Every time we ask travel advisors to describe their business approach, one word inevitably comes up: professionalism.
Of course, if you’re planning travel for others — and getting paid for it — you are technically a professional. But when an advisor says he or she is a professional, they are really saying, “I take my job seriously.” In other words, “I’m not doing this as a hobby; this is my life’s work.”
The term is meant to convey a dedication to travel as a career and a passion. At the Future Leaders in Travel Retreat, powered by TravelAge West and held this year at Hyatt Ziva/Zilara Rose Hall in Jamaica, attendees are at the early stages of their careers, yet they are also business-savvy professionals. Many of the advisors are making hundreds of thousands of dollars — sometimes millions — in sales already, but, to them, being a true pro is not about the money alone. It’s a term that needs to be earned through hard work and sacrifice. A professional advisor can be counted on to always take care of clients and be there day or night if things go wrong.
But I would add another element to this description. Pro advisors should also always take care of their businesses. It’s important to think about all the things that could potentially be a liability and make plans to protect the business from disaster. One way to do that is by working with a travel attorney. As you can read in our latest cover story, the services of a legal expert are vital to safeguarding an advisor’s livelihood. And, as the story points out, it’s much better to talk to a lawyer before something goes wrong, rather than waiting until afterward.
Ultimately, to be considered a true professional, advisors should take as much pride in building and protecting their businesses as they do in creating and managing their clients’ dream trips.
