Train In The Tropics

Inc., they most often go through the necessary steps in order to save a buck or two on a great vacation. That buck or two is actually is often more than a thousand.

Everyone likes to save money on travel and vacation, fitness professionals are no exception.

I want to point out a couple methods today that will take that all-inclusive vacation for the fit pro and more than double the savings.  These are often overlooked, but are simple, costs little to nothing, and are available to you at all times.

Multi-Week Teaching Vacation Booking - While the weekly fees remain consistent for each resort, the relative expense of the overall trip goes down with multiple weeks booked.  This is likely obvious to most and is done frequently, but worth a mention/reminder.
Airfare for yourself and a guest is often around $1000 round trip. Booking a teaching vacation for one week spreads this expense over the 7 days. That would be about $143 per day.  When you book a second teaching vacation week you not only get what I fill is a full vacation time, but you also still spend only the same amount on travel.  Over 14 days that averages to $71 per day.
If you and your guest are traveling to one of the family resort locations and you are vacationing with a couple of children, this travel expense savings/value is even more dramatic.

Benefits of Joining FPT Groups – Every member account with Fitness Pro Travel is able to join one group. Premium accounts may join many.  The benefits that comes from group membership can vary depending upon the specific group.  When you join one of the Fit Bodies resort location groups you are setting yourself up for potential savings.  Often discounts are offered specifically to group members or potentially access to a special opportunities.  Simply click on the tab at the top of each page to display all group options.
**When you sign up for a group, you are required to remain in that group for 60 days before your account is allowed to leave and join another.
**Members of the Medallion and Enterprise groups receive 5% and 10% discounts on all items separate of travel found within the Fitness Pro Travel site.  (certain trainings that equates to several hundred dollar discount)

I encourage you to get active in the community to take advantage of the many benefits and suggest you take advantage of these two simple steps to ensure you receive the best value when you take your all-inclusive teaching vacation.

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So, as you travel in and out of your FPT account, reviewing events, posting articles, reading articles, searching classifieds, joining or starting groups, networking, blogging, more more more…. You may notice that we are working harder to add distinction to this outstanding travel program.

One step that is now being taken is the weekly video cast being provided by Suzelle, owner of Fit Bodies, Inc.  When you login and go to Suzelle’s account, you can view her blogs which hold these informative video on many of the insider secrets of travel exchange in the Caribbean.

Here is last weeks specifically on travel to the Dominican Republic:

The teaching vacation is a great program that can save you and your family financially and bring you to some of the greatest Caribbean destinations available.  I met Suzelle and her company while on a teacher exchange program back in 2001 and am happy for all members of our Fit Pro Network that her programs are available and offered within the network.

Login to FPT and leave Suzelle a comment so these short informative video continue to roll.

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Lisa Ownes - Fit Bodies Staff

contracted Dominican Republic Resorts.  While making this tour, teaching at various resorts, and meeting management staff, Lisa is collecting pictures, video and writing a blog to share and answer questions along the way.

This is a guest post of one of those blogs from yesterday… To follow her blog in full, log into your Fitness Pro Travel account and search for Fitness Instructor Lisa Owens.  Her account blog has the full story.

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Sanctuary grace to Dreams Punta Cana excitement

Yesterday we moved from Secrets Sanctuary relative solitude and grace to excitement and socialization of Dreams Punta Cana

It’s true; I am traveling just like any of you fitness professionals would be traveling.  Yesterday Secrets Sanctuary went from 30% occupancy to 100% occupancy and my room was needed.  I was Bumped.  Bummer?  Nah.  But I did offer to stay and sleep on my balcony!

I was told we are going to be moved to another resort just before my 9:30am yoga class.  As a guest instructor, I understood this can happen anytime, although it is rare, and in the spirit of business we should are glad the resorts have so many guests.  In a way, we feel the resort’s max capacity should mean they need more fitness instructors, but alas there are only so many rooms to go around.  Chad and I packed up our things, ate a wonderful lunch and said good bye to my new friends.  Tony is a member of the Activities staff who is very motivating and fit.  He conducts the morning power-walks and also the aqua aerobics.  If you teach here and offer aqua classes I’m sure your skills will be appreciated and this class is at 11:30 or noon.  His class encourages friendship and conversation among the pool people, like myself, and I appreciate this.

