TORONTO — Get ready for a hiring boom, says TRAVELSAVERS Canada.
According to a new company survey timed in conjunction with Travel Agents Appreciation Day today, May 1, an overwhelming number of agencies affiliated with TRAVELSAVERS Canada have plans to add more travel advisors in the next year, with 25% saying they’ll hire as many “good” ones as they can.
This is welcome news considering how an advisor shortage is one of the profession’s biggest challenges today, says the company.
However, while 89% of agencies plan to or may hire advisors in the coming year, nearly two-thirds say it’s not easy to find qualified applicants.
“The travel industry has definitely bounced back and we’re delighted to experience such momentum around leisure travel,” said Jane Clementino, Senior Vice President and General. Manager, TRAVELSAVERS Canada. “Our concern is not having enough staff to support the increased clientele, and while our affiliate agencies are continuously searching for new employees, they tell us that candidates tend to lack in skill set. As an industry, we have an obligation to attract new talent to get ahead of the huge demand we face.”
The cause of the shortage is two-fold, says Clementino. As more travellers seek the expertise of a consultant, the market for travel agency services is increasing and is expected to grow.
Simultaneously, experienced advisors are leaving the business. According to the Travel Institute, 36% of agencies lost staff during the pandemic, and 56% of those haven’t replaced them. Also, two-thirds of advisors today are over the age of 50, with retirement nearing. Only 6% of travel advisors are under the age of 35.
Another issue is lack of awareness, with 23% of travel advisors surveyed saying people don’t know the profession still exists.
So how are travel agencies recruiting new talent? The survey reveals a variety of methods to locate candidates, including referrals from others (56%), job listings (47%), social media posts (36%), and networking (33%).
But when agencies do locate interested prospects, misconceptions about the field often deter candidates. Many underestimate the amount of work required to build a clientele while overestimating earnings. Some believe they will journey the world for free. And others lack the talent and background to be successful.
About 60% of travel advisors surveyed say applicants don’t have the right combination of skills and abilities. They also say the pay isn’t high enough to attract qualified candidates, and 30% say candidates aren’t willing to work hard to establish a book of business. Thirty-two percent report applicants only want to travel for free.
“It’s really important to recognize that as a travel advisor, you’re running your own business,” said Clementino. “And this boils down to three key things – investing in building a network, getting the right training, and delivering excellence in client services – to be successful in this industry.”
The survey results are as follows:
Agencies planning to hire advisors over the next year
- 53% yes
- 36% maybe
- 11% no
Number of advisor agencies plan to hire
- 35% one
- 35% two or three
- 5% four or more
- 25% as many good ones as we can find
Ease finding qualified candidates
- 2% say it’s easy
- 0% say it’s often easy
- 31% say it’s sometimes easy
- 33% say it’s rarely easy
- 33% say it’s not easy
Problems with finding candidates
- 59% don’t have the right combination of skills
- 59% pay not high enough
- 32% just want to travel for free
- 30% are not willing to work hard to establish themselves
- 23% of people don’t know the travel advisor profession still exists
Methods for finding candidates
- 56% referrals
- 47% job listings
- 36% social media posts
- 33% networking
- 18% leads from consortium (TRAVELSAVERS Canada)
