Travel Advisors are Made, Not Born: Assembly Required

Travel advisors do not grow on trees. The unrelenting wanderlust in our souls hasn’t dimmed despite the recent travel disruptions caused by the pandemic. And while many pre-pandemic hurdles have vanished, navigating the complexities of the new travel landscape can be daunting. This is where travel advisors step in, emerging as the unsung heroes of the post-pandemic travel boom.

Best Travel Advisors

Travelers today crave more than just generic itineraries. They seek curated experiences that cater to their specific interests and desires. This shift in travel mentality has amplified the value proposition of travel advisors. Their expertise in navigating the ever-changing travel landscape – from entry requirements to hidden gems – ensures a stress-free and enriching vacation.

The “Great Resignation” has further fueled the demand for travel advisors. With many seeking careers offering remote work or flexible schedules, the travel advisor profession presents a compelling opportunity. The chance to combine passion for travel with entrepreneurial freedom makes it an ideal path for ambitious individuals.

In short, the post-pandemic travel landscape has created a perfect storm for travel advisors. As travelers seek personalized experiences amidst travel complexities, these advisors offer invaluable expertise and pave the way for unforgettable vacations. For those seeking a career change that aligns with their love of travel, becoming a travel advisor might just be the perfect passport to a fulfilling new chapter.

To alleviate the current advisor shortage, agencies are prioritizing the recruitment and onboarding of new consultants. A recent survey of TRAVELSAVERS and NEST advisors sheds light on the qualities agencies are looking for in recruits and how they train them.

Travel Advisors Need Varied Training

An overwhelming number of advisors – 95% – say that training is essential or important for new entrants to the profession. However, agencies rely on diverse methods of developing their new consultants. Fifty-four percent offer a job shadow with colleagues and 53% use supplier training programs. Almost one-third employ industry webinars.

Programs that provide training in a range of crucial advisor skills are less common. Twenty-six percent say their agency offers a specialized program for new advisors. Twenty-three percent use an industry program such as The Travel Institute. Fifteen percent depend on KORE, American Marketing Group’s comprehensive advisor education curriculum.

“The industry has had a patchwork approach to training new advisors,” said AMG Chief Sales Officer Kathryn Mazza-Burney. “Many agencies are still using one-off webinars or very focused supplier programs. This is exactly why we invested in creating KORE. We wanted to attract new talent to the profession and provide them with the strong foundation that travel advisors need to succeed in today’s marketplace.”

A Travel Advisor’s Most Critical Skills

When asked about the most important elements advisor training should cover, 43% named booking travel. Forty-two percent said advisors should have a grounding in different supplier types such as air, hotels and cruise lines. Forty-one percent opted for customer service and one-third selected sales training.

Knowledge in demand for today’s advisors finished further down in the survey, including technology (27%), compliance and fraud protection (12% and marketing (5%).

Travel Advisor Traits

Training that covers a range of skills is essential, especially given that many agencies are looking for potential among prospects rather than advisor experience. Forty-four percent are seeking candidates with a travel industry background and 33% are looking for people with client service experience.

Other desirable qualities include a passion for travel (30%), detail orientation (29%) and communication skills (26%).

Travel Advisor Career Benefits

Once recruits are on board, they will enjoy multiple benefits in their new profession. The survey found 52% of respondents treasure the flexibility to work as much as they like from wherever they like. Forty-one percent delight in making people’s travel dreams come true. One-third appreciate the choice of niches to fit their passions and interests. Thirty-one percent love travel discounts and perks.

“Travel advising is a wonderful career with so many advantages,” said Mazza-Burney. “We need fresh ways to get out the word, recruit promising new talent, and provide wide-ranging training that empowers them to be successful in their new field. We need to innovate now on all these fronts to ensure a healthy future for the travel advisor profession.”

Survey results are as follows:

Importance of training for new advisors