Here we are, now at Dreams Punta Cana where Mr. Jose Tolentino personally greeted us with big smile.  This is someone who I correspond with on a regular basis and so to meet him, put an official face and voice to his email signatures is especially meaningful to me.  A cold drink and towel welcome us after the 55-minute ride from Cap Cana to Dreams Punta Cana.

This resort is way big.  Over 650 rooms, and all of them are next to the pool, which the rooms basically surround with the ocean at the end.  Here there are couples, families with young and older kids, groups of friends, singles and senior citizens.  They manage to keep everyone happy!  Despite the size, I feel personal attention from the housekeepers to the restaurant service.  They are almost always smiling, to resort guests and to one another.  I think the staff at Sanctuary is absolutely top notch but here at Dreams Punta Cana they must have written the manual on resort hospitality.

Last night I saw the best resort entertainment I have ever seen.  Dreams Punta Cana is an exciting, activity filled resort and their entertainers are absolutely top notch, coming from a dance or gymnast background and work very hard, practicing from 11a.m. to at least 6p.m. everyday.  This does not even include the time they spend performing.  I have so much respect for them.

The classes here are only 30 minutes long, so prepare to teach more often, but shorter classes.  The guest fitness pros teach 4 thirty-minute classes and Mr. Tolentino wants pros to offer multiple formats.  Being I only teach yoga, I am an exception to this rule.  For all your classes, they are happy to hook your Ipod up to their beach sound system.  I sign off for the moment to teach the 10 a.m. class and then Mr. Tolentino is taking us on a tour of Zoetry Agua.  This is what I have been waiting for and I am very anxious to see the resort.  You can rest assured I will have a detailed report about Zoetry Agua this evening.

Here is a picture of the large beach at Dreams Punta Cana

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Thanks Lisa!

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Our own social media community at Fitness Pro Travel certainly keeps an eye on what this big boy, with hundreds of programmers and a near infinite budge is up to.

As an independent fitness professional or fitness business of any type (or again, any

business of any type) with a web presence, the Social Plugins via FaceBook can go a long ways in keeping your offering near the front of peoples interests.  And, more importantly it places your offering/website in front of the friends & connections of those who “Like” your stuff.

Not necessarily a sales pitch, but an invitation to your front door which they may follow if the interest in more is tweaked.

I’m just beginning to experiment with some of these tools beginning with the “Like” button.  I’ll have one added somewhere on the right border of this site before I post this if you want to take a look… feel free to click away as well.

I’ve also already begun to add these small like buttons to the individual resort pages for those sites Fit Bodies contracts with and offers for teaching vacation opportunities at Fitness Pro Travel.

Check those out by going to the “Travel Spots” area of the site, clicking on the details page for the resorts you’ve been to.  Then click the “like” button for the particular resort to automatically let the next visitor to the page know that you thought that resort rocked.

…From the business stand point –

• The visual list of people who “like” the content on the page (in the above case, the resort) now have a visual social proof via a personal “like” endorsement.
• You also have the benefit of an automatic status update being placed on the Wall of the person who just stated that they “liked” your stuff.  Now their friends and connections are also seeing that endorsement with a link right back to your page.

The “like” clickers will have to be or have to become FaceBook members.  This is a continuation of an overwhelming title wave toward FaceBook being the online social connections & interests leader.  I’m ok with that endorsement as it does bring some sense of order around the individual to the internet and provides a great opportunity to gain endorsements, testimonials, and social proof for that which makes up my online presence.

Don’t be late on being part of the Face Book Interest Barometer initiative.  Utilize a FaceBook Social Plugin soon.

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Been busy not only transitioning kids into all their Spring sports, but also settling everything into place with the changes at the Fit Pro Network Site.

While the kids are settled, FPT is a ever evolving project… Love IT.

