Here are some questions to consider, if you do:
- Is travel is an important part of your life?
- Have you ever wished for a more flexible schedule?
- Do you want to work remotely, as long as you have cell service and a WiFi connection?
- Have you thought to yourself, can I really make money selling travel?
I receive these questions and messages frequently from friends, family and new acquaintances saying they wish they could travel more and that they dream of being in the travel industry for a living.
It is closer to becoming a reality than a dream than you may think.
Being a travel advisor was one profession that Oprah featured as one of the “happiest jobs in America.”
Click the image below to watch a video clip all about it:
But you’ll notice at the end of the video that they mention: “What gives you bliss, not what gives you bucks.” Not all professions that make you the happiest are the highest paying.
Travel can be a lucrative business, but it takes drive and time to learn the industry and build a clientele base – and since today’s traveler is constantly evolving, it’s important to be flexible and always willing to try something new.
Although a love for travel is important, it takes more than that.
Having a passion for helping people see the world is a great place to start, but there are other important considerations such as:
- Industry knowledge as it relates to travel products
- Booking processes
- Geography
- Technology
- Specialization
There are also more personal traits that are equally important as the knowledge you need to acquire.
So what kind of traits are found in successful travel professionals?
| Passion for Travel as a Lifestyle | You have to really, really love to travel and have a passion to share it or you will burn out quickly. Parts of the job can seem glamorous but there is also a behind the scenes that isn’t as glamorous – just like any job. |
| Little Black Book of Potential Business | A list of people that you will call first and will be your initial clients or a network of groups and places you frequent where you could make connections with those that have the want and means to travel. |
| Ability To Deliver the Product | You have to be able to convey that what you do makes a client’s life and planning easier and better. You must understand your own worth and value while projecting confidence and capability in the planning process. This establishes trust, satisfaction, and the likelihood that a client will want to book with you again and refer you to family and friends. |
| Social & Engaging | You love people and know how to engage! You communicate and interact well with others, love sharing ideas and experiences, remember names and birthdays—or take great notes and have a desire to help those who need it. |
| Great Listener | You are an active listener and give full attention to your clients. You listen to understand. You ask questions or paraphrase to clarify what is being shared. |
| Love for Learning | You crave new experiences and knowledge and are proactive when it comes to seeking the information and skills you need to advance your career. |
| Passionate on Good and Bad Days | You look forward to each day and see opportunity where others see challenges. You are flexible and adaptable. You react well to change. You have a positive can-do attitude about getting things done. |
| Understand and Love the Sales Process | You come alive during the consultative process where you are the expert and you communicate in a clear, confident and knowledgeable way. Your clients are informed, they appreciate your knowledge and trust that you know what you’re doing. |
| Organized | You love the details. You remain reliable and thoughtful as you manage hundreds of trip details in a typical workday from booking to troubleshooting, all while preparing complex travel itineraries. |
| Home Based | Often times I spend a lot of my day on hold waiting to talk to travel suppliers, clients, insurance companies, cruise lines, and resorts and working from home makes it possible. The ability to work from home is key component of being successful, but you can be located anywhere in the world. |
Any job is a huge challenge at the beginning if it is going to be worth something. So while travel can seem glamorous, there is a ton of work that goes into being a travel professional, especially since in the end, the #1 thing you are selling is yourself.
Does this still sound like the travel industry is for you?
Do you want to find out about opportunities that don’t require you to purchase a franchise or invest large sums of money?
If you’d like to learn more about the training provided and how you can join the PYPV team, fill out the form below and we’ll be in touch!
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