Latest news with #advisors
Travel Weekly
5 days ago
- Business
- Travel Weekly
Travel Weekly poll: How your travel agency is faring in 2025
A new Travel Weekly survey seeks to understand how travel agencies and their clients have been impacted by consumer confidence and the economic outlook, as well as how booking patterns have been affected. Please take a moment to complete this brief survey. The results will be published in Travel Weekly and on your response will be aggregated with those of other advisors, and you will not be identified unless you indicate you would like to be quoted. Take our survey
Travel Weekly
6 days ago
- Business
- Travel Weekly
Highlights from GTM North America 2025
Highlights from GTM North America 2025 GTM North America's 180 hosted advisors conducted one-on-one meetings with supplier reps. Advisors must apply to be selected for the GTM program, where they are matched with suppliers for the meetings. Photo Credit: Generikal Design
Travel Weekly
11-07-2025
- Business
- Travel Weekly
ASTA survey shows weakness in international travel
While business continues to thrive for some travel agencies, others are facing headwinds because of decreased consumer demand and uncertainty, according to a new survey from ASTA. ASTA surveyed members in March and again in June. In both surveys, advisors said they were concerned about economic instability, misinformation and fears surrounding international safety and immigration policies. "However, tone and urgency shifted notably from March to June," ASTA said. "Many advisors are 'anxiously reactive,' noting the mounting sense of burnout, client frustration and realignment of business models." While the full survey results are a benefit for ASTA Premium Members, the Society released some key statistics. From the March survey to the June survey, the proportion of agencies experiencing a significant drop in demand was flat, ASTA said. However, those seeing a slight fall in demand increased from 32.5% to 38.8%. International travel has been the most affected, according to ASTA. In the June survey, postponements of international travel were up compared to March, though cancellations slightly decreased. Most advisors, 69.2%, said in June that international leisure travel has been the hardest-hit segment of the business. That figure was up 9.2 percentage points from March. ASTA also asked advisors about key factors affecting their businesses. More pointed to tariffs (27.9%) and travel bans (12.4%) in June than they did in March (23.1% and 8.3%, respectively). "Our members expressed their views plainly in our most recent national survey," ASTA president and CEO Zane Kerby said. "They are seeing hesitation in their clients, cancellations in their bookings and fear in their conversations. They are shouldering the burden of misinformation and working overtime to educate and protect the travelers who count on them most. "For some, business is still thriving," Kerby added. "For others, survival demands a pivot toward new markets, safer regions, more flexible pricing and above all, a clear-eyed strategy."
Travel Weekly
07-07-2025
- Business
- Travel Weekly
Booking to Breakthrough: Travel Advisor Education in the Digital Age
Travel is experiencing enormous change, from new business models and distribution channels to emerging technologies and evolving traveler preferences. Add economic, social and climate volatility to that fast-moving train, and it's no surprise that travel advisors require consistent, practical and high-quality education and training to be successful. In the digital age, the role of travel advisors has transformed, placing continuous education in the spotlight. "Today's travelers expect personalized service and insider access at digital speed. Between emerging AI tools, constantly evolving travel policies, and growing demand for authentic experiences, advisors must be more informed and strategically minded than ever before," says Henley Vazquez, co-founder and CEO of Fora Travel, a New York-based travel network. What advisors need to know To be truly competitive and profitable, travel professionals need to go wide and deep. That includes learning about booking mechanics, platforms and supplier ecosystems, storytelling (AKA marketing), running a business, managing customer relationships, integrating technology and identifying trends. Many advisors specialize in destinations (Disney properties, for example) and niche travel — accessible, LGBTQ, senior, women-only, luxury, cruise, wellness, green or adventure — is also booming. But, says Sara Stecker, founder and owner of Travel Advisors Unlimited in Jacksonville, Florida, such expertise shouldn't come at the expense of broad knowledge. "I firmly believe every agent has to specialize in something but also be able to book anything." When entering the field, would-be travel advisors needn't worry about having a four-year degree in travel and tourism. "Is it helpful? Yes, but not critical," Stecker says. She looks for three things when she interviews job candidates: Listening skills—allowing clients to do the majority of talking with the intent of learning what they want from their travel experience and establishing a relationship with them. Creativity - "thinking outside the box," Stecker explains, so advisors can go beyond the standard "go-to" destinations and offer opportunities that inspire clients. Dedication - understanding that advising travel is a labor-intensive job requiring agents to always be available to clients, even in the evenings, on weekends or while on vacation. Why continuous education is critical To perform at a high level, travel advisor education is essential. Travel is competitive and maintaining an advisor's reputation is crucial for client retention. The travel landscape is complex, with many destination options, ways to access travel opportunities — booking direct, using online travel agencies, choosing short-term rentals over traditional hotels, joining travel clubs, taking organized tours versus "winging it" — and risks of changes, delays and cancellations. How travelers acquire travel information is rapidly changing. Social video (Google, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram) has become a primary tool for younger travel customers to discover destinations and book travel. Consumers see user-generated content as more authentic, outperforming professional campaigns in engagement. Thus, mastering those platforms and producing the content is key to growing a customer base. The travel industry is also very dynamic. "Today's travelers expect personalized service and insider access at digital speed. Between emerging AI tools, constantly evolving travel policies, and growing demand for authentic experiences, advisors must be more informed and strategically minded than ever before," says Fora Travel's Vasquez. Plus, the information symmetry between customers and advisors has shifted. Dic Marxen, president and CEO of Fort Worth, Texas-based CCRA, stresses that today's travelers are more tech-savvy and well-informed than in the past. "When customers