Gifted Travel Network

I joined GTN a year ago and couldn't be happier. I have been in the industry since 2014 and built a very strong business.... then canceled everything in COVID and started over. GTN approaches travel in a different way than I've experienced in the past, and I would highly recommend them.

-They do a great job recognizing people at all stages of development - at this point I'm in the Top Producers group at GTN and feel like they are supporting me at this stage of my business and growth opportunities going forward.

-I have had great support from colleagues both at GTN and at my prior host agency, but GTN does a great job trying to facilitate the growth of those personal relationships - through specialized sales help calls, mindset calls, top producer brainstorming, sharing what is going on in the network.

-There are in person meetings available for different groups - whether new agents in the Travel MBA program, Top Producers through a mastermind retreat and brainstorming or the whole network through the annual conference or the Mindset retreat. This gives people a great opportunity to really build deep interpersonal relationships and get help where you have weaknesses (and share your expertise to help others!)

-On top of everything internally, they have a great relationship for luxury advisors being a part of the Virtuoso network with opportunities for luxury travel conference participation like ILTM Cannes and North America, being involved with ASTA, etc.

I just came home from attending the 3-day Travel MBA Jumpstart program. Wow! I am so happy that I made the choice to invest in this program. The 3-day program was robust with content, the team from GTN are 110%. I left knowing that I had full support from each and every GTN team member...today, tomorrow and always. GTN has provided me all the tools I need to become a luxury travel advisor. I also feel as though I have made lifetime friends. The GTN network is second to none and the partner network is superior. I feel like I almost have to thank everyone for this opportunity. <3

I honestly do no know where to start. I had been with 2 other agencies over the last 5 years. Nothing bad there just not a good fit. I looked at Gifted 6 months ago, but didn't choose them at that time. I received an invite to attend their "Book More Travel" 3 day workshop. I knew then that Gifted had what I was missing. I know travel but I know nothing about being an Entrepreneur. I realized the 12 month MBA program was what I need to move me from hobbiest to successful business owner. I started with the March 2022 cohort group, they do 4 annually, spent 3 days in person meeting all the staff. I feel so connected as a result. Each of the owners and VP have a focus and they are all brillant !!
Love the fact they spends so much time on our Mindset, that with the supportive community is perfect. Love that you spend an entire year meeting with you cihort group 3-4 times a week ( virtually). You really get to know each other and bond.
The Travel MBA is Award Winning as well Magellan award winning. These ladies take their mission seriously and will stop at nothing!!!
And the Virtuoso partnership is a huge bonus. And speaking of partners...they are so highly engaged in their partner relationships and not just at a cheerleader type level but a deep trusting relationship.
Speaking of trust ..it is everything to this company and their advisors. Trust and respect run deep.
If you want to be a professional come on board!!

I began my search for a Host Agency not knowing really what I was looking for. With help from HostAgencyReviews and other resources on the web I not only began to understand what I valued in a Host Agency but also I was able to narrow my focus down to a few select agencies.
My initial weed-out criteria was that the Host needed to be a member of the Virtuoso Consortium. Second, they needed to offer robust and detailed training for new advisors, such as myself, in order to not only become good travel advisors but to be come good BUSINESS OWNERS, as this would be my first foray into entrepreneurship. I'm happy to report that Gifted Travel Network (GTN) met and surpassed those two demands.
Firstly, they are very actively involved with Virtuoso and emphasize its tools and resources among their hosted travel advisors. Secondly, and most importantly, they have a very robust training program for new advisors that not only includes online training modules but a vast community engagement component that I believe is vital to new advisor growth and support. The training began with an in-person Jumpstart conference that is new for GTN this year. I found the meetings, being in-person, covered so much more in a shorter period of time than if the training was purely online. After completing the Jumpstart, I felt supported and understood the resources I had at my disposal and was ready to leverage them, and GTN itself, toward my success.

I am new to Gifted Travel Network and am enrolled in their Travel MBA program. I switched to GTN from another host agency, and I am so grateful to have found this community. In the brief time I've been with them so far, I've already had more training and mentorship than with the prior host agency - and much more than I expected. I have felt supported every step of the way. I'm so grateful to have found Gifted Travel Network and their fantastic Travel MBA program.

Gifted Travel Network has been the perfect community for us. We had vetted many host agencies and also pursued going direct with consortia. From the onset, it was obvious that GTN would be the best fit for us and the Virtuoso consortia is an added benefit. GTN has provided all the resources needed to thrive in this business. From practical guidance, education and encouragement. They are always helping us to grow personally and financially. I love the community of sharing resources among advisors, not competition. The leaders are responsible for teaching all advisors how to share vs. compete. Another big benefit is that the leaders are heavily entrenched in the travel industry and education, therefore suppliers treat us with so much respect. It is really nice to hear how much the suppliers respect our leaders and GTN as a host agency. If anyone is looking for a good host, I highly recommend GTN.

