There have been some major shifts in the industry in the last few years. We have seen many younger
advisors join the community at a time when the nature of travel bookings has also changed.
What then does the advisor community need to sell travel better?
Quicker information, FAM trips, product training, a network that they can reach out to for advice, help
and guidance in business growth and marketing, both digital and offline. From picking a host agency to
learning from others on how to grow their business, advisors need the community today more than ever.
Advisors are the backbone of the industry. It’s the reassurance that they give travelers, that helps clients
book their vacations with ease and also gives them the encouragement to plan complicated travels. One
of the most important tools in planning complex trips is the back-end customer service of host agencies
and suppliers. And there’s still some room for improvement there.
Our advisors have also shown great resilience in the last few years along with an unbeatable enthusiasm
to learn more and absorb fresh perspectives. The upward shift towards social media and communication
apps is commendable.
However, this shouldn’t mean a complete abandonment of offline practices. In this Outlook, travel advi-
sors have shared that reaching out to church groups and clubs, and doing some offline advertising and
expanding their personal network has also helped, even if marginally, bring in more clients. In an industry
that still depends on word-of-mouth referrals, every human connection counts.
The shifts in the many preferred destinations also shows that nothing is permanent in the travel space.
Everyone is looking for a new experience, and as long as we cater to that the story will always be that of
growth.
This Outlook informs suppliers and destinations about what advisors need at the moment to better equip
themselves to sell better. It is also a report for consortia and host agencies on how they can better retain
and get more advisors to sign up.
CONCLUSION
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