The Power of Adaptability in the Travel Industry

Think back to when you first became a travel advisor. In what ways are you different now than you were then? What have you learned and how have you adjusted your ways of doing things?

As we experience the various situations we encounter and the feelings associated with them, we adapt accordingly. For example, many advisors charge their clients a service fee because they have been “burned” in the past. They work hard finding the best travel deal, only to have the client book the trip elsewhere or have it cancelled, resulting in no commission. These experiences cause advisors to rethink the way they handle similar situations in the future.

Periodically, at least once a year, advisors should analyze and evaluate the way they work and determine changes that could improve their business. We should seek solutions to problems we’ve encountered and test them to figure out which ones work best. We should strive to constantly enhance the way we do things; if one solution doesn’t fix the issue, then try another.

The travel industry is constantly changing and advisors must adapt to survive the changes. As in your personal life, the travel business will throw you some curve balls and you need to adjust. The more adaptable you are, the quicker you can recover and carry on.

• During my 25-year travel career, I’ve been thrown lots of curve balls:
• Airlines stopped paying travel agent commission.
• The internet replaced the CRS.  Online travel websites began to target consumers directly.
• 9/11 changed the way we traveled.
• The 2008-09 recession caused a dramatic decrease in discretionary spending.
• Smart phones allowed travelers to easily find more deals online.
• COVID-19 virtually shut down the industry for a solid two years

These are just some of the larger impediments that have affected the travel business. There will be more to come but as long as we remain adaptable, we will be better able to handle the situation and get a positive outcome.

So, how can YOU become more adaptable?

1. Let your brain, not your heart, guide you. Don’t let your emotions get in the way of resolving problems. Take the time to evaluate the situation logically and come up with solutions. If you stay in a bad place of anger, sadness or unwillingness to make change, you and your business will only suffer.
2. Take action. Don’t just blindly follow what other advisors are doing to overcome challenges. During COVID, the advisors I worked with who actively took control of their business were the ones who pulled through it. They took the opportunity to improve their efficiency and communication skills instead of just sitting back and lamenting their misfortune.
3. Ask for help and advice. There are many resources you can tap for guidance. You might be surprised with the responses and suggestions that can help you handle or resolve a problem.
4. Be receptive to new ideas. Learn new techniques and embrace different solutions. Adaptiveness does not exist in a closed mind.  If you listen more and object less, you will learn more.  A judgmental attitude will only limit your possibilities. Control freaks are not adaptive. You must remain open to change and new outcomes. Embracing them instead of resisting can do wonders for your adaptiveness. Letting go of your tight control can also help your attitude and make you more optimistic. You may be pleasantly surprised at the outcome!

As we progress further into 2023, we always hope for smooth sailing for the travel industry.  But it’s a volatile business. To improve your chances for success, take steps to increase your adaptivity. Make a list of some changes you would like to implement now and in the future. Staying adaptable can make you more competitive and valuable to your clients!