come to us, they've already been on the web, and they may even have used our engaged AI. That already puts them ahead of the curve, and [advisors] have got to be even further ahead of that," he explains. Essential training hubs for travel advisors Travel advisors have a variety of education opportunities. The American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) provides the Verified Travel Advisor (VTA) certification, which focuses on legal frameworks, ethics, agency relationships and regulatory requirements. The Travel Institute is behind the Certified Travel Associate (CTA), Certified Travel Counselor (CTC) and Travel Agent Proficiency (TAP) exams for increasing levels of professional experience. CLIA, the Cruise Lines Industry Association, offers the Certified, Accredited and Master/Elite Cruise Counselor certifications. Tourism boards/destination management organizations frequently deliver presentations to travel advisors on the destination they represent. Travel Advisors Unlimited's Stecker invites such groups to educate her advisors via weekly webinars. Afterward, she challenges the agents to put the learning to work with tasks like developing a pro forma client quote using the information and resources the presenters make available. Travel agent networks are organized communities of agents and/or advisors that share resources, benefits and partnerships. Most such consortia offer in-depth training to members too. Fora Travel, for instance, provides advisors with education on booking and logistics, client communication, business development and destination knowledge through its certification programs, daily labs, on-demand resources and a community app where advisors share successes, troubleshoot challenges and support each other. In-person conferences, such as GTM North America and live events produced by member-based organizations, such as ASTA's Travel Advisor Conference and CLIA's Cruise360, offer advisors professional development and networking. Some travel advisor networks also produce face-to-face events for their affiliates, including Travel Leaders Network (EDGE Conference), Virtuoso (Travel Week) and CCRA (PowerSolutions Live Events). Suppliers also play a crucial role in educating advisors. Travel Insured International (TII), a leading travel insurance provider, helps deepen travel advisor expertise with accessible, interactive and engaging training covering topics such as licensing laws, rules for offering travel protection, travel insurance products, filing claims, coverage types, plans and guidance on presenting travel protection product options confidently and ethically. TII supports advisors through webinars, downloadable tools, a training video library, an advisor newsletter, dedicated account managers, regional boot camps and its Travel Advisor Certified Specialist Program. "What we've learned through our certification program is profound — technology creates efficiency, but training creates confidence. Together, they're helping advisors evolve from order-takers to strategic protection partners who can transform every client conversation into an opportunity for both service and growth," explains Christine Peruccio, assistant vice president sales and marketing support and Travel Insured International's certified specialist program manager. Travel advisor training of the future Technology of all kinds will figure prominently in future travel advisor learning programs; however, it needs to align closely with well-honed, human skill sets. "Technology is the enabler, but training is the differentiator—Travel Insured International's approach ensures advisors are equipped to provide both expertise and empathy," Peruccio says. So far, Dic Marxen says, the industry is evolving its education and training apace. "I don't see any new training facilities, offerings or programs coming up or being added. I do, however, feel very strongly about the ones already there." Marxen envisions a future in which education is agile (accessible and self-paced), condensed (appealing to advisors' time constraints) and expansive (covering the growing list of niche topics).
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Advisors urge Spanish SMEs to prepare for invoicing reform
The majority of advisors have urged small and midsize enterprises (SMEs) in Spain to prepare for invoicing reform, according to the latest edition of Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting Spain's Advisory Barometer report. The 2025 study delves into digital advancements and regulatory shifts in the field. It remains a vital guide for Spain's tax, accounting, and labour specialists. The research shows 63% of advisors pressing SMEs to gear up for invoicing changes. Yet, 55% note that SMEs lack readiness for these legal updates. The report covers new mandates on Computerised and Electronic Invoicing Systems. Economic confidence prevails, with 63.8% of firms seeing revenue growth last year. Almost 59% anticipate sustained income increases in 2025. Half of the firms report yearly earnings between €150,000 ($177,000) and €500,000 ($590,000). Digital transformation is key, with 40% of advisors viewing it as a growth catalyst. Cloud technology and automation are gaining traction in professional practices, according to the latest report. Invoicing systems (41.2%) and AI productivity tools (25.5%) top planned tech spending. Regulatory shifts are boosting workloads, as reported by 80.2% of firms. More than 71% are turning to software to handle these new requirements. Time-tracking systems are essential for 90% to meet new labour regulations. Knowledge of invoicing rules is strong, with 82.8% of advisors well-informed. Nearly 63% suggest invoicing software to their SME clients. The industry is evolving, with 57.4% of advisors prioritising consultancy roles. Technological change poses the biggest hurdle for 62.4% of firms. Shifting demands from younger clients worry 50.6% of advisors. The study highlights the sector's strategic shift amid regulatory challenges. Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting Europe South Region vice president & general manager Tomàs Font said: 'The Advisory Barometer 2025 once again puts on the table the most immediate challenges for professional firms, starting with the regulatory changes in the area of invoicing, which will have a profound impact on companies and will require them to accelerate their digitalization. 'Almost two thirds of advisors are already actively advising their clients to anticipate these changes, which is evidence that the sector is accompanying companies in adapting to this important transformation of invoicing processes.. "Our hope is that the findings of this fourth edition of the Advisory Barometer will serve as a guide and enable professional firms to make informed decisions to successfully meet the challenges that lie ahead for this industry.' "Advisors urge Spanish SMEs to prepare for invoicing reform" was originally created and published by International Accounting Bulletin, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
