We’re likely preaching to the choir here, but did you know selling travel can be a fulfilling and lucrative career option? But perhaps you are newer to the role of a travel advisor or are looking to hire some new folks who are wary about the profession; well, a survey by Nexion Travel Group found that 88 percent of advisor members would recommend a job as a travel advisor to others, with 83 percent saying that they are optimistic or very optimistic about the future of the industry.
This survey included responses from those who have been in the industry for 10 or more years (over half) and those with five or fewer years of experience (about one-third), meaning, regardless of where they are in their career, they are feeling satisfied or very satisfied.
In other news from Nexion, the travel agency network recently held its CoNexion conference in New Orleans, where it awarded several of its top members for their various achievements in 2024. Helayne Hauw was named the 2024 recipient of Nexion Travel Group’s Ambassador Award, its highest honor. Two Rising Star Awards were also presented: April Marshall of Lubbock, TX, and Lisa Dunne of Dunnville, Ontario, Canada.
At another industry event, the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) announced at Signature Travel Network’s Owners Meeting in Montreal last week that it has partnered with the consortium to offer its Verified Travel Advisor certification program to advisors in Signature’s Embark Level 2 program at no cost. The program is designed for new-to-industry travel advisors with less than two years of experience. This move comes as ASTA says it’s doubling down on its commitment to professionalism in the travel industry.
Elsewhere, World Travel Holdings—the parent company of Dream Vacations and CruiseOne—announced the successful repayment of the $1 million “We’re There to Help Stimulus Program,” a financial assistance initiative launched in 2021 to franchise owners during the challenges brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic. The program demonstrated the company’s commitment to its network by providing owners with crucial aid. Three years later and every franchisee has fully repaid the financial assistance.
Travel Agent on the Road
Travel Agent is just back from a sailing aboard Viking Mississippi on the Upper Mississippi River. Certainly, one top attribute of an Upper Mississippi river cruise is the opportunity to delve into mid-American culture and heritage. Floating from destination to destination, we viewed cute, historic downtowns, watched fields of waving grain in rural farmlands and encountered friendly locals. Best of all, we experienced a river region that's less familiar and more "off the beaten path."
In our coverage, we detailed our full “Iowa experience,” including stops in Burlington, Quad Cities (Davenport) and Dubuque.
We also had the chance to stay at the recently opened Hôtel Les Lumières in Versailles, France. Located directly next to the palace entrance, the hotel has just 11 rooms, with nine more on the way next door. The 2L Collection hotel is a member of Relais & Châteaux and has a café led by Pierre Hermé, one of the top pâtissiers in Paris. We would definitely recommend a stay here for anyone looking to take more time to explore the area surrounding Versailles, including the food market, museums, restaurants and performances at the Royal Opera house of Versailles.
Other Things to Note
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) last week released its annual “Global Cruise Industry Environmental Technologies and Practices Report,” showing continued progress by the sector in advancing its environmental and sustainability agenda, including investments in ships and technologies for the uptake of transitional and alternative fuels.
Southwest Airlines’ executive chairman Gary Kelly, along with six other members of the board of directors, have announced plans to voluntarily step down from their roles. Kelly plans to retire after Southwest’s 2025 Annual Meeting in the spring, while the others will vacate their roles after the company’s regularly scheduled board meeting in November. The moves come after months of pressure from top investor Elliott Investment Management to shake up the company’s leadership amid its poor financial performance.
Hornblower Group announced the appointment of Lisa Lutoff-Perlo as chairwoman of the board. Lutoff-Perlo—who previously served as CEO of Celebrity Cruises—will play a crucial role in guiding Hornblower’s strategic direction and fostering growth and innovation across the company’s diverse portfolio of businesses. She is currently the president and CEO of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Miami Host Committee and has also served as vice chairman, external affairs, for Royal Caribbean Group.
To promote the use of travel advisors, Jerne has partnered with PBS's “World’s Greatest Cruises” program to highlight the benefits of working with a local expert. Viewers who visit the program’s website will be invited to connect with top travel advisors, as selected from Jerne’s verified members of its recognition program, The 1000. The show highlights excursions to the Antarctic, Arctic, North America, Europe and the Caribbean aboard Seabourn, Viking, Scenic, Emerald and Cunard ships.
Related Stories
TSA Proposes Changes to Real ID Implementation
ETS Tours Launches “Back to Basics Boot Camp” for Advisors
Azamara Unveils Europe, Solar Eclipse Sailings for Summer 2026