The Business of Travel:

Your Complete Startup Guide for Travel Advisors

 

Ready to start a travel advisor business and transform your passion for travel into a profitable career? Whether you're making a career change or launching your first travel business, this comprehensive travel advisor training course provides the exact roadmap to build a successful luxury travel agency from scratch. Learn proven strategies to attract high-paying clients, create premium travel experiences, master travel advisor marketing, and establish profitable pricing that reflects your expertise—all without the overwhelm of figuring it out alone.

Designed specifically for new travel advisors and aspiring travel entrepreneurs, "The Business of Travel: Your Complete Startup Guide for Travel Advisors" gives you the step-by-step framework to launch and scale a luxury-focused travel advisory business, even with no prior industry experience.

A course by Ariane Henry, an Award-Winning Luxury Travel Advisor

 

I’ve been where you are…

When I began my travel advisor journey in 2016, I discovered a troubling reality: guidance for building a successful, luxury-focused travel business was virtually nonexistent. The resources I found were scattered, outdated, and failed to address the unique needs of high-end clientele. I had to rely on my previous industry experience to piece together business strategies, marketing expertise, and client service techniques that eventually built my thriving luxury travel brand.

I created The Business of Travel: Your Complete Startup Guide for Travel Advisors because new advisors deserve better. You shouldn't spend years figuring it out alone like I did. This comprehensive course provides a clear, step-by-step roadmap to launch, grow, and thrive as a professional travel advisor with a strong foundation from day one. Whether you dream of booking exclusive vacations, designing bespoke journeys, or serving affluent travelers, you'll gain the tools, strategies, and insider knowledge to fast-track your success in the luxury travel market.

My name is Ariane…

I'm an award-winning luxury travel advisor and founder of Wanderlust Journey. My expertise has been recognized by Condé Nast Traveler, who has named me one of their prestigious Top Travel Specialists for five consecutive years—2021 through 2025.

Now, I'm sharing everything I've learned inside The Business of Travel: Your Complete Startup Guide for Travel Advisors. This isn't theoretical advice—it's built on real experience, genuine mistakes, and hard-won victories. You'll gain access to the exact methods I used to build my profitable, sustainable travel business, allowing you to start your journey with clarity, confidence, and a rock-solid foundation for success in the luxury travel market.

If you’re asking yourself these questions, this course is for you…

"I don't know where to start."

Starting a travel business can feel overwhelming—I've been exactly where you are. That's why this course breaks down the entire process into manageable, sequential steps. You'll learn how to strategically set up your business infrastructure, obtain necessary credentials, select the right host agency partnership, and establish your unique service model. I'll guide you through creating essential workflows, setting up your client communication systems, and building your digital presence—all in the correct order. No more confusion about what comes first or what matters most; you'll have a clear roadmap tailored specifically for luxury travel advisors.

"I'm worried about making costly mistakes."

New travel advisors often waste thousands of dollars on ineffective marketing, choose the wrong host agency relationships, undercharge for their services, or miss critical legal protections. This course helps you avoid these pitfalls by showing you exactly where to invest your initial budget for maximum return. You'll learn which tools are essential versus which are luxuries for later, how to structure profitable service fees from day one, and the exact legal safeguards needed to protect your business. I share the mistakes I made so you don't have to learn them the expensive way—saving you both money and valuable time during your critical first year.

"How do I stand out in a crowded market?"

Generic travel advisors struggle to compete in today's market. Through this course, you'll develop a distinctive brand position based on your unique strengths, experiences, and passions. I'll walk you through my proven brand differentiation framework used by successful luxury advisors, helping you identify your specific niche and develop a compelling brand story that resonates with high-value clients. You'll learn how to craft messaging that instantly communicates your unique value, design a visual identity that attracts premium clients, and create content that positions you as an authority—even as a newcomer to the industry.

"I'm not sure how to actually get clients."

