luxury travel advisor salary

How to Become a Luxury Travel Advisor [Full Guide for 2024]

Last Updated: February 11, 2024

What Do Luxury Travel Advisors Do?

1. sell travel , 2. find a niche , 3. get proper training , 4. decide which agency to join, 5. educate yourself , 6. establish social media presence , 7. practice dedication, patience & training, key takeaways, how much do luxury travel advisors make, pros and cons of being a luxury travel adviser.

Would you like to become part of the travel & tourism industry and help others experience the joys of luxury travel? If so, then a career in luxury travel advising may be perfect for you. Our guide addresses the traits and skills required for this job. It also provides essential information on how to become a luxury travel advisor, salary details, and the perks and downsides of becoming one.

The most common misconception about luxury travel advisors is that they lead a glamorous life, enjoying all the luxuries the world of travel offers. Although, as a travel advisor, you get to visit places that most people only dream of and, for example, be among the first to see a new hotel, the job comes with specific requirements and responsibilities.

So what is a luxury travel advisor? Expert advisors provide their clients with luxury hotels, restaurants, and transportation and prioritize their needs. Being a luxury travel advisor can often be a 24/7 full-time job—available to tend to their client’s needs to ensure a memorable travel experience.

There are many challenges that this job entails. You need to possess a palette of certain traits and skills for success. Consider some of the following unwritten luxury travel advisor requirements.

• A passion for travel  
• Good interactional skills
• Provide excellent client care 
• Establish a suitable connection with clients 
• Excellent problem-solving skills 
• A strong work ethic  
• Desire to learn and recognize opportunities for growth  

If you possess the above skills, a career in travel advising is the right choice. But if you don’t, you might want to dedicate your time to training and acquiring these skills before making this your career.

How to Become a Luxury Travel Advisor? [7 Steps]

One characteristic that can make your advisor’s job easier and more fulfilling is a love for travel. Becoming a luxury travel advisor means you’ll spend plenty of time researching luxury destinations, and if you have a passion for travel, doing so will be fun and engaging.

Consider the following seven recommendations on kick-starting a career in the luxury travel industry.

The goal of the luxury travel industry is to sell the ideal travel package, and clients are willing to pay a lot for this. The relationship between consumers and producers is based on people having their needs met by purchasing a product. Though people don’t need travel as a commodity like housing or food, travel still sells.

What is a luxury travel advisor to expect in terms of demand for travel? In 2019, the global luxury travel market was valued at around  $945.6 billion. It’s estimated to reach $1,198.3 billion by 2027. But what is most important when selling travel is for an advisor to identify the right clients, inspire them to fulfill their travel dreams, and put their knowledge to use to make those dreams a reality.

Before you identify the right clients, select a niche for yourself. A specialized product or service comes with a more significant earning potential in today’s industry. You can choose to become a luxury travel advisor who is destination-specific and specializes in a region or country that attracts robust tourism, such as France or Japan. If you decide on US tourism, consider investing in USA travel insurance.

Multi-generational travel is a good choice for those who grew up traveling with their immediate family, while honeymoons are perfect for romantic souls. The more you learn about your niche of choice, the better you’ll be at identifying client needs and attracting and keeping clients.

While there’s no degree or certification required, it’s essential to know the travel industry. To identify whether or not you have the needed luxury travel advisor qualifications and need training, consider the following questions.

• Are you experienced in travel ? 
• Have you traveled extensively?
• Do you have the means and extensive network and friends willing to travel ?
• Do you have previous experience in planning trips? 

If you’ve answered “yes” to these questions, you could consider pursuing this career. And don’t be concerned if you don’t have prior experience. All you need is some hands-on experience related to traveling by becoming an intern at a travel agency or planning your friends’ vacations.

Becoming a successful luxury travel advisor is challenging without becoming part of a travel agency. A host agency can help you establish contacts with tour operators, airlines, restaurants, etc., offer the best properties, and book trips without a problem. But before joining an agency, research their commission model and average commission percentage and agents’ annual fees. Consider also what you’re looking for in an agency.

Many expert advisors advocate staying on top of the game and continue learning about luxury travel advisor education. Products and destinations change rapidly and constantly.

You may not have enough time and resources to check out various hotels and cruise lines, but you could subscribe to online magazines and newsletters. You can also learn from the many digital platforms where luxury advisors share valuable experiences.

The best way to attract clients is to establish a robust online presence by starting a travel blog and setting up a website where potential clients can become familiar with your services. If you’re aiming to become a popular luxury travel advisor, updating your social media pages is essential—almost everyone does internet research before booking a trip.

Becoming an advisor takes dedication and patience. It’s essential to take every opportunity to meet new clients and take advantage of all training and learning opportunities. Like any other career, this job also comes with its highs and lows, which is why being patient can take you a long way.

