What Makes a Great Travel Advisor?

Ever wonder what makes a great travel advisor?

You may be surprised to learn that it’s not:

• Loves planning their own vacations

• Loves planning travel for their friends and family

Here’s what does count, in my book:

• Empathy: the ability to put oneself in another’s shoes is critical

• Creativity: there’s very little that’s cookie-cutter about this process; no two trips are going to be exactly alike

• Problem-Solving Acumen: sometimes that creativity expresses itself as painstakingly reviewing 15 different air gateway options to find a balance between an itinerary that flows well and one that doesn’t cost the moon

• Attention to Detail combined with Critical Thinking: I can’t just proofread an itinerary for typos; I need to pay attention to every aspect of it to ensure I haven’t missed something, that it flows properly and logically, and that it reflects the client

Obviously, a love of travel and an appreciation for what travel can do for us as humans is also critical, but a love of travel alone isn’t going to get you through being on hold on the phone with a supplier for two hours…