So, there are several new things going on. None big enough to necessarily warrant a catch up notice to the entire community. But, they are worthwhile and I figured I’d offer the information out to those of you who have joined this “Biz Mailing List” and visit this blog.

New FPT Twitter Account:

@FitProTravel now exists on Twitter. If you play with the birds on that site I encourage you to connect to that account as there are bits and pieces that are mentioned there often that will keep you up to date on travel information and opportunities.

Zoetry @ $300 SALE – Opportunity for additional 10% off:

Fit Bodies is having an insane special in an attempt to get our Mind/Body professionals to give these highend resorts a try. This is a nice savings that can be put toward airfare and on top of that…

When you join the Zoetry Group at FPT you are provided a 10% purchase discount that can be used on top of the sale price. A great reason to join this and other Groups… see below.

New Tennis Instructor Position at NOW RESORT:

Just today was added a new opportunity to the Fitness Pro Travel community. The NOW Resort, which was described by Suzelle simply as WOW! has added this tennis instructor position to the existing Group Fitness OR Yoga OR Pilates position.

Check out the NOW Travel Spots page for more info on this awesome resort.

FPT Network Membership (COUPON):

I have been working hard to make the case that there is great value in upgrading to premium membership for any fitness professional. There are several benefits that come with the premium accounts, the best of which will be different for many of us.

Having jumped in the Free Tutorial or not, Module 3 provides several of the top reasons for an upgrade (In my view)… It also contains a discount that’s good for those going through the tutorial.

I am making that discount available to those of you viewing this until the end of the month (last of April). That’s 20% off the price of any account level.

==> View Module 3 <==

There you have it…

Several small updates that are going on. I hope they find you well and enjoying a healthy fitness business/career. Connect with us, enjoy a discount trip, and check out Module 3 of the training.

The network is nearing very quickly the 10,000 Fit Pro mark.

The value of our connections grows daily and I encourage you to join in and participate using the many features beyond the travel opportunities. My goal is that your career/business runs efficiently and effectively, so you can enjoy more of those awesome teaching vacations…. Upgrade to Enterprise and 30 minutes of my time, dedicated to your optimal use of the network is part of the deal.

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Early this morning I sent out an email to 8000+ fitness professionals highlighting a friend of mine who teaches fit pros how to “Grow My Fitness Business”.

It was a relatively long email compared to what I like to burden our Member Fit Pros with normally , but I did want to spend some time expressing why I felt this program would be worth a good look.

The program is called “System 5” and was developed by Chris Fernandez. http://tinyurl.com/System5-FitProTravel

I’ve personally spent time speaking with Chris by phone and going through multiple webinars from his program.  I’ve also been through similar programs and am very comfortable suggesting Chris’ as one of the best.  Organized, accurate, and related to the fitness industry.

Chris also is tweaking his program as well as customizing it just for our fitness professional community.  Special content is being generated just for our network along with key additions and angles that make System 5 appropriate for more than just the personal trainer.

Group Instructors, Yoga Instructors, Tennis Coaches, Dietitians, or Chiropractors… System 5 can provide you the edge if you want to grow my fitness business.

Besides the tweaking to meet the needs of all our members he also agreed to provide a couple sample webinars that could be viewed without obligation (at least the first one).

This is what I had primarily emailed to the group about.  A free webinar for those who want to learn a few keys that will help them grow their fitness business.  Even without a business but within a fitness career, there are elements that will help you excel.

BTW – I’ve talked to you previously about Affiliate Marketing.  I have set up with Chris an affiliate relationship. To get the last 2 (still free) webinars you’ll have to register, and yes I do get a commission if you ever decide to purchase System 5, but this product is one of the best of it’s kind for the Fitness Pro so I had to share.

Definitely worth a free check.  AND definitely something I hope to hear back on from those of you who check it out.  I know Chris will provide any feedback/answers from that webinar page.  I will do the same from here if you have something for me.

Check it out Here ===>  http://tinyurl.com/System5-FitProTravel

Besides the fact that I know the quality and work ethic Chris is putting into his program and how that can equate to financial benefit to you, I do have a slightly skewed reasoning for encouraging you to run the program.