According to ZipRecruiter, the national average luxury travel advisor salary is $50,894/mo ( $24/hr or $1,000/wk ). California is the best-paying state in the US for luxury travel advisors, with the cities San Mateo, Berkeley, and Daly City topping the list of highest salaries.

When deciding if this is the right career choice, consider the following pros and cons.

• Offers location flexibility
• Opportunity to become an independent agent once gaining experience
• Specialized niche options
• Decent paycheck
• Must be available 24/7 despite time zones
• Luxury travel advisor requirements (e.g., maintaining an online presence) can be  time-consuming and difficult
• Can be stressful

Choosing a career in the travel and tourism industry is a good idea for those passionate about traveling and possess the needed interaction skills to help them scale up in this competitive field. There’s no need for previous luxury travel advisor education for this job; it’s primarily based on personal skills, networking, dedication, and persistence. And traveling around the world means you’ll be dealing with foreign currencies for business expenses, so we suggest checking out these business credit cards for travel to simplify transactions.

If you’re looking for advice on how to become a luxury travel advisor, keep these basic concepts in mind:

• Selling travel
• Find a niche
• Find an agency
• Educate yourself
• Establish social media presence
• Dedication and training

There are no set prerequisites to a luxury travel advisor’s education. No specialized courses or certifications are needed to start the job, as it primarily depends on interpersonal skills and travel experience.

• Allied Market Research
• ZipRecruiter

ABOUT AUTHOR

by Beti Prosheva Gavrilovska

I am curiosity-driven and detail-oriented so you will often find me researching the latest trends, experimenting with search engine optimization, or testing software. As a keen observer of content, my teammates often like to joke that "noting escapes the eye of Beti."

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How (and Why) to Become a Luxury Travel Advisor

Are you ready for a career change want to become a luxury travel advisor.

Imagine bringing these moments to life!

Travel Advisor Careers – Why Become an Advisor?

Many people enjoy working directly with clients, and even more of us have a passion for travel, whether if it’s around the globe or in our own backyard. Why not work in a field that combines the two?

There are plenty of benefits to becoming a Luxury Travel Advisor – even in these unprecedented times! Here’s a quick look at some of the most prevalent ones:

• You are your own boss – something we’re all striving towards
• How you work
• When you work
• Where you work from
• You make a tangible difference in helping people fulfill their dreams
• There is an endless supply of free training to improve your abilities
• You get to TRAVEL – as part of your job!
• Perhaps most importantly – The earning potential is unlimited!

This is a career that ticks all the boxes: you get to work in an emerging, engaging field with strong human elements and constant opportunities for growth. Think about how many people plan travels on their own time – as a Travel Advisor, that’s what you’ll be paid to do!

Another huge benefit of becoming a Travel Advisor is that it’s a career anyone can pursue – regardless of your past work expertise or available time. We know successful Advisors with backgrounds in law and medicine, and those who have raised children as a full-time job. It’s also a job where you can learn and work at your own pace; if your schedule only allows for a few hours a week, that’s a few hours of productive learning and earning! There is plenty of opportunity for anyone who is willing to learn the business.

Owner’s Cottage at Matakauri Lodge, one of The Luxury Travel Agency’s favourites!

How To Become a Luxury Travel Advisor: Necessary Qualities

As with any career, becoming a successful travel advisor requires certain traits and skills. Maybe you plan to develop them, or perhaps you already have them; regardless, to get anywhere in this business, you’ve got to offer your clients the following qualities:

• Passion for all things travel
• Excellent client care & interaction skills
• Desire to learn and master your product
• High EQ – connection with clients is invaluable
• Well-honed problem-solving skills
• Creativity & Imagination
• Strong work ethic – travel advising is no 9-5 gig!

Every successful travel advisor is comprised of a different mix of characteristics, but all share these foundational qualities. This is a business where your success relies on your ability to bring a vision to life, and see it through to completion – something that can’t be done without all the above!

Aman Tokyo, a Hotel Partner of The Luxury Travel Agency

How To Become a Luxury Travel Advisor : Selling Travel

What is the most effective way to sell someone a product or service? As anyone who remembers the “pen scene” from The Wolf of Wall Street knows: to fill a need. Some needs are easier to understand than others; people need food, they need housing, and these things enjoy a simpler relationship between producers and consumers. Travel is different – because in a strict sense, no one needs travel. And yet, travel & tourism is one of (if not the ) largest non-need industries in the world.

This tells us two things: one, that there is such a demand for travel as to have it nearly reach the level of need for many consumers; and two, that those consumers are willing to spend large amounts of money on its pursuit. Traveling well – and in the luxury travel industry, the entire goal is traveling well – comes at a cost. Yet it’s clear that there are consumers who are willing to spend the money.

The crucial formula that arises is this: identifying the right kinds of clients, inspiring them to pursue their travel dreams, and implementing your knowledge, passion, and resources in order to bring those dreams to life.

