{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/6aa975cefca3d5c77b6b57b3/6ab1381e1faf37ef04574021?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Why Now May Be the Best Time to Become a Travel Advisor","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/6aa975cefca3d5c77b6b57b3/1789998917994-ef4c449f-3b55-44aa-9978-3d3a70a58d98.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>Welcome back to The Travel Advisor Life! In Episode 2, host Amy Westerman, Founder of Curated Travel Collection, explores a question she hears often: Is now really a good time to become a travel advisor?</p><p>After 27 years in the travel industry, Amy has seen the profession navigate 9/11, the 2008 financial crisis, the rise of online booking engines, a global pandemic, and now artificial intelligence. Each disruption came with predictions that travel advisors would become obsolete. Instead, Amy has watched the industry adapt, evolve, and come back stronger.</p><p><br></p><p>Amy also tackles one of the biggest obstacles facing aspiring advisors: waiting for the \"perfect\" time to begin. Through her own story and examples from advisors in her community, she explains why success isn't about starting with all the answers. It's about developing the right skills, finding the right structure and support, and being willing to start before you feel completely ready.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>In This Episode:</strong></p><p>[00:01] Why right now could be the right time</p><p>[00:54] An industry that gets stronger through change</p><p>[01:43] Surviving 9/11, the financial crisis, online booking &amp; the pandemic</p><p>[02:36] Booking a trip is not planning a trip</p><p>[04:06] What the pandemic taught travelers about advisors</p><p>[04:57] Travel came back bigger than expected</p><p>[05:48] Will AI replace travel advisors?</p><p>[07:20] Technology + human connection</p><p>[08:03] Treating travel advising as a real profession</p><p>[08:57] Are you waiting for the perfect moment?</p><p>[09:45] Starting before you feel ready</p><p>[10:37] You don't have to know everything</p><p>[12:12] Betting on yourself</p><p>[13:01] Why human travel expertise is in demand</p><p>[13:57] You're not too late</p><p>[14:47] Ask a better question</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Why This Matters</strong></p><p>There's never going to be a perfectly certain time to start a business. The economy changes. Technology evolves. And there will always be another reason to wait. But the history of the travel industry shows that disruption doesn't eliminate the need for travel advisors—it highlights the value of knowledgeable, connected professionals who are there when travelers need real help. For someone considering becoming a travel advisor, the better question may not be whether the timing is perfect. It's whether you're willing to develop the skills, find the right support, and begin.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Action Steps for Listeners</strong></p><ul><li>Stop asking, \"Is this the right time?\" and ask, \"Am I willing to build the right skills?\"</li><li>Write down the reasons you've been waiting and determine which are genuine barriers versus fears about not being fully ready.</li><li>Think about the skills you already have that could translate into a career as a travel advisor.</li><li>Look for the right training, structure, processes, and community rather than expecting yourself to figure everything out alone.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Resources &amp; Links</strong></p><ul><li>Curious about what life as a travel advisor could look like? Learn more at <a href=\"https://curatedtravelprofessionals.com\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://curatedtravelprofessionals.com</a></li><li>Curated Travel Collection <a href=\"https://curatedtravelcollection.com\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://curatedtravelcollection.com</a></li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Subscribe &amp; Stay Connected</strong></p><p>If you enjoyed this episode, follow The Travel Advisor Life so you don't miss what's next. And if this conversation reminded you of someone who's been considering a new career, share it with them.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Remember: </strong>Travel is simply the vehicle. The life you build is the destination.</p>","author_name":"Amy Westerman"}