I’m relatively new to the Travel industry after many years in the corporate world. Many months of research on host agencies, travel business models and Virtuoso partners led me to the Gifted Travel Network - Travel MBA program. It was exactly what I needed. Not just expert industry specific knowledge and access, but the program also includes the basic building blocks to start my travel business from scratch. TMBA provided me invaluable mentorship, coaching, and collaboration. Every TMBA mentor is an experienced Travel business owner with many years of experience. They are amazing experts who genuinely went you to succeed! And I can't say enough about my fellow GTN’ers who are always encouraging and generous with their knowledge when I ask questions. Joining the Gifted Travel Network changed my life and I am so grateful for their guidance and support.

GTN has provided a strong foundation for my business. I couldn’t be happier with my decision to be part of the GTN family. I started a few months ago with zero experience in the industry. At the time, I had no clue how much I didn’t know. My decision to be hosted by GTN was based on lots of research. I honestly thought I was playing it safe by going with an agency that checked every box with an extra-strong emphasis on training and education. I realize now, knowing all I still have to learn, that the educational component of GTN is not just a “nice bonus” but a requirement.

GTN covers SO much more than how to book travel, it’s the complete package consisting of business education, mindset training, how to book travel, and a caring community. In a field that can sometimes leave advisors feeling isolated, I have not experienced that once! I can reach out to fellow advisors, my mentors, and a long list of staff members to help me with anything I need. Best of all, I don’t need to ask for help all the often because GTN provides the training and resources I need to answer my questions. This leaves me to work through more advanced topics and scenarios with my mentors and fellow advisors during our twice-weekly Zoom sessions.

Additionally, GTN attracts, trains, and maintains the highest caliber of advisors. They aren’t just great advisors, they’re great people. We have a Facebook group where my peers blow me away daily with the knowledge they share and how much they are willing to give of themselves to help a fellow advisor.

I highly recommend GTN for their leadership, guidance, tools, reputation in the industry, and most importantly, the people! I’m so lucky to be surrounded by advisors and mentors who inspire and push me daily.

Gifted Travel Network (GTN) is an incredibly supportive and knowledgeable host agency that truly has the best interest of each of its member advisors in mind. There are many host agencies out there, some much bigger than GTN. Yet GTN is growing quickly and has already claimed a leadership position in the industry because of what it uniquely offers to the market: helping travel entrepreneurs become successful, profitable independent advisors behind their own brands and marketing strategies. GTN supports and encourages its advisors to succeed based on how each unique advisor defines his or her success. Whether that means offering hands-on counsel to advisors looking for explosive growth right out of the gate, or offering resources to those looking to achieve both better profitability AND work/life balance, or robust training/tools to help build a growing agency team that employs multiple advisors across the country.

In my experience, how they are able to do this successfully for so many advisors comes down focus:
(1) A hands-on training program through its GTN Travel Business University (and Travel MBA). No other host agency offers such rich programming to stand up a successful independent travel business. I've researched this! It's untouchable.
(2) Guidance and know-how through a community approach. This is not a group of competitors under one host agency. Far from it. It's a group of members supporting each other in their own success. Trusted advice and expert guidance when you need it, from people who have been in the industry a long time. Open forums to ask questions to fellow advisors across the country or to host agency mentors.
(3) A powerful and growing host agency leadership team with top-to-top relationships with global luxury partners. As a member of Virtuoso and close partnerships with the luxury suppliers/brands, GTN advisors are able to offer clients the best and most exclusive experiences available, that clients simply can't find on their own. And this network keeps growing.

I highly recommend GTN if you are either starting a travel business or are ready to move into a community of like-minded and supportive people with resources to help you elevate your path to success in the travel business.

I joined GTN in 2020 after a year of working at a brick and mortar agency. Oddly enough, I had met the amazing Lisa Fletcher at a VCTA (Virtuoso Certified Travel Advisor) retreat the previous year. Little did I know in just under a year Lisa would become my Mentor for GTN’s MBA Program!

GTN’s MBA Program doesn’t just teach new advisors how to book travel, they teach you how to create and grow a sustainable business. The program has self-paced sections that discuss anything from E&O insurance to terms & conditions, how to attract clients, planning fees, website design, logo design, newsletters (Ezines) and so much more amazing information. During your time in the program you have a nail your niche call with the one of the founders to help you hone your brand voice and target audience. From there you begin logo design process and bringing your brand to life. The program also offers 2 weekly calls that allows you to ask questions about GTN, MBA program, a client situation, pretty much anything! Plus you have a MBA FB group to ask anything or everything!

I can’t recommended GTN and their MBA program enough to new or experienced advisors. I promise if you join GTN it will be one of the best decisions you ever make!