The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort, a Hotel Partner of The Luxury Travel Agency

How To Become a Luxury Travel Advisor : Identifying Clients

Before you can identify the right clients, you have to identify your niche as a Travel Advisor. In this era of specialization, it’s better to become an expert in one thing than to know just a little about all of them.

Combine your pre-existing knowledge with your passions, and see where that leads. Are you a hopeless romantic? Honeymoons are a fantastic niche to thrive in. If you’ve enjoyed traveling with your own family through the years, perhaps multi-generational travel is for you. You can be destination-specific – Italy, Japan, New Zealand – anywhere that enjoys a strong tourism component is a great place to start.

Finding your niche will allow you to position yourself in a way that will both attract and (more importantly) keep the right kind of clients. The more you learn about the workings of your niche, the better you’ll be able to understand what the consumers who are interested in that niche want – and how to give it to them.

Who knew going on safari could be so luxurious?

How To Become a Luxury Travel Advisor : Inspiring Dreams

At The Luxury Travel Agency, we often find that the best Travel Advisors are those who can tell a story, or paint a picture – metaphorically speaking. Since travel is a non-need industry, you cannot just wait for the consumer to come to you and lay out exactly what they require; those kinds of clients are most likely planning their own trips! People will often say that they come to Travel Advisors for assistance – which is true – but what they are really looking for is inspiration.

It is often said that decisions may be based on “hard data” such as knowledge and facts – but feelings are what trigger decisions. Your prospective client will surely take costs into account when making their decision between two far-flung tropical properties…yet if it weren’t for your ability to describe these properties as everything they are and could be, “idyllic havens of postcard-perfect luxury, every whim catered for, the finest jewels the world has to offer, etc.”, then perhaps they would not be making the decision in the first place – they would be staying at home!

You can only inspire a client by first getting to know them. This is true in every professional sales field, but especially so in travel. Every client has a different vision for their trip, different goals and preferences, and understanding not just these but the client’s very character is absolutely essential. In the luxury field, a travel advisor is expected to design a custom-built trip for their client; just as a top-notch tailor makes every piece unique for its buyer, so must you understand your buyer in order to design their journey.

Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve Hotel Partner of The Luxury Travel Agency

How To Become a Luxury Travel Advisor :  Implementing Knowledge

  Once you have a plan sketched out for a client, it’s time to put it in place! For any perfect trip, this requires a great deal of effort, and the aforementioned “necessary qualities” will be put to the test. You must be diligent in pursuing those things your clients need, and flexible enough to solve problems when they arise. A client’s requests will often shift or multiply through the course of planning a journey, and continually meeting (or, of course, exceeding) their expectations is a must.

We’ve mentioned the ability for constant growth as a Travel Advisor – the more knowledge you gain, the more connections you make, the better you’ll be able to plan exquisite journeys for your clients, which of course leads to more clients and more earnings! But how to start out on this path? What does one need to get the ball rolling on such a career?

Just another place for you to take your clients!

How To Become a Luxury Travel Advisor :  How to Get Started

As we’ve mentioned, getting started as a Travel Advisor is easy, which is one of the big attractions for those considering the position. You don’t need a specific background, degree, or even prior experience!

However, reaching the heights of success you’re surely seeking as an independent Travel Advisor is difficult without the partnership of a Host Agency. This agency will be able to provide you access to important contacts at the world’s best properties, airlines, tour operators, restaurants, and many more besides. You’ll also be able to offer your clients (via the partnership) exclusive benefits and amenities on their bookings that you wouldn’t be able to provide on your own. Having guidance and support is also a critical element; no industry is easy to make a name in without a little assistance!

Selecting The Luxury Travel Agency as your Host Agency makes all of this possible. We (the founders and your direct contacts with the Agency ) have been to over 90 countries and countless cities, islands, and villages. We started the business from scratch, with no support, and worked our way up to where we are today; we know what it takes to be successful!

The Luxury Travel Agency is partnered with over 2,000 of the best hotels and resorts around the world, where we can provide our clients with an array of these aforementioned amenities, benefits, and VIP status. We are members of Virtuoso, the most respected consortium in the industry, which carries a ton of weight worldwide.

We have connections around the world that can help with the planning and execution of your trips, and our company is well respected in the industry. Our brand lets your clients and prospective clients know exactly who you are and who you work with and builds their expectations of what they will receive. Plus, we’ll help with your marketing and are always here to assist with all facets of training and mentorship.  Our goal is to help you succeed!

🌟 Why Wait? Your Dream Career Awaits! 🌟

• Be Your Own Boss : Embrace the freedom to shape your career and lifestyle.
• Unlimited Earnings : Your hard work directly impacts your income.
• Travel the World : Explore exotic destinations as part of your job.
• Training & Support : Benefit from personalized training and mentorship from industry experts at The Luxury Travel Agency.
• No Experience Necessary : Regardless of your background, we welcome you to learn and grow with us.

