TravelAble LLC

I am looking to expand my travel agency, to bring on a sales staff (commission base) and some contractors to help with advocacy work.  $50,000 is the target to get the onboarding process started for the first hiring.

Currently, I am the sole provider of travel agent services.  I also do outreach in the form of public speaking and advocacy within the disability community.  I am looking to hire 10 outside sales agents to work on a commission basis, as well as a salaried operations manager to oversee administrative tasks so that I can focus on speaking and outreach.

Company Bio:
TravelAble is a full service travel and disability travel advocacy agency with a mission to make the world accessible for families and individuals with disabilities.

 
In 2009, Sarah Marshall, founder and lead advisor,  gave birth prematurely to a son while stationed in the Middle East.  This experience, and the subsequent navigation through medical and cognitive diagnoses and challenges, taught her and her family first-hand the trials and tribulations of traveling while caring for their son. From that first adventure, her family never stopped exploring the world.  And after many trips where tears turned to smiles, she set out on a mission to give every family, regardless of need, a chance to experience this kind of transformation through custom designed extraordinary vacations!             

Sarah is also a sought-after speaker on autism adventure, presenting around the country on her secrets to travel success.  In 2020, she will be presenting in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Phoenix at the Abilities Expo, a national disability resource expo.  She also gives pro bono presentations to societies, therapy centers, parent universities, and other community gatherings, and has a partnership with the ALS Association of WI, IL, and the Autism Hero Project.

She currently holds specialization as a Certified Autism Travel Professional (IBCCES) and Certified Accessible Travel Advocate (SNG).  She is also a proud member of the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) and the Family Travel Association (FTA).  She holds numerous certifications in disability-friendly destinations and cruise lines.  

Our mission is to create a travelable world by providing customized adventures that perfectly support a traveler's unique desires, accessibility needs, and budget.

Travelable is committed to making the world accessible, one extraordinary vacation at a time. We know exactly what it’s like to travel the globe with autism, feeding tubes, oxygen, ADHD, sensory processing disorder and so many other challenges.

We’ll draw on this extensive travel experience to show you what’s possible for your family. As certified Autism Travel Professionals and Accessible Travel Advocates, we will support you through the entire travel planning process, guiding you to the destinations and properties we know can support your family.

Our promise to you: To open up a whole new world for your family. To help you let go of the stresses of daily life. To give you the resources you need to reconnect with your family over a shared experience you will all enjoy.

 

Travel agents provide a service to travelers of all kinds, but I understand firsthand the stress that comes from traveling with a special needs child.  I’ve lived the journey they are on and I have a unique understanding of the “why” behind the struggles they are facing.  When clients work with me, they experience an escape from daily life with a well-cultivated world-class adventure, with all the unique supports and accommodations they need to be successful.  Once they've traveled, they will realize the transformational power of an adventure as it pushes their family out of their comfort zone and into a place of developmental growth, healing from stress, and a lifetime of shared memories.

Brand keywords are:

1.      Adventurous = we are bold, courageous, brave.  We dare to open doors to new experiences and to step boldly forth to explore strange horizons.

 

2.      Authentic = we are reliable, truthful, credible.  We do not hide the reality of the situation to make a sale, and we are trustworthy in everything we do.

 

3.      Adaptable = we are flexible, resilient, versatile.  There is a vacation for everybody, we adapt to the family’s unique needs. 

Every family has different needs, goals, and comfort levels—that’s what we’ll discuss first on the complimentary consultation call. I’ll answer your questions, address your hesitations, learn more about your special needs traveler’s triggers, and show you what’s possible for your family—with the right guidance. 

From there, to commit to working with TravelAble, you will be invoiced for our travel planning fee ($150 - $500).  Once I receive the fee, I’ll begin researching the customized travel options for your family. I’ll present you with 2-3 options, and we’ll work together to refine one itinerary that fits you perfectly.

Then, I’ll take care of all your travel arrangements, from flights and hotel to excursions and reservations for special equipment. I’ll even call ahead to speak with property contacts about any questions or requests we have for your special needs traveler. 

It’s natural to be a little nervous about your big adventure together—but the best way to get comfortable with travel is to prepare. You’ll receive a folder containing your day-by-day itinerary and travel documents. I’ll also equip you with sample hotel room photos, videos, and “picture schedules,” if needed, to help you prepare your special needs child for what’s to come.

Your special needs traveler will receive a customized travel “gift pack” before departure to get them excited about their adventure!

It’s time! Take off for your adventure together, prepared to tackle whatever comes your way—and to show your child all this world has to offer. If you encounter any travel hiccups, I’m just a phone call, email, or text away to help.


Other Streams of Income:

 

STRENGTHS: I understand firsthand the stress that comes from traveling with a special needs child.  So when I provide a solution, I am providing a solution that is tried and true, tested, and successful against the concerns a family might have.  It will make them feel safe and secure and confident they can take the trip.  Because my story is so compelling and honest, I have engaged the community through speaking engagements.  I also currently have a very active and appreciative community that has brought my some very fruitful partnerships.

