Mary Janowiak
Manager, Independent Contractor Program
Travel Leaders Network

Some people are surprised to discover that travel advisors or not only still around, but we’re thriving in the internet age. While there are numerous factors behind this, the one I personally think is the most important is real-world experience.

The internet will never replace real-world experience. Sure you can easily find 1,000 different reviews from 1,000 different people about a location or cruise ship, and many of those will be legit. But those are simply bewildering to a traveler looking for direct and honest information from someone they can trust.

That is where us travel pros come in. By using our vast travel experiences, we can help guide people to the vacation of their dreams. We can tell them which cruise ships are the best, because we’ve sailed on them. We can state with utter confidence which all-inclusive resort offers the highest quality of services because we’ve stayed at them.

But what about advisors just starting out who have not gained enough real-world experience? Frankly, you need to travel. But traveling the globe is not cheap, which is why FAM trips, or familiarization trips, are so important.

Offered by our supplier and destination partners at a discounted rate, FAM trips are your opportunities to learn products and destinations on a first-hand basis. Travel Leaders Network has a dedicated page on our Agent Universe member portal for the latest and greatest Education Travel/FAM trips currently offered.

As I write this blog post, there are currently opportunities regarding AmaWaterways, Maui, Turkey, Catalonia, and Cancun. This area is updated frequently, so members check back regularly for new opportunities.