I believe it will only continue to benefit our network as the membership becomes aware and then proficient in the many activities you can do there as well as outside on your own.  Blogging, use of Forums, and Networking in a fitness industry only community alone can bring great benefit.

When you also learn how to leverage the authority of being an “International Presenter” for gaining students, athletes or clients… Well, I believe you’ll have just one more reason to enjoy the travel program.

As you better understand affiliate marketing and how simple it is to utilize across the internet you’ll find the ease to use your Fit Pro Travel account affiliate referral program and we’ll grow the network even faster.

And, as you put the many skills locally, on-line, and internationally together… you will generate more income… and ultimately want to spend more time traveling to more of the luxurious properties offered by Fit Bodies within the Fitness Pro Travel site.

Are you ready to “Grow My Fitness Business?“

Be The Fit Pro For Celeb Retreat

It reminded me of a new feature we offer our member fitness professionals.

The new feature hasn’t been highlighted much as our collaborating partners are still working out final details with the all-inclusive resorts they contract with.  But, ultimately it will be an opportunity to participate as part of a rock star celebrity entourage when they do one of these travel based marketing events or even more often when they seek a celebrity retreat get away for themselves and family or friends.

Playing the role of celebrity can be difficult to turn off and get away from.  This is the reason some of the higher end Caribbean hospitality settings we send our fitness professionals to are requesting we work with them to provide private celebrity group fit pros while they enjoy their time out of the spot light. A bit of a celebrity retreat.

This will be very exciting and prestigious for the Fit Pro…. So how do we sort to the right Fit Pro?

With thousands of fitness professionals in our fitness industry network it could be quite a task in sorting through and selecting the celebrity retreat Fit Pro. We do have several methods of sorting through based on experience and education.

From there we will sort based upon  the account type of the Fitness Pro.  I believe when those opportunities arise to travel with the Rock Star and join in on a “celebrity retreat” it is important that we support those who most support the community first. (as a matter of fact, many decisions will follow that pecking order).

This does not mean that just because you have selected a “Travel” level account that you have no chance to occupy the coveted celebrity retreat fit pro spot, but if all else is equal you may fall behind another fit pro.

I pass on this information to highlight this very cool new travel based marketing and celebrity retreat program that has begun recently with the other changes to our network, primarily for your information and secondarily to highlight one more instance where your consideration of a premium account at Fitness Pro Travel can bring you any one of many benefits.

Adding these new benefits to the other premium account privileges and the Fit Pro Partner benefits – well you get the idea.  Looking forward to see you inside.

BTW – I’m putting my name in for when Bret Michaels and the Rock of Love contestants need to break away for a little rock star get-a-way time. - Which celeb would you most want to be the celebrity retreat fit pro for?

The elite Fitness Presenters used to be so easy to spot. Take a look at any IDEA Journal and the fitness industry leaders were always there promoting. Maybe they were more obvious because most everything came by postal mail forcing me to at least pay attention between the mail box and my front door.

Today our attention, and likely even more so mine, are spread very thing.  Finding the target audience at the economical price can be tough. Finding them with tools to most effectively spread the message and allow you to personalize the event message is also not easy.

Today I am sending a notice to all members designating themselves as Fitness Education Presenters at FitnessProTravel.com  Most I believe do it old school providing workshops at local fitness facilities. Others provide their fitness presentations online or at large conferences.

Either way I simply wanted to let them know of the tremendous resources available to them with their membership to the Fit Pro Travel Network.

What I’d like to make available here is the case for why I suggest all fitness presenters do not pass up the opportunity to utilize the fitness events calendar as well as other resources for the promotion of their programs…. So here it goes.

