne are FREE?
Whether on land or on sea….call Sara today to discover and book your ideal vacation destiny!
Sara Bitzer
Vacation Specialist, CruiseOne
(216) 503-1413
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