Gifted Travel Network

Gifted Travel Network is the firm foundation upon which I have built a thriving travel business in the past 5 years. The training; the high professionalism, expertise, authenticity and genuine care of the leadership team and its members; the camaraderie and support across staff and advisors have all fueled and continue to fuel my focus, skills and skyrocketing business started in 2018.
The continually growing clout and presence of Gifted Travel Network opens doors to preferred partner programs and conferences which puts me at the top of my game and makes me look like a rock star to my travelers. The 'back office' systems supply virtually everything I need to track my sales and clients; the staff is supportive and so responsive when assistance is needed and their discipline and structure keep me moving along smoothly.
They make my success possible and I am having a blast along the way.

GTN is an amazing community. So appreciate the continued support for those of us who have been in the industry for a long time. For those who are new, what a true gift. The Gifted Tavel team are true professionals whose aim is to ensure your success. The connections, partnerships, and friendships I have developed over the past four years since joining GTN are immeasurable.

After more than 20 years in the oil and gas industry, making the transition to the travel industry was an intimidating prospect. However, Gifted Travel Network (GTN) has proven to be the ideal partner in this journey. The most appealing part of GTN was that the owners, like me, did not come from a background of travel or hospitality, but from corporate America. This shared background made the transition smoother and more relatable, as they understood my journey and the unique challenges I faced.

What I appreciate most about GTN is that they don't just teach you how to sell travel; they provide a veritable mini-MBA on how to run your own travel agency. The knowledge and expertise that GTN provided have been invaluable, and I've learned more in the past five years than I did in two decades in the corporate world. While it's been challenging and required more hours than my previous job, it's also been more rewarding because it's something I am truly passionate about.

Over the past five years, I've leveraged GTN's platform to transform Fresi Travels from a casual hobby into a thriving LLC. We've organized hundreds of travel experiences, marrying our knowledge of destinations with the unique tastes and desires of our clients to create unforgettable trips. I initially thought I knew how to travel, but GTN showed me the vast and varied ways to explore the world, reinforcing my belief that everyone needs a travel advisor.

The support from GTN has been extraordinary. Despite my well-traveled background, starting an agency to support others was a whole different ballgame. GTN has been there every step of the way, providing the support and expertise I needed to succeed. I'm now running a boutique travel advisory company, leveraging my 30-plus years of travel experience and the skills I gained in corporate America to provide the highest level of service to our clients.

But more than that, GTN fostered a sense of community that I hadn't expected. We are not competitors; we are a collective, working together to ensure we all succeed. This collaborative environment has been a boon, with fellow advisors readily sharing their expertise and experiences.

If you're considering making a career change into travel planning or looking to start your own travel agency, I can't recommend GTN enough. Their understanding, support, and expertise are unparalleled, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to work with them.

I did a ton of research before choosing a host agency with whom to start my new business, including talking to smaller shops willing to take on Independent agents. I really do not think there is a better host agency for people new to the business. Between the Travel MBA program and the support from mentors, access to suppliers, and access to exclusive partner training, GTN gives you all the tools you need to be successful. They've taught me that booking travel is only 50% of the job and helped me hone in on branding and tone. GTN is a relatively new company at 10 years old. While sometimes we need to be quick to adapt to changes, the benefit of a younger company is that they are SO open to feedback and ACTUALLY EXECUTE on the changes. The Travel MBA program was fabulous when I entered it two years ago, and now seeing it two years later, I cannot imagine a better program out there.

The leaders are inspiring and engaging and I'm proud to be connected to a company with a strong female executive team. Coming from the corporate world, this is so refreshing and inspiring. You'll be in good hands here. The initial program can be an investment, but I have no doubt that it has already paid for itself.

Gifted Travel Network is a host agency that truly lives up to the name “host.”

They have proven over and over that they are in my corner and want to help make my agency a success. They provide me with access to a plethora of resources from video training on how to run a business, to introductions to BDMs, to connecting me with peer groups, to one-on-one mentoring calls where I can ask very specific questions, and so much more.

However, what makes GTN stand out from other host agencies is that they have created a positive, supportive community. Even though we each own our own agency, we are not competitors. We encourage one another, give recommendations, share templates, and ideas so we are ALL successful. When I don’t know a destination or how to use some sort of booking engine, I have peers willing to help me without making me feel less-than.

I am proud to be a part of this collaborative environment where travel partners comment on the positivity they feel among us. (I like to think that we are their favorite.)

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.