In episode 188, Steph Lee and Jennifer Dugan of Dugan’s Travels cover some great questions this week, including how long it takes to get started as an advisor and how OTAs affect travel advisor business. Here are the queries in detail:  

1. Hi, I have been listening to the Friday 15s this month, thank you for all the information. What's the typical timeline from starting as a new advisor to becoming profitable? —Anonymous

2. I’m exploring a career as a travel advisor and am seriously thinking about starting my agency in 2025 after Host Week. I’m worried about competing with Booking.com and Expedia. How do those companies affect an agency’s business model and ability to compete? –Anonymous

RESOURCES:

How much do travel agents make? https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/how-much-do-travel-agents-make-travel-agent-salary

How much does it cost to become a travel agent or start a travel agency?

https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/how-much-does-it-cost-become-travel-age

Information on travel agent income over time. https://hostagencyreviews.com/page/travel-advisor-research-reports/

https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/3-ways-travel-agents-save-you-money (3 ways travel agents save you money that OTAs can’t)

Using a travel agent vs. booking online? 

https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/travel-agent-vs-booking-online

Internova North American Traveler Insights report

https://internova.com/research/

https://hostagencyreviews.com/friday15 (Submit questions, sign up for reminders for the F15, along with that week's questions we'll be covering!)