Associate Travel Advisor – or Experienced Advisors

Cruise Planners – Mark Young is seeking an Associate Travel Advisor to work as an Independent Contractor and become part of a growing professional travel agency.

This opportunity is open to both individuals who want to develop a career in the travel industry and experienced travel advisors who already have an established book of business.

For someone new to the profession, this is an opportunity to learn the travel business through mentoring, training, supplier education, and hands-on experience while gradually developing a personal client base.

For an experienced travel advisor, this is an opportunity to become part of an established agency with industry-leading technology, strong supplier relationships, high commission agreements, professional support, and the resources of Cruise Planners.

The associate will work alongside an experienced, award-winning Cruise Planners travel advisor with extensive experience in cruises, group travel, corporate and executive travel, meetings, incentive travel, and international destinations.

This is an Independent Contractor opportunity rather than a traditional salaried or hourly employee position. Compensation is primarily based on commissions generated from travel sales, creating significant potential for someone who develops or brings an established book of business.

• Consult with clients to research, plan, recommend, and arrange cruises, vacations, tours, hotels, airfare, and other travel services.
• Develop and maintain strong, long-term relationships with clients.
• Prepare professional travel proposals, quotations, itineraries, and travel documentation.
• Communicate with clients before, during, and after travel to provide a high level of personal service.
• Develop knowledge of cruise lines, resorts, tour operators, destinations, travel insurance, and other travel products.
• Utilize Cruise Planners technology, marketing tools, reservation resources, supplier systems, and other industry platforms.
• Participate in continuing education, supplier training, destination education, and professional development.
• Develop new business through referrals, networking, marketing, community involvement, and relationship building.
• Maintain accurate client, reservation, payment, and travel records.
• Assist with and develop opportunities in leisure travel, cruises, group travel, corporate travel, meetings, and incentive travel according to individual interests and experience.
• Build and manage a personal book of business.
• Experienced advisors will have the opportunity to transition and grow their existing client relationships within an established agency environment while taking advantage of Cruise Planners resources and supplier relationships.

We are interested in candidates at different stages of their travel careers.

For candidates new to the travel industry:

• A genuine desire to develop a long-term career as a professional travel advisor.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent organization and attention to detail.
• The ability and willingness to learn new technology, reservation systems, destinations, and travel products.
• Self-motivation and the ability to work independently.
• Professionalism, dependability, and strong follow-through.
• An interest in sales, marketing, networking, and relationship development.
• Good computer and technology skills.
• A commitment to ongoing training and professional development.
• Previous travel, hospitality, sales, customer service, event-planning, or business experience is helpful but not required.

For experienced travel advisors:

• Previous experience selling leisure, cruise, group, corporate, or other travel.
• An established or developing book of travel business is highly desirable.
• Strong client relationships and a commitment to providing excellent professional service.
• A desire to grow sales and income by leveraging stronger technology, supplier relationships, marketing resources, commission opportunities, and agency support.
• The ability to work independently while also benefiting from collaboration with an established travel agency.

This opportunity is designed for someone who views travel advising as a…