Client acquisition is the lifeblood of your business, and this course provides a comprehensive client attraction system specifically designed for luxury travel advisors. You'll master both online and offline strategies, including relationship-based networking, strategic partnerships with complementary businesses, social media content that converts followers to clients, and referral programs that create continuous business growth. I'll share my exact scripts for consultation calls, email templates that get responses, and follow-up sequences that turn inquiries into bookings. You'll finish with a complete 90-day marketing plan customized to your unique business model.

"I'm confused about the legal side and setting up my business."

The legal foundation of your travel business is too important to guess about. The course provides clear guidance on choosing the right business structure (LLC vs. sole proprietorship), obtaining proper insurance coverage, creating legally-sound client contracts and service agreements, and understanding seller of travel laws in different states. I'll break down commission structures, explain the relationship between host agencies and independent advisors, and provide templates for all necessary legal documents. You'll build your business on a secure foundation that protects both you and your clients as you grow.

"I feel like I'm doing this alone with no support."

Building a business without proper support can lead to costly mistakes and unnecessary stress. Through this course, you'll gain not just information but genuine mentorship. I share candid stories from my own journey, including the challenges I faced and how I overcame them. You'll learn which industry organizations provide the best support for new advisors, how to build relationships with suppliers and BDMs, and strategies for connecting with fellow advisors who become valuable colleagues rather than competitors. The course includes specific guidance on creating your own professional support network that sustains you through the ups and downs of entrepreneurship.

"I want to sell luxury travel, but I don't know how to break into that market."

Selling luxury travel requires a specific approach that this course thoroughly addresses. You'll learn how to develop the confidence to work with affluent clients, master the art of luxury service standards, and build relationships with exclusive suppliers who don't work with every advisor. The course covers luxury client psychology, high-touch communication practices, and how to create the exceptional moments that luxury travelers expect. I'll teach you how to properly qualify luxury prospects, how to discuss investment levels confidently, and how to create proposals that showcase value beyond price. You'll develop both the mindset and practical skills needed to succeed in the high-end travel market.

"I need real systems and workflows — not just 'general advice'."

This course delivers concrete, implementable systems for every aspect of your business. You'll receive my complete client management workflow from inquiry to post-trip follow-up, customizable templates for travel proposals and itineraries, scripts for handling objections and discussing fees, and a comprehensive CRM setup guide tailored for travel advisors. The course includes my actual email templates, social media content calendars, client questionnaires, and booking checklists that you can immediately implement in your business. These aren't theoretical concepts—they're the exact systems I've refined over years of successful practice.

"I'm scared I won't be profitable fast enough."

Profitability is a central focus of this course, not an afterthought. You'll learn to structure your business for financial success from the beginning with multiple revenue streams beyond just commissions. The course covers creating tiered service packages, implementing non-refundable planning fees, developing add-on services that increase transaction value, and building relationships with high-commission suppliers. I'll share realistic financial projections based on different business models, help you create a strategic first-year budget, and teach you how to track the right metrics to ensure you're growing profitably. You'll finish with a clear understanding of your path to financial sustainability.

"There's so much free information online — but it's overwhelming."

Free information is often fragmented, outdated, or simply incorrect—especially in the rapidly changing travel industry. This course provides a cohesive, current, and comprehensive system specifically designed for success in today's luxury travel market. Rather than piecing together contradictory advice, you'll follow a proven roadmap built on actual success. The course consolidates years of industry knowledge, expensive trial and error, and insider strategies into one streamlined resource. You're not just saving time—you're investing in a blueprint that works, created by someone who has achieved exactly what you're aiming to build.

Ready to get started?

What You'll Receive with "The Business of Travel: Your Complete Startup Guide for Travel Advisors"

  • Comprehensive 6-Module Online Course — Access our complete step-by-step system for building a profitable luxury travel business, designed specifically for new advisors ready to excel from day one

  • 17 Premium Business-Building Tools — Download ready-to-use worksheets, templates, and strategic planning guides to implement immediately in your business

  • Lifetime Course Access & Updates — Enjoy unlimited access to all current course materials plus all future updates and expansions as the industry evolves, ensuring your knowledge stays current

  • Exclusive Advisor Community Membership — Join The Business of Travel Collective, our private community of ambitious travel advisors where you can network, collaborate, and receive ongoing support and mentorship

  • Supplier Connection Blueprint — Learn how to establish relationships with luxury travel partners and gain access to our curated directory of vendors who work well with new advisors

    Founding Member Pricing - Act Now!

