Gifted Travel Network

As a new to the industry travel advisor, I made the best choice in joining Gifted Travel Network (GTN) as my host agency. I cannot express enough how happy I am with the collaboration found within the community, and the support and training provided by the mentors in the TMBA program.

From the very first day of the Jumpstart - a 3 day in person training at the GTN Headquarters - I knew I was in the right place. The three day training focused not only on how to sell travel, but how to run a business and be a successful entrepreneur. There are so many skills needed to be a profitable business owner - financial planning, sales, brand development, time management, marketing, networking and more. GTN provides the training needed to tackle all of these elements and is there to support you on every step of your entrepreneurial journey.

In addition to the stellar training, GTN has strong relationships within the industry through their Preferred Partners and the extensive Virtuoso network, and THE BEST COMMUNITY of Advisors. I can’t compare to other host agencies, but I can say the environment is the most collaborative and supportive I’ve experienced. Everyone in the network is there to help and support each other. There is no competition, only a “rising tide lifts all boats” atmosphere. It is inspiring. I am so happy to be a part of this network.

After I decided I wanted to become a travel advisor I knew I needed more than the basic training of, this is how you book a trip. A love of travel and extensive travel doesn't prepare you to run your own business successfully. I come from a healthcare background. Some skills are transferable and other ideas and concepts are brand new. After months of research and talking to an advisor who went through the Travel MBA program, I knew Gifted Travel Network's Travel MBA program was the best program for me. The 3 day in-person jumpstart at the beginning of the program was amazing! I knew instantly I made the right decision. I was surrounded by travel professional who had once been in my shoes and gone on to have successful careers as travel advisors and were now teaching and mentoring new advisors. Building relationships in person was important and makes the learning process a lot easier once I was home and on my own. The support and educational opportunities I receive through private Facebook forums, Zoom presentations, other advisors and vendor partnerships is awesome. It's almost overwhelming in the best possible way! I'm less than 6 months into my new journey but the support and education provided by GTN gives me the confidence to do the scary, hard things and build a successful travel business.

I have been with GTN for several years now. As a new agent looking for training and support I find GTN very welcoming and informative. After going through their Travel MBA program I feel very well equipped to be successful in my business. The only downside I see is that they are still very East Coast-centric as their support hours are based upon EST.

I highly recommend Gifted Travel Network as a host agency if your needs include a vibrant community of like-minded professionals, a well-rounded network of preferred suppliers, a member of the premier consortia in the world, Virtuoso, and cutting-edge support for your entrepreneurial journey. There is no shortage of professional development and opportunities to meet our suppliers. I've been with GTN for 8 years and I have gained lifelong friends, professional satisfaction and a growing business where the sky is the limit.

You know when you know.

I spent several years searching for a new host agency, the ideal fit. I just wasn’t finding the perfect solution and didn’t really need to make a change but knew there was more out there. Towards the end of my search I met 3 agents at 3 different events, each of whom impressed me with their professionalism and enthusiasm for their host agency. The common denominator? Gifted Travel Network. After a few calls with GTN’s leadership team there was no turning back and I signed up right away.

While payout percentage and commission overrides are great, what makes GTN shine is the community focus. There are umpteen opportunities to connect with others and advisors are strongly encouraged to do so. GTN leadership understands we are each individual business owners and excels at providing the tools we need to manage our businesses. It’s no coincidence that I’ve had my best sales historically since joining GTN. I have renewed passion and energy for my business and attribute this all to my GTN family.

I found Gifted on HAR in 2021, and is has been one of the best experiences of my life so far! Attending the new Jumpstart session of the Travel MBA program in October 2022 made all the difference for me. Being there in person I was able to connect with the facilitators (Amy R. and Shannon C.) and my cohort in a way that truly surprised me! The training was thorough and we got to interact with the amazing office staff who all support the GTN advisors. When I left, I felt very prepared and confident to start my own business. After Jumpstart, we had cohort exclusive calls weekly where our mentor provided more detailed training needed to become a successful travel advisor. These calls along with the weekly trainings, partner connections and all-network meetings really provide the support and community I was seeking in a host agency. Gifted Travel Network is truly a community of the most talented travel advisors and luxury travel educators and I am so thankful and grateful to be part of such a wonderful team!

