TORONTO — Seasoned travel advisors have heard it all – and lately they’re hearing about how ‘easy’ it is to become a travel agent, and reap the rewards.

Social media posts can sometimes make it sound like working as a travel advisor is one of the best jobs (almost certainly true) – with one of the easiest skill sets to acquire (definitely not true).

Trevello Travel Group’s CEO Zeina Gedeon says these illusions are rampant.

“There is a misconception being fuelled online that becoming a travel advisor is simply about ‘selling vacations from your phone.’ The reality is: this is a professional service business, and like any business, it requires skill, certifications and ongoing learning,” she told Travelweek in a recent interview.

Gedeonʻs strategy at Trevello has been a hard line against wooing new-to-industry agents with ‘it’s so easy’ mistruths. “At Trevello, we have taken a firm stance: we do not sell dreams – we build careers. Our onboarding process is rigorous by design. Every new-to-industry advisor is enrolled in our Launchpad Program, where they need to committee to learn about the travel business,” she said.

NEW TO INDUSTRY VS. EXPERIENCED

Travelweek asked Gedeon what she’s seeing from Trevello’s new-to-industry members, and also experienced travel advisors.

“We’re seeing fascinating dynamics from both groups,” she said. “New-to-industry advisors are coming in with incredible energy and hunger to learn. They’re digital natives who adapt quickly to our technology, and they’re not burdened by ‘that’s how we’ve always done it’ thinking. Many are building modern, social-media-savvy businesses from day one. The Momentum program particularly resonates with them because the transparent 85% to 100% commission structure removes the mystery and builds their confidence as they’re starting out.”

Zeina Gedeon

Experienced advisors, on the other hand, are often coming to Trevello because they’ve been frustrated elsewhere, she said. “They appreciate that Momentum eliminates the fine print and tier structures they’ve dealt with for years. They’re leveraging their existing client bases and supplier relationships to hit that 100% commission threshold quickly. What’s exciting is watching these two groups learn from each other – the veterans mentoring relationship-building and destination knowledge, while newer advisors are often showing them fresh marketing approaches and social media strategies.”

Working as an independent travel advisor is an interesting mix. Home-based agents run their own businesses, and independence is a big part of the attraction. But home-based agents also need a lot of support. Gedeon said Trevello supports its members by being available without being intrusive. Momentum’s no-fine-print model and real-time payout reporting give advisors instant visibility into their business. Transparency is key. “Second, community: independence shouldn’t mean isolation, so we connect advisors to share best practices and cover each other. Third, urgency: when an advisor needs supplier help, minutes matter. Finally, advocacy: we’ve been vocal on service fees because advisor expertise has real value. That’s how you create space for entrepreneurs to thrive.”

Trevello gets positive feedback about its real-time payout reporting. In fact, this strategy was based on member feedback. “They can log in any time and see exactly where they stand – no waiting for monthly statements or trying to calculate their own commissions. It removes guesswork and helps them manage cash flow.”

Gedeon added that Trevello is also focused on making its systems intuitive. “Many of our new-to-industry advisors aren’t coming from travel backgrounds, so if tools require extensive training to do basic tasks, that’s a barrier. Our platform is designed so advisors can find what they need quickly – supplier information, marketing resources, booking tools – without having to dig through multiple systems.”

Gedeon has seen her share of changes in the industry since she came over to the retail side of things. “When I joined Trevello in 2018, we were primarily a host agency doing good work, but we were also operating within industry norms – tiered commission structures, complex compensation formulas, the usual fine print. We supported our advisors, but within conventional constraints,” she said.

“The biggest shift came from listening to advisors’ frustrations over those years and having the courage to challenge those norms. Momentum, which we launched about a year ago, represents that transformation, starting everyone at 85% and moving to 100% after $15,000 in commissions, regardless of volume or tenure. That model would have seemed radical in 2018, even to us. Today, Trevello has evolved from primarily a hosting platform into a business acceleration network. We’ve introduced Momentum, championed service fee models, and created wealth-building programs. Most importantly, we’ve shifted our philosophy from ‘supporting travel agents’ to developing travel entrepreneurs.

She added that “culturally, we’ve shifted from just being a service provider to being a true partner in advisors’ success. We’ve become more invested in their long-term growth, not just their next booking.”

TOP 5 SKILLS FOR INDEPENDENT TRAVEL ADVISORS

What skills are most valuable for success as an independent travel advisor? Gedeon shares her top five …

A genuine passion for travel

“Clients can tell if you’re faking it. You don’t need to have been to every destination, but you need authentic curiosity and enthusiasm.”

Relationship building

“Notice I didn’t say ‘sales skills’ – I said relationships. The best advisors aren’t pushing trips; they’re building trust over time. They check in with clients even when they’re not booking. They remember anniversaries and kids’ names.”

Business acumen

“This surprises people, but understanding your finances, knowing how to market yourself, managing your time – these are as important as destination knowledge. Many advisors can book a great trip but struggle to run a profitable business.”

Adaptability

“Our industry changes constantly—supplier policies, technology, client expectations, even geopolitics as we’ve seen in 2025. Advisors who thrive are comfortable with change and see it as an opportunity, not an obstacle.”

Humility coupled with confidence

“Confidence to charge service fees and stand behind your value. Humility to keep learning, to ask for help, to admit when you don’t know something and need to research it.”