The Biggest Issues We Ran Into as Fitness Presenters:

• Economically reaching the correct target audience was never easy.
• Having the ability to list the event with the freedom for full descriptions, logo, and delivered to outside web links; we could rarely do all that.
• Rarely was there an opportunity to send with a click of a button my posted event to all connections

How Fitness Pro Travel Network Solves These Issues:

• With more than 8000 North American fitness professionals registered in the network a targeted audience is available.
• Additionally, connecting directly with fitness pros via networking, operating your own education based group, contributing articles providing you even more of an authority position… each of these continues to extend your reach.
• More than 300 registered Fit Pros are accessing the network daily. When they do visit more than 45% stay for more than 5 minutes exploring various areas (that puts us in the top 2% of the internet). In the past year the number of new accounts each week has doubled.
• The audience is there and available to view and benefit from information on educational opportunities happening, online, offline, and throughout North America. What we need is for our Continuing Education Providers (YOU) to begin championing your own cause and at a minimum list your own fitness education events.

What do you think? A Fitness Industry Only Professional Network a good location for a fitness education presenter to promote their fitness educational offerings?

It hasn’t been any different the past three days at FPT and I’m guessing the activity will stay high over the next three while the launch period continues.  Our 50% discount offer for upgraded membership (discount ended) seems to be appreciated and has had many visitors visiting their accounts and doing what we’d hoped, upgrading… All Good.

In addition to seeing the statistics of the many fitness professionals accessing their accounts during this time, my mailbox has definitely been filled with many more questions.  My account blog is where i try to publish most so all can see, but I’ll share the following as it seems to be on everyone’s mind to some extent.

It’s understandable. The website changes will have some small affect upon all accounts.

So, lets see if I can take a quick crack at answering the question, “Which Fit Pro Membership Level is right for me?” (or variations of that questions anyways)

Membership selection of any level at Fitness Pro Travel is key to keeping the website lights on and continuing to add features to the network. We have added a very inexpensive option for those who have little intention of using the networking and promotional options.

Enterprise - fitness business oriented, need of particular dates and want date release, optimize affiliate commission for referrals, frequent traveler etc……….  This member level is certainly a VIP to us as they are definitely investing themselves to the network.  The promotional options make this an ultimate business value and the qualifications for front of line travel make it a frequent traveler must.

Medallion -Similar to above less the early date release notice, slightly less in quantity but also less reduced cost to less than $14 per month.  It provides bonuses for business and qualifies member for all specialty (beyond the working vacation) opportunities. I suspect this to be popular with many.

Travel - This is the new account option that provides access to most all features in small quantity. Cost aware at less than $3 per month. Is an ideal account if not expecting to need all features listed above or on side-by-side, but still want to be supportive of community growth.  I personally believe that all who utilize any feature within the site to learn about and make a decision on taking a working vacation, should activate at least at this level.  Much goes into making those informational features available and your commitment to the network is helpful.

Basic - This level provides access to the travel program, but very minimal to much else.  There are travel aspects you will not qualify for.  This Free account is ideal for a new member who wants to take a look at what the site has to offer, who else participates, and is comfortable with the legitimacy of the programs.  After the new member has gone through that process they will ideally move up to a level above.

Any account is fine to utilize the working vacation program at this time.  There is no requirement to purchase a paid membership, but it’s definitely appreciated as we continue to build the features and value to Fitness Pro Travel.

Have you had a look today?

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That’s where ICI/PRO comes in. They deliver the steady, nutritious diet of Information, Motivation and Entertainment Instructors need to stay Fresh and Informed.

Reading a profile can be enjoyable, but sometimes not practical, so much of what we deliver comes in the form of Audio PROfiles. Exclusive to ICI/PRO Members, Audio PROfiles are a short Podcast mp3 that explain the inner workings of a class taught by Master Instructor Jennifer Sage or other experienced Instructor. Many ICI/PRO Members access the Audio Profiles via a Super Secret iTunes Feed. Their online training videos show you exactly how to do it.

Each Audio PROfiles is a complete class. Not just the ride profile, but also queuing, presentation ideas, motivating language and a suggested playlist you can use to bring a fresh perspective and maybe some much needed excitement to your next class.

ICI is a great group of fitness professionals dedicated to the specialty of cycling.  I suggest you take a look at their opportunities as there is likely benefit via membership – Take a look at what their membership consists of.

Did I mention 7 Days free?

7 days membership free is what got me out here to blog… That’s a nice deal, but it’s only available until the 15th of January. Interested – Hurry!

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