KGetting Started as a Travel Advisor: What Actually Matters
Host: Jill, travel advisor and entrepreneur
Industry Evolution & Stability
Background:
- Industry has evolved through huge changes (rise of online booking to current AI era)
- Despite technological shifts, one truth remains: This career keeps growing because people crave real human guidance and expertise, especially when spending their hard-earned money on travel
Key Advantages of Being a Travel Advisor:
- Access to exclusive brands and partnerships
- Ability to secure extra perks for clients
Essential Questions to Ask Yourself Before Starting
1. Are You Passionate About Travel?
- Your passion fuels everything:
- Research efforts
- Client conversations
- Desire to learn and grow
2. Are You Detail-Oriented?
- This career is built on details:
- Timelines
- Payments
- Policies
- Attention to detail is crucial for success
Two Pathways to Enter the Industry
Option 1: Assistant Role
Benefits:
- Work for an established travel advisor
- Get paid while you learn
- Build foundational experience and education in the industry
- Lower-risk entry point
Option 2: Independent Travel Advisor
Steps to Take:
- Start researching host agencies immediately
- Understand that every host agency is different
Host Agency Variations:
- Experience requirements: Some require prior experience, others are beginner-friendly
- Fee structures:
- Some use commission splits
- Others charge monthly fees and allow you to keep more earnings
Research Resources:
- HostAgencyReviews.com
- FindAHostAgency.com
- These sites are full of helpful information
- Expect to go down a "very productive, intentional rabbit hole"
- The more you learn, the more confident you'll feel when choosing a host agency
AI in the Travel Industry
Reality Check: AI is NOT replacing travel advisors
Who's at Risk:
- Travel advisors who don't use AI to evolve their businesses
- Those who don't understand or adapt to AI technology
How Successful Advisors Use AI:
- Saving time inside their travel businesses
- Conducting research more efficiently
- Staying organized
- Creating stronger and easier communication
- Improving efficiencies and workflows
- Freeing themselves up to do more of what actually matters: taking care of clients
Next Steps & Resources
Available Resources:
- Resources for new travel advisors to help start strong
- New Travel Advisor Toolkit (available in description)
- Helps you start off quickly with the right steps
- Video guide on choosing the right host agency
Key Takeaways
- Human expertise remains irreplaceable despite technological advances
- Passion and attention to detail are foundational requirements
- Choose your entry path based on your experience level and comfort with independence
- Research thoroughly before committing to a host agency
- Embrace AI as a tool to enhance your business, not as a threat
- Focus on what matters most: delivering exceptional client care
The travel advisor profession continues to thrive because technology cannot replace the personalized guidance, expertise, and human connection that advisors provide to their clients.