    Now $799

    Regular Course Price - $999

    Prices are in Canadian Dollars. Founding Member Pricing ends on August 31st, 2025 at 5:00pm PST.

Module 1: Getting Started with Becoming a Travel Advisor

Starting your journey as a travel advisor is exciting, but understanding the industry and setting up your business correctly is crucial to your success. In this module, we will cover the foundational elements of being a travel advisor, including the different business models, how commissions work and the importance of choosing the right host agency for you.

Module 2: Creating Your Business Foundation

In this module, I will walk you through the essential steps for setting up your travel advisor business the right way, legally. Whether you are planning to operate as an independent advisor, join a host agency, or run a franchise, understanding the legalities, systems, and operations behind the scenes will ensure that you are fully prepared to serve your clients and grow your business confidently.

Module 3: Building Your Travel Advisor Business

Now that you’ve built a solid foundation, it’s time to elevate your travel business with intentional growth and strategy. In Module 3, you’ll define your niche, craft irresistible service offerings, and establish pricing that reflects your value. You’ll also learn how to consistently attract, convert, and retain clients — setting the stage for a thriving, sustainable business.

Module 4: Marketing and Launching Your Travel Business

You’ve laid the foundation—now it’s time to get visible, build momentum, and officially launch your travel business to the world. In this module, we’ll dive into creating a marketing plan that aligns with your brand, attracts your ideal clients, and builds long-term visibility and credibility. Whether you’re just starting out or refining your current efforts, this module will help you build a solid marketing strategy that works for you, without feeling overwhelming or salesy.

Module 5: Sales Processes of a Successful Travel Advisor

It’s time to master the art of selling your services with confidence and clarity. Sales is often one of the most intimidating parts of entrepreneurship; but when done right, it’s simply about connecting with the right clients, solving their problems and showing up with value. In this module, you’ll discover how to sell with authenticity, handle objections gracefully and confidently guide your prospective clients through your booking process—all while protecting your time and reinforcing your expertise.

Module 6: Scaling Your Travel Advisor Business

You’ve built the foundation, mastered your systems, and gained confidence as a travel advisor — now it’s time to scale with purpose. In Module 6, you’ll learn how to grow your business strategically through automation, delegation, and client-focused expansion. Whether you're aiming to streamline your workflow, build a team, or boost revenue through repeat clients and group travel, this module will help you scale your business in a way that aligns with the lifestyle and freedom you’re working toward.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is this course for?

This course is specifically designed for ambitious individuals who are either new to the travel advisory profession or in their first year of business and seeking a structured path to success. It's ideal for those who aspire to build a premium travel business focused on luxury experiences and FIT (Fully Independent Travel bookings) rather than mass-market products. You'll benefit most from this course if you're ready to treat your travel business as a professional career rather than a side hobby, and if you're committed to delivering exceptional service to discerning clients. This includes career-changers looking to leverage their professional skills in a new industry, passionate travelers wanting to monetize their expertise, and existing advisors who feel overwhelmed by the complexity of building a sustainable business model. The course is not designed for established advisors with several years of experience or those primarily interested in group or budget travel.

Do I need any prior experience in travel to take this course?

No prior travel industry experience is required or expected. This course was specifically created to bridge the knowledge gap for newcomers to the industry. Many of today's most successful luxury travel advisors came from completely unrelated fields such as law, marketing, finance, healthcare, and education. In fact, your previous career experience often provides valuable transferable skills that can become your unique advantage in the travel industry. The course methodically builds your knowledge from the ground up, explaining industry terminology, commission structures, supplier relationships, and booking processes in clear, accessible language. What matters most is your passion for travel, dedication to exceptional service, and willingness to learn the business fundamentals. If you've been a frequent luxury traveler yourself, that's helpful context, but the course will teach you how to translate personal travel experiences into professional expertise.

When do I get access to the course?

