Growth Through Mentorship

No matter how long you’ve been an advisor, there undoubtedly will come a time when you’re professionally discouraged, stumped or stressed. Sure, talking to a friend or family member is an option, but unless they’re in the travel industry, they might not get it. 

That’s where a mentor comes in: someone with industry know-how and experience who can lend a listening ear, offer connections, help you level up your skills and keep you accountable. In this industry, the most successful travel advisors understand the importance of having a mentor (or even a team of veteran advisors) on their side. 

Travel advisor Joshua Smith sees that value firsthand. Nearly two decades ago, he kick-started his career with the help of a mentor who he still relies upon today. Now, he runs his own agency and co-founded Millennials in Travel, a career development and networking organization for young, passionate travel industry professionals. 

Smith, who pays it forward by offering his own mentoring expertise, sees both sides of the mentorship coin. Knowing the benefits of having received mentorship, he believes in passing on his wisdom to others in the field. 

“There are so many opportunities for promotion and business development through that bilateral mentoring, especially between generations. There’s so much that can be learned on both sides,” he said. “Finding those that are of different ages — someone who is 20 years older or 20 years younger — there’s so much knowledge that can be transferred.” 

That know-how is integral to the relationships developed through The Travel Institute, which helps thousands of advisors every year with mentorship and more. 

“I always say that good things happen when people get together and share a common goal,” said Diane Petras, president of The Travel Institute.

A Necessity in the Industry 

Smith started in the travel industry 17 years ago with no particular expertise, just a curiosity about travel. In the United States, the education system doesn’t highlight travel as a viable career option, he said, and for that reason, having a mentor was and is “a necessity.” His first mentor was his boss at an agency in Seattle. They naturally gravitated toward each other, he said, especially when the mentor saw Smith’s initiative and drive to improve the business. Despite being a temporary employee, he took a risk and offered some alternative suggestions on his very first project. 

“She saw that there was a desire for me to make things better and not just do as I’m told,” Smith remembered. “That’s actually what instigated that mentor relationship because it was not only me fulfilling her needs in the project but also asking questions and trying to make it better and more efficient.”

In the early days, the mentorship provided Smith with a point of contact with whom he could “speak freely and not be ashamed to ask questions.” When his mentor gave him assignments, Smith looked for areas of growth. Even when he was just putting labels on envelopes, he looked for ways to learn from the experience.

Over the years, the relationship has helped train Smith to look for voids in business relationships and think about strategies for short- and long-term success, including how to “change the world through tourism.” 

“I think my mentor could provide that long-term strategy because she had 20 years experience and knew all of the options,” he said. “We would put together a five-year plan, a 10-year plan. I think she thoroughly enjoys that, and I don't see that formality having occurred in other mentor relationships.”

Forming a Bilateral Partnership

As his career has advanced, Smith has been able to give back to his mentor as well. 

“Over the years, it progressed into a sharing of mentoring that is bilateral in nature,” he said. “The pendulum swings in one direction for some things and then in the other direction, depending on what the topic is. There needs to be some type of connection where both people are receiving value in that relationship.” 

From a strategy perspective, the mentorship even helped Smith create the framework for Millennials in Travel. Another short-term mentor also helped him for several years throughout the process of co-founding the organization. 

Millennials in Travel started nearly a decade ago and has grown to nearly 3,200 members worldwide who help one another with career development and networking. The membership provides access to a job board, community forums, in-person networking events and more. Whether you’re looking for a short-term, project-based advisor or a long-term relationship, it’s imperative to find someone you can trust. 

The time commitment required for a fulfilling mentorship relationship will vary depending on each partner’s availability and needs. Some of Smith’s mentees touch base every few months, but for others, the relationship is more formal with specific check-ins for accountability. He offers guidance on a variety of questions: Some mentees need help designing a trip in a certain country, and others need tips on group travel. Often, he serves as the devil’s advocate, drawing on his own experience and helping mentees see issues through multiple lenses. 

“It is being a sounding board and sharing my experience and then letting them make the best decision for them,” he said.

Finding a Mentor

So, how exactly do you find a mentor? 

Smith recommends looking for mentors in your company, through alumni networks, within networking organizations, through LinkedIn and even in Facebook groups. Organizations like his own can help people network, which often is a first step to finding a mentor. 

The first person you talk to might not be the right mentor or mentee for you, and that’s ok. The goal is to find someone who meshes with you. If you sense the connection isn’t quite right, you can always ask if they know someone more aligned with your particular goals.

“It really is finding the right person that can speak the same language, very like-minded,” Smith said.

Another great place to