Complete our Becoming a Luxury Travel Advisor survey and we’ll be in touch within 24 hours. 

We look forward to hearing from you,

Andrew Satkowiak

Executive Vice President

🌟 The Luxury Travel Agency: Where Your Travel Dreams Become Your Career Reality! 🌟

Travel Notes is a thoughtfully researched luxury travel blog written by our team of expert advisors. We’ve travelled to all corners of the world and here we share our experiences. Interested in learning more? Give us a call or sign up below.

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The U.S. labor market is shifting toward skilled labor as white-collar hiring slows

America's job market increasingly appears to be splitting into two tracks, economists say, alongside a steady demand for skilled workers and a flagging interest in hiring more "knowledge-based" professionals.

The evidence can be found in the data, which shows a higher unemployment rate for professional and business services workers, and a lower one for people who work in manufacturing.

"It's a buyer's market for brain and a seller's market for brawn," said Aaron Terrazas, chief economist at the jobs and workplace search site Glassdoor.

On Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the latest monthly payroll data for the U.S. economy. Total employment rose by 175,000 in April. The unemployment rate rose slightly to 3.9% from 3.8% in March.

That came in below estimates of 240,000 jobs for April.

The softness in the jobs report was greeted with some positive reactions. Stock futures jumped after the news. Concerns about the U.S. economy have been focused on overheating — whether inflation will continue to rise and force the Federal Reserve to keep interest rates higher in an effort to slow the economy and bring rising prices under control.

Jason Furman, who served as President Barack Obama's top economic advisor, said on CNBC's "Squawk Box" that it was a "goldilocks" report , showing an economy that could be headed to the soft landing of reasonable inflation and low unemployment.

“The bottom line is this report is quite reassuring," said Furman, who now teaches at Harvard.

It's not that America is only — or even mostly — producing low-wage jobs. The health care industry continues to lead the employment boom, with an approximately 4.5% gain in payrolls over the past year, equating to some 750,000 new jobs. Other industries seeing strong growth include government jobs, certain sectors of social work, travel, tourism and the arts — alongside some manufacturing sectors.

But the overall labor market remains at something of a standstill, as seen in a report earlier this week showing the hiring rate continuing to drift sideways. At the same time, the rate of workers quitting or being laid off is also not showing much change. Economists led by Guy Berger at The Burning Glass Institute research group call it the "great stay."

"It’s a good time to have a job, but a not-so-good time to be actively looking for one," he wrote in his Substack newsletter Wednesday.

Many American consumers have also begun reporting signs of a deteriorating job situation. In its latest report on consumer confidence, the Conference Board business group said respondents to its monthly survey reported feeling less positive about the current labor market and more concerned about future business conditions, job availability and income.

That echoed findings of the New York Federal Reserve's monthly survey of consumer expectations, which reported more survey respondents feeling pessimistic about losing their job or finding a new job. Respondents rated the average probability of losing their job in the next 12 months at almost 1 in 6 — above pre-pandemic levels and the highest reading since September 2020.

"On the margin, businesses are not as eager to add staff," said Sarah House, managing director and senior economist at Wells Fargo.

But why has payroll data remained strong? One reason is increased supply, thanks to rising participation rates in the workforce, as well as booming immigration .

"There is increased labor 'supply' for businesses that do want to hire or add staff," House said.

Yet, those trends are likely to diminish too, if they haven't already, she said.

One sign that the job market remains strong is that the number of individuals collecting unemployment is still very low.

"We're seeing a gradual and orderly slowing" in workers quitting and firms with job openings, said Joe Brusuelas, principal and chief economist for RSM US LLP. That is consistent with private sector firms "carefully managing their labor force."

On Wednesday, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said the central bank does not intend to change its key interest rate anytime soon even as its fight against accelerating price increases has stalled — and despite the apparent softening of the labor market.

He said the central bank had "the luxury of strong growth and a strong labor market" that will allow it to maintain interest rates until inflation comes down further — and ruled out any implication that there might be "stagflation" in the economy .

But he invoked the prospect of a rate cut should the labor market "unexpectedly" weaken.

As inflation continues to moderate, Powell said, "We’re now focusing on the other goal," referring to the Fed's dual mandate of balancing price growth with jobs.

"The employment goal now comes back into focus. So we are focusing on it,” he said.

Some economists saw Friday's jobs report as sign that Powell's plans are coming to fruition.

"These are the #jobs numbers that Jay Powell was hoping for," David Wessel, director of the Hutchins Center on Fiscal and Monetary Policy at the Brookings Institution, posted on X .

Rob Wile is a breaking business news reporter for NBC News Digital.