The complete course officially launches on July 2nd, 2025 at 9:00am PST. Founding Member purchasers receive guaranteed first access to all modules the moment they go live, early admission to The Business of Travel Collective community from June 18th, 2025 when pre-sales go live at 9:00am PST, and special founding member pricing that will never be offered again. If you choose to wait until the after the official launch, you'll still receive full course access at the standard course investment level.

How long do I have access to the course?

You'll have genuine lifetime access to the entire course and all its materials. This includes all future updates, expansions, and additional resources added as the travel industry evolves. As the luxury travel market changes and new opportunities emerge, I'll continue refreshing the content to ensure it remains current and valuable. Your one-time investment includes all these future updates at no additional cost. You can progress through the material at your own pace, revisit modules as your business grows, and access new content as it's added.

How much time will this course take?

The course is designed to accommodate busy professionals who may be transitioning from another career or balancing multiple responsibilities. Most students commit approximately 2 to 3 hours per week over a 6 to 8 week period to complete the entire program, including implementing the action steps. Each module breaks down into manageable lessons averaging 20-30 minutes each, making it easy to progress even with limited time blocks available. The course is intentionally structured to be actionable rather than overwhelming—focusing on implementation rather than just information. Some students choose an accelerated approach, completing the course in as little as 3-4 weeks by dedicating more time each week, while others extend their journey over several months, implementing each module completely before moving to the next. The flexible format accommodates different learning styles and availability, with no penalties for moving at the pace that works best for you.

Is this a live or self-paced course?

This is a comprehensive self-paced course that gives you complete flexibility to work through the material according to your own schedule and learning preferences. The entire curriculum is available on-demand once you enroll, with no scheduled live classes requiring attendance at specific times. This format is particularly beneficial for those managing career transitions, family responsibilities, or different time zones. However, the experience is far from isolated—you'll gain immediate access to The Business of Travel Collective, our private community where you can connect with fellow students, ask questions, share insights, and receive guidance. The community includes regular informal live check-ins, Q&A opportunities, and milestone celebrations. While these live elements enhance the experience, all essential teaching content is available in the self-paced curriculum, ensuring you never "miss" critical information regardless of your schedule.

Do you offer refunds?

Yes! I stand firmly behind the quality and effectiveness of this program with a student-friendly satisfaction guarantee. If after exploring The Business of Travel: Your Complete Startup Guide for Travel Advisors, you determine it's not aligned with your business goals, you can request a full refund within 14 days of purchase. Our action-based refund policy simply requires that you demonstrate you've engaged with the course material by completing the first three modules, including all lessons, worksheets and participating in at least one community discussion in our Facebook group. This ensures you've given the program a fair opportunity to deliver value before deciding it's not the right fit. To initiate a refund, simply contact us here with your refund request. We will ask for your completed worksheets and we'll process your 100% refund within 30 days. Full details of our refund policy are available here for complete transparency.

What if I have questions while taking the course?

Your success is my priority, which is why comprehensive support is built into every aspect of the program. You'll have immediate access to The Business of Travel Collective, our private, moderated community platform where you can ask questions, receive feedback on your work, and connect with both myself and fellow advisors at any point in your journey. Unlike many online courses where students feel abandoned after purchase, I maintain an active presence in our community, personally responding to questions within two business days. The collective wisdom of the community means you'll often receive multiple perspectives on your specific challenges. For technical issues or administrative questions, our dedicated support team is available via email (contact us here) with a guaranteed one business day response time.

Will this course teach me how to find a host agency?

Yes, selecting the right host agency relationship is covered extensively in the course as it's one of the most consequential early decisions you'll make. We dedicate an entire lesson to this topic, examining the critical differences between working with a host agency versus pursuing an independent path. You'll learn about the varied commission splits, support structures, technology offerings, and entry requirements across different host agencies. The course provides a comprehensive evaluation framework with specific questions to ask potential host partners, red flags to watch for, and negotiation points many new advisors miss. You'll receive a host agency comparison worksheet to systematically evaluate options based on your specific business model and needs. This guidance alone can save you thousands of dollars and years of frustration from choosing the wrong partnership.

