How Morgan Hopkins Used Group Bookings to Hit $300k in Her First Year

From event logistics to travel entrepreneur

For 12 years, Morgan Hopkins was the behind-the-scenes force making big nonprofit events happen. As the “logistics queen,” she coordinated hotel blocks for 200-person D.C. gatherings, negotiated food and beverage contracts, and managed production for major events.

In October 2024, while riding the train to D.C., Morgan spotted a Fora Instagram ad. After some Reddit research, she decided to sign up. Her goal was simple: learn more about hotels and loyalty programs as a fun hobby.

“I had no intention of ending up with a full business,” Morgan said.

She spent her first month diving into Fora’s training and getting comfortable with Portal (the all-in-one advisor platform) before taking on her first booking—a trip for a family member. Five months later, she hit $100k in sales and achieved Pro status, reaching $300k within a year.

Turning event planning skills into group booking success

Morgan’s event expertise translated perfectly to group travel planning. She already knew how to navigate hotel contracts, negotiate room blocks, and handle the specific needs of different clients—especially nonprofits with their unique tax exemptions and budget requirements.

Consulting clients who trusted her with event logistics started asking for help with room blocks and meeting space. Those group bookings then led to referrals for individual leisure travel, creating a balanced book of business. Today, groups make up nearly 50% of her bookings.

Morgan also carved out an unexpected niche: wedding travel coordination. After a satisfied client recommended her on Reddit, she started attracting couples who needed someone to handle room blocks and guest accommodations—the logistics without the stress of being an actual wedding planner.

Building momentum with smart tools and fearless outreach

Fora’s Bookable Quote became Morgan’s secret weapon for scaling quickly. Instead of endless back-and-forth emails, she could send clients a quote with live pricing they could review and book whenever it fit their schedule.

“I had multiple bookings come through while I was in the gym,” Morgan said. “Bookable Quote is a complete game changer, especially for my clients who are parents. I can send them a quote and they can book it at 10pm on their own time.”

Morgan used Bookable Quote to close sales without having to be online

Fora’s Bookable Quote feature allows advisors to send quotes that update automatically and can be booked directly by clients on their own schedule.

She also uses Portal’s itinerary builder to create hotel lookbooks, presenting three curated options for a small fee, each with a Bookable Quote link so clients can select and confirm instantly.

But great technology alone doesn’t build a business. Morgan’s “shameless” approach to marketing made the difference. After years in advocacy work where discussing her job meant navigating uncomfortable conversations, talking about travel felt refreshingly easy.

She slides into Instagram DMs when strangers mention travel plans. She booked a micro-influencer’s Greece honeymoon after a cold message and converted her dental hygienist into a client during a routine cleaning. She sends quarterly emails to her entire client list, and systematically asks happy clients for referrals. These strategies resulted in over 150 bookings and $300k in sales her first year as a travel advisor.

How Fora made success possible

• Recorded & live training: A library of recorded training and daily live sessions to learn sbout destinations, suppliers, and business strategies

• Bookable quotes: Lets clients review and book on their own schedule, turning proposals into confirmations faster

• Streamlined technology: Portal’s itinerary builder and AI tools for time savings in administrative work

• Flexible business model: Mix high-value group bookings with individual trips for diverse, sustainable revenue