Luxury advisor reveals why he's 'not afraid' of amateur agents
An elite travel specialist has revealed why untrained agents are no threat to his business, after recently being named on one of the industry's best advisors.
Alex Lavender joined the sector six years ago, establishing Seven Icons Luxury Travel after previously working in commercial football sales. Since then, he has built a thriving agency, specialising in leisure bookings that can reach the £350k mark.
In 2024, he was named one of the Conde Nast Traveler 2025 Top Travel Specialists, after wowing judges with his round-the-clock commitment to his clients.
Lavender, who is the son of industry veteran Roy Collett, openly accepts that his family name has given him an advantage in his travel career.
'There's no reason to not show some humility – I've learned a lot from my father, and he has given me some big clients,' he says.
Lavender emphasises, however, that even with Collett's mentorship, his journey to becoming a successful travel advisor hasn't been instantaneous.
'Anybody can make a hotel or flight booking, but only an experienced travel agent can solve the real issues that arise during a client's trip'
'This job is second nature for me now, but it took me a long time to learn it,' he explains. 'Anybody can make a hotel or flight booking, but only an experienced travel agent can solve the real issues that arise during a client's trip.'
He credits his membership in Global Travel Collection, the world's largest group of luxury travel agencies, as integral to providing his clients with this premium level of service.
The exclusive network offers its 1,700 agents a database of more than 30,000 suppliers, including hotels, resorts and transportation providers, as well as a personally assigned account manager. Its recent partnership with Ten Lifestyle Group has further benefited members, allowing them to access the VIP concierge service to optimise their clients' travel experiences.
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