This fall, host agency Nexion Travel Group presented travel advisor Brittany Franey with its U.S. Rising Star Award, designed to recognize an exceptional new Nexion member. Franey, who began selling travel in July of 2022, has shown incredibly promising sales and engagement, according to Nexion.
“Brittany’s journey is a shining example of how passion, dedication and a love of lifelong learning can take you exactly where you want to go in your career,” said Jackie Friedman, president of Nexion Travel Group. “Her amazing sales record, coupled with her commitment to professional growth, truly sets her apart. We are incredibly proud of Brittany and her ability to excel while juggling roles as both a mom and a travel advisor."
Based in Fort Mill, S.C., the mother of three wears many hats these days, coaching volleyball at her children’s school, substitute teaching and selling travel. As someone who regularly travels with her kids, Franey has found particular success in the family travel market. We talked to her about her first year in the industry, and some of the rules she’s put in place to ensure both personal job satisfaction and happy clients.
What initially enticed you to become an advisor?
I’ve always loved planning trips with my family, and as a stay-at-home mom, I’ve done so in a budget-friendly way. Other people were always asking me to help plan trips, then someone finally said, “You should do this.” So, in July of 2022, I joined Nexion, and it kind of took off from there. It was definitely a shock to get the Rising Star Award — it’s fun to do this for people, and to help them make memories.
Can you share a bit about your experience with Nexion as your host agency?
A friend of mine introduced me to Nexion, and I loved it right away. Their website is fantastic, as was their training, and they've been unbelievable when I have any questions; from the smallest thing to a big thing, they’ll respond within 20 minutes. They’re really on top of providing the support that a good company will, and that makes this job easier.
How did you tackle your first year on the job?
I believe you have to make sure that you're educated before you plan something. So, for example, I haven’t been selling Europe, because I don't feel educated enough to send someone on an expensive vacation there.
Getting people to trust you is the biggest thing.
Getting people to trust you is the biggest thing. You have to be confident enough in yourself, and be educated enough, and have people know that you will be there to back them up — kind of like Nexion has done for me.
So, in my first year I sold mostly all-inclusives in the Caribbean and cruises, as well as some stateside trips, such as Yellowstone National Park and Walt Disney World Resort. I gravitate toward family travel because I have a family myself and we travel together often. Also, I focus on affordability — you can’t logically throw out a $35,000 trip for a family of four, as that’s just not affordable for most people. So, to give them a memory, under a certain amount, is important. And knowing your clients’ needs is huge.
Is the Caribbean a destination you know well, then?
My husband and I go on an all-inclusive Caribbean trip every year just to reconnect and get away from the children. Then we do family trips every year — the big Christmas present in our house is a trip instead of things. We want memories, not a piece of plastic that will get thrown away in two months. We’ve been to Jamaica, the Outer Banks of North Carolina — all over, and in a budget-friendly way.
And I’ll tell people: Don’t let a vacation set you back financially [to the point that] you don’t enjoy it. There’s no point spending $10,000 on a vacation when you can have the same moments with your kids for $5,000. And that builds trust — I’m not out here to get your money, I’m not here to put you in a bad place, and I’ll never send someone somewhere that I wouldn’t personally go. Which may make my destination list shorter. And Nexion has preferred places, too, and I stick to those.
Slow and steady wins the race. If you honestly don’t think you can take another client, then don’t do it; pass them on.
What does your weekly schedule look like in terms of selling travel?
It changes week to week. I coach volleyball, and since that’s slower right now, I put 15 to 20 hours a week into this work. When Black Friday and the holidays are coming up, and I know people will be booking more travel, I’ll work 25 to 30 hours.
But it comes in waves. Some weeks I may not touch it, as I’m so slammed with my kids. That’s a wonderful thing about this job — I can say, “I’ll get to you in a week.”
What are your family travel hot spots at the moment?
The Dominican Republic in general is fantastic. Hyatt (including Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana) is so awesome and affordable brand-wide, and they have great food — not always true at all-inclusives. Beaches in Turks and Caicos is a dream. And Royal Caribbean Cruise Line nails it, with enormous ships and a new one out all the time, it seems.
What advice would you give advisors just joining the industry?
Being authentic and available are two big things. And don’t oversell or overwork yourself, so that you don’t get overwhelmed or burned out. You can even take on one client at a time. Slow and steady wins the race. If you honestly don’t think you can take another client, then don’t do it; pass them on. People appreciate honesty, especially in place of a bad trip.