 WEAKNESSES: I would like to expand my business to bring on sales people to free up time so that I can focus on outreach and advocacy.  I have both time, financial, and emotional constraints.  My story is emotional, and sharing it in the past has affected my personal relationships, so the default reaction is to not share.  Questions I am working on are:

·       Can we present a positive face to negative people?

·       Can we overcome the fear of sharing our story to the masses?

·       How do I bring the public into our vision?
- How can I afford to do all this?

 OPPORTUNITIES: I have a number of opportunities to grow the business.  I participate in several networking groups and have made connections to local influencers within the community.  I have begun reaching out to local community organizations for special needs families and have made good connections to decision makers in those groups.  This work has brought about the following opportunities:

·       Speaking engagements (local special needs PTSA, mother support groups)

·       Vendor booths (Trunk or Treat, sponsorship of events, Gala sponsorship, etc.)

·       Business partnerships – as part of a movement to bring others on board, we have made partnerships within the community that help cross-promote.  These include relationships with those in the wellness space, therapists, therapy providers, relaxation consultants, attorneys, writers, and others.
 

THREATS: Like all in the travel industry feel the threat from technology, including websites, blogs, and social media, that make it easier for customers to find information that may or may not be correct.  It is difficult to build trust in the benefits of a using a travel agent when it is heavily marketed that it can be done by oneself.  These developments as technology improves will make it difficult to retain clients unless our support is top-notch enough to retain them.  Also, COVID-19 has affected the travel industry tremendously and I am feeling the income ramifications of this.

In doing market research, we found that the special needs/autism market is sorely underserved when it comes to individual and custom vacation planning.  There are many providers of pre-arranged travel, but should a family want to travel on their own or to a destination not covered by the arrangements, they often feel they cannot go at all.  Therefore, our ideal client, our avatar is Anna.

Anna is the mother of 3 kids, wife to a hardworking husband, who provides for her family a comfortable lifestyle.  She enjoys movies, and books, and going out with her family and friends on adventures.  And Anna wants to travel.  Prior to kids, she and her husband traveled a lot, but once her middle child arrived, they put that on hold.  She looks at Instagram accounts, dreaming of going to the places in the pictures, and she is jealous of all her friends on Facebook that are always trying something new. 

But she is frightened to leave her house because of the unpredictable nature of her child’s challenges.  Her middle child has significant challenges that make it difficult to enjoy leaving the house.  Anna feels much anxiety about the prospect of getting out with all 3 kids and she feels so alone in the struggle.  What Anna needs is someone who understands what parts of travel cause her the most anxiety and help her figure out ways to alleviate the stress.

When she feels confident about her ability to leave, she knows that travel is important and she will pay whatever to takes to make her vacation as magical as possible.  She wants to invest in family memories and knows that travel is very important to creating that. 

1.      AAA:  AAA focuses on exciting itineraries, engaging experiences, exclusive values.  Every vacation is highlighted with authentic experiences and great values to engage you more personally in the cultures and landscapes of the world. Available on all AAA Vacations packages, 24/7 Member Care can provide assistance with reservation changes, flight mishaps, and other travel needs during your vacation. Member Care is provided by Allianz Global Assistance, AAA's preferred travel insurance provider.

2.      Magical Storybrook Travels:  Magical Storybook Travels opened its doors in January 2015 by Owner and Travel Specialist, Nicole Thibault. Located in Fairport, New York, the Travel Agency specializes in Family Travel and Travel for Families with Special Needs.  This agency does both family travel AND also specializes in arranging vacations for families with Special Needs (Autism, ADHD/ADD, hearing or vision impairments, mobility issues, special dietary restrictions).  They never charge a fee for their services, if you book your travel through the agency. They do offer a  "Pick Your Brain" Service for those who do not book their vacation with that service, but still require the services listed below. They charge a fee of $200, you can pick their brain about your chosen destination, learn the tips and tricks to make your vacation more enjoyable and relaxing, and receive all of the benefits provided to those that book their vacation with our agency. Destinations are limited to Disney/Universal/Florida and Beaches destinations.

3.      ASD Vacations:  ASD Vacations was founded by Alan Day in 2005. Alan is an accomplished and experienced travel agent who also has a son who has Autism Spectrum Disorder.  He’s been in the industry since 1999 and they are Certified Sandals and Beaches Specialists (Gold). They work very closely with some of the leading providers and academics in the field.  They have become recognized as the industry’s leading experts in traveling with autism and are constantly asked for interviews or articles about special needs travel.  They start with a free consultation, they help with the planning and booking.  For those who prefer to travel on their own, they provide Individual Assistance Packages to bring people along to your vacation.   They provide tips on a blog.  They will liaise with your own Therapist or Special Education teacher, if you wish, so that they can create social stories or PECS.