It can be easy to overlook just how far humankind has advanced in such a short amount of time. In the past hundred years alone, human ingenuity has dictated enormous shifts in how we experience the world. Just as widespread access to global transport paved the way for the emergence of the travel industry, recent technological advancements have made the shift from travel agent to home-based travel advisor possible – a key delineation that is starting to gain more visibility among travelers as they experience this difference firsthand.
The First Emergence of Travel Agent Business Opportunity
Although the roots of leisure travel can be traced far into the past, it was business pioneers like Thomas Cook who began to give form to the industry. In 1841, Cook organized what is believed to be England’s first publicly-advertised excursion trip on a train, followed by a formal arrangement with the Midland Counties Railway that lasted roughly two decades. By the early 1860s, instead of personally conducting tours, Cook was facilitating the sales of tickets for commercial travel both in England and overseas – a business that was passed down and expanded through his family.
Cruise Travel Agent Jobs in the Mid-Century
The term “travel agent” was not popularized until the mid-1900s, as travel became more widely accessible to the general population after World War II. With the emergence of commercial airfare in the 1950s, the public’s perception of travel began to shift toward a perspective of excitement and leisure. In the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, major players within the hospitality and naval industries began to merge, selling cruises as a form of entertainment and tourism. All that was needed was a third-party to book and service the trips for consumers: a travel agent.
The Industry Shift to Travel Advisor Jobs
For decades, travel agent jobs were largely transactional, boiling down to the booking of tickets for a particular venture. In recent decades, however, this has shifted due to vacations becoming a more complex purchase – which destination, cruise line or resort is the right fit for you? Are there other verifiable reviews to ensure that your vacation will be what you expect it to be – these are all reasons travel advisors help vacation seekers find the right vacation for them since they can provide first-hand experience, expertise and ease the vacation booking process.
In 2018, the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) recognized this industry shift and changed the organization’s name to the American Society of Travel Advisors. In the ASTA press release that was released with the change, the ideation behind the shift was summed up succinctly: “ASTA’s new name more accurately describes the value our members provide to consumers and is a distinct declaration of who we work for: the traveling public.”
With the COVID-19 pandemic, the industry’s shift from travel “agent” to “advisor” could not have come at a better time. As the pandemic first unfolded, countless individuals found themselves traveling in the midst of chaos with a multitude of unknowns; people didn’t need a computer, they needed a person to talk to, whose job it was to help them find the safest and most efficient way home. Years later, with the effects of COVID-19 still impacting travel, it can still be extremely difficult and confusing to know where one can travel, and what is necessary to do so. This is where a travel advisor comes in.
The Birth of the Home-Based Travel Advisor
The proliferation of remote work can be seen as a rare silver lining from the pandemic, creating new opportunities such as work-from-home jobs. Travel advisors are largely home-based and have been for many years, so this is not a new role for Travel Advisors. The job of a home-based travel advisor is to help find the ultimate travel package for others who are ready to take their next leisure travel industry adventure. As a Dream Vacations Advisor, you can get paid to book travel while helping others explore their dreams – all from the comfort of your own home.
Ready to learn more and become a Dream Vacations Advisor? Fill out a brief form or give us a call for more information to get started today!