I had a long corporate career as an Executive in the Food & Beverage industry and when I decided a career change to the travel industry could be the right move for me, I did a LOT of research. Ironically, I found Gifted Travel Network (GTN) on Host Agency Reviews (HAR). I read every review and wondered if the things other advisors said were really true. I trusted my intuition and took the leap. Let me tell you… our Executive Team is brilliant, and they each bring complementary skillsets. Those skillsets have built a company that is collaborative, forward-thinking, and business savvy. They understand if you own a business you need to know how to run a business. We are not just transactional, sitting behind computers booking trips. They teach us how to build our business with everything from Marketing, Relationship Building, Branding, Booking and Finances to Social Media. They are selective in ensuring we have preferred suppliers who are the right fit for our businesses, and they cultivate those relationships. They reinforce we need to come from a place of ‘giving’ to our clients. They also understand to be successful in travel you need to have the right mindset (and they help coach you through the tough times when you need it). Most importantly, it’s not just words…they are consistent and lead by example.

And although their Travel MBA program is very prescriptive it doesn’t do your work, it doesn’t create your brand and it doesn’t magically give you clients. Nor would I want it to. It is through your own hard work and uniqueness. What you end up with is a brand you believe in with clients who appreciate the value you bring to them.

What I value the most of being an Independent Contractor (IC) for GTN are the relationships with other IC’s. Initially it was the strong bond with the other individuals in my Travel MBA Cohort and now with others (including other IC’s, GTN Staff, Suppliers…) who I continue to build relationships with in-person, on Zoom meetings and our online interactive platform. There is no competition…only collaboration. (And we have some fun in the process!).

This can be a tough industry, but the risk is worth the reward!

Gifted Travel Network has been a great partner on my new travel advisor journey. As someone who is just starting in the industry the entire Gifted Travel Network team has been wonderful to work with and easy to approach with all of my questions or concerns. The training programs are thorough, yet simplified so you aren't overwhelmed with a ton of information all at once.

The team members truly care about setting you and your business up for success by getting the basics down first and building from there. I would 100% recommend Gifted Travel Network to anyone who is new to the industry and looking for the right host agency partner.

A passion project in retirement that turned into a thriving business: Two reasons why and the how:

First, a little background: After twenty years of trading risk arbitrage and equity derivatives in downtown manhattan, the time had come for chapter two, or no chapter at all; the latter option was not appealing. My dad said, "what about being a travel advisor? You love to travel, have a great client list and have been to +60 countries. We use an advisor and it makes all the difference in the world?" I love the idea, but where do you begin?

With Wall Street clientele, the appeal of Virtuoso as the luxury leader in travel helped me narrow my search for a host agency on this very site. The other requirement was a real education; only GTN had both. The year-long program was vital to my success. One could launch without the education on the back of my extensive travel and business experience, but aren't your odds of success drastically higher if you are a true expert? Doesn't that take immersion and mentorship? Would I have done more damage to my budding travel reputation with the finance clients I hoped to convert to travel clients had I not? Would I get more than one chance from those clients?

Fast forward to December 2021, I am in GTN's top producers club (top 30) in my first full year of business! I am invited to the Virtuoso ultraluxe community, attended Belmond's signature Bellini event for 10 USA advisors in Sicily and was on a top producer retreat with GTN. Without education, it would not have unfolded this way and certainly not this quickly.

The second reason is: In real estate, the most valuable metric is location, location, location, but at a host agency, it is culture, culture, culture. The collaboration and support amongst advisors in our community is the silver bullet and goes hand in hand with the educational foundation of GTN. Imagine how much the collective mindshare benefits our clients. I was not expecting instant responses to questions or requests for advice yet opening up the browser to 7 responses in thirty minutes is common. It's another level of vetting and advocacy, but it only happens if the culture is there. We are not competing like local real estate agents who might compete for a listing in town. Our clients are worldwide, an enviable difference, and it means we are not competing so let's help each other win. We share tips, insights and experiences on our internal system in discussion groups that pale in comparison to snarky online forums. We travel together, 14 GTN advisors and I are just back from 12 days in Tanzania, and as a result, we grow together. It's made all the difference in professional growth inspired by culture and education. What more can you ask for?

I joined the Travel MBA program in October 2021. I was brand new to the industry (completely lost on how to start a business, book travel and successfully sell my brand) - it has been so helpful. It's a super supportive community across the board so you'll always get access to what you need. I could not recommend them enough! They also provide amazing opportunities in the industry all the time and are well respected in the industry. For reference, I worked in finance for about 8/9 years before making the jump to starting my travel advisory business and it has been growing very consistently for a full year now!