Do you want to become a luxury travel advisor? There’s no time like the present! People are seeking the help of travel advisors now more than ever, and the industry needs dedicated professionals to fulfill the demand. However, a travel advisor is a full-time job that is so much more than someone who makes simple transactions. Read these 5 things to consider before becoming a travel advisor below to see if this is the job for you.

How much time do you have to dedicate to the job?

While some hosting programs allow for part-time independent travel advisors, the Brownell Hosting Program* (learn about it here) requires a full-time commitment. You can have a few clients and spend time planning travel on the nights and weekends, but to truly become a professional you must be able to fully commit. We look for people who want to make travel their career, not their hobby.

*The Brownell Hosting Program is the oldest Virtuoso host agency in the business. Travel Advisors can operate as an independent business but are affiliated with Brownell. Through the advisor’s connection with Brownell, they are a part of the Virtuoso network and the top preferred partner hotel programs, can access our wealth of knowledge and experience, use our tech, marketing, and accounting teams, and so much more. Learn why you should use a host agency here!

Do you want to travel or plan travel for other people?

Some people think that as a travel advisor you will jet set around the world, visiting the hottest destinations and best hotels. The reality is that you spend most of your time researching and planning trips for your clients to jet set around the world, visiting the hottest destinations and best hotels. If you’re getting into this industry to get free trips, it is not the right fit.

Don’t get us wrong though…our travel advisors DO get to travel. The best way to truly know and understand a destination is to visit it firsthand. However our educational trips are not the same as vacations. There are site inspections, hosted meals, and meetings that you are expected to attend. While they are fun, it is still work.

via whatidos.com

Can you handle stressful situations?

Are you one that can step up to the plate when things go bump, or do you have a nervous breakdown? Travel involves so many factors beyond our control (hello, delayed and cancelled flights!), and you have to be ready for whatever comes your way. A simple hour delay can have a domino effect on an entire trip. The delay can cause a missed flight, which results in a forced overnight, which means cancelled tours and reservations, and so on. As a travel advisor, you must be ready to readjust their itinerary (and maybe readjust it again after that) at a moment’s notice. And that doesn’t always happen for 8AM – 5PM Monday-Friday…clients are in different time zones and travel on the weekend and during the holidays.

Are you highly organized?

Planning a trip is so much more than booking a flight and securing a hotel. There are many moving parts — from transfers, to tours, to restaurant reservations, to equipment rentals. Throw in visas, passports, and currency conversions, and you’ve got a lot to sift through to create a successful trip. You must be highly organized and pay attention to each detail in this industry to avoid costly mistakes and frustrations.

Is planning travel your passion?

This job can have a lot of stress plus long work days that bleed into the weekend. But it is also so rewarding and exciting. One thing all of our advisors have in common is a passion for travel. They love to make clients’ travel dreams become a reality. Travel is extremely powerful and helping a client experience something beyond what they know makes all the stress and planning worth it.

If you are passionate about travel, highly organized, can handle pressure and are ready to make planning travel for others you full-time job apply for the Brownell Hosting Program. And if you have no prior experience in travel, no problem! Our Mentoring Program will give you the keys to becoming a successful travel advisor.