Eighty-eight percent of travel advisors would recommend becoming a travel advisor to others, according to a new Nexion Travel Group survey. Eighty-three percent of those surveyed say that they are optimistic or very optimistic about the future of the industry. And nearly three-quarters are satisfied or very satisfied with their career as a travel advisor.
More than half have been in the industry for more than 10 years but about one-third are relative newcomers, with five years or less of experience. For 70%, this is a full-time job.
“I’m heartened by the results of this survey showing that our travel advisors have such tremendous satisfaction with their careers and confidence about the future,” said Jackie Friedman, VTA, CTIE, President, Nexion Travel Group. “For our industry to continue to grow, we need to attract individuals who love seeing the world and have a strong desire to help consumers put together their dream vacations. We want more people to become travel advisors and join us at Nexion Travel Group, where we can help set them up for success. As the responses to our survey show, being a travel advisor can be a rewarding and lucrative career.”
A Profitable Profession
A quarter of survey respondents—findings are based on a survey of U.S.-based travel advisor members of Nexion Travel Group conducted in August 2024—said they are making more money than they expected, with 19% generating more than $100,000 in revenue annually, including total commissions and fees.
In terms of client preferences, 45% of travel advisors noted that cruises, including ocean and river journeys, are the most popular vacations they book. This is followed by customized travel itineraries (28%) and all-inclusive resort packages (17%). A significant 84% of advisors rely on referrals from family and friends to generate leads, while nearly 10% attribute their success to marketing efforts, including social media.
Travel Advisors Need Essential Skills and Motivations
Skill set is important to enter the industry, with the survey identifying key skills for success: customer service (68%), knowledge of destinations and travel products (63%), organization and planning (35%), communication (35%), and problem-solving (27%).
A passion for travel and exploring new destinations was cited by 86% of respondents as the most important factor in their decision to become a travel advisor, along with a desire to help others plan memorable vacations, 65%, and a preference for independence. More than half—58%—said they wanted a career where they could be their own boss.