Will this course help me get clients?

Absolutely—client acquisition is central to this program, not an afterthought. Nearly half the course content focuses directly on attracting and retaining your ideal clients through proven systems. You'll learn comprehensive branding, pricing, marketing, and retention strategies specifically calibrated for the luxury travel market. The course covers everything from identifying your most profitable client avatar and positioning your services to command premium rates, to creating marketing content that resonates with affluent travelers. You'll receive step-by-step guidance on building a referral-generating service experience, leveraging strategic partnerships, and utilizing both digital and relationship-based marketing approaches appropriate for high-end services. Beyond theory, the course provides concrete tools including consultation scripts, follow-up sequences, social media templates, and client nurturing systems that have been field-tested in actual luxury travel businesses. Students regularly report securing their first clients while still completing the course, often generating enough revenue to recover their course investment before graduation in their service fees alone.

Do You Offer Employment Opportunities at The End Of This Course?

While I do not currently offer direct employment opportunities for travel advisors upon completion of this course, I am committed to supporting your career development in the travel industry. The curriculum includes a comprehensive lesson specifically designed to guide you through the process of identifying and connecting with reputable travel agencies. This lesson in my course covers essential topics such as evaluating potential host agencies, understanding different partnership structures, negotiating commission splits, and recognizing the key qualities that distinguish established, trustworthy agencies from less reliable options. Whether you're seeking to establish yourself as an independent contractor with a host agency or pursuing full-time employment opportunities, this lesson will equip you with the knowledge and tools necessary to make informed decisions about your career path. You'll learn how to assess agency credentials, understand industry standards, and position yourself as a qualified candidate in the competitive travel advisor market. My goal is to ensure you complete my travel agent course not only with some of the technical skills to succeed as a travel advisor, but also with the business acumen to build a sustainable and rewarding career in the travel industry. After course completion, you will receive a certificate of completion that can be used to apply for jobs and show your newly acquired skillset.

Why Choose Professional Travel Agent Training Over DIY Learning?

While anyone can call themselves a travel agent, successful travel professionals invest in comprehensive travel agent training to build credibility and expertise. Our travel agent course goes beyond basic booking skills to teach you advanced business strategies, client relationship management, and luxury travel specialization that sets you apart from amateur competitors. Unlike generic travel agent certification programs that focus only on industry basics, this travel advisor training program combines practical business-building techniques with real-world application, ensuring you launch a profitable travel agency from day one.

From Travel Professional Training to Six-Figure Success

Most travel agent courses teach you how to book trips, but few show you how to build a thriving travel business. This isn't just another travel agent training program—it's a complete business blueprint for aspiring travel entrepreneurs who want to become a travel agent with a luxury focus. Whether you're seeking comprehensive travel education or looking to transition from a traditional travel agent job to running your own travel advisory firm, our proven system has helped hundreds of students build successful, location-independent travel businesses. Learn the insider strategies that turn passionate travelers into profitable travel professionals.

Begin Your Luxury Travel Business Journey

What You'll Receive with "The Business of Travel: Your Complete Startup Guide for Travel Advisors"

  • Comprehensive 6-Module Online Course — Access our complete step-by-step system for building a profitable luxury travel business, designed specifically for new advisors ready to excel from day one

  • 17 Premium Business-Building Tools — Download ready-to-use worksheets, templates, and strategic planning guides to implement immediately in your business

  • Lifetime Course Access & Updates — Enjoy unlimited access to all current course materials plus all future updates and expansions as the industry evolves, ensuring your knowledge stays current

  • Exclusive Advisor Community Membership — Join The Business of Travel Collective, our private community of ambitious travel advisors where you can network, collaborate, and receive ongoing support and mentorship

  • Supplier Connection Blueprint — Learn how to establish relationships with luxury travel partners and gain access to our curated directory of vendors who work well with new advisors

    Founding Member Pricing - Act Now!

    $799

    Regular Course Price - $999

    Prices are in Canadian Dollars. Founding Member Pricing ends on August 31st, 2025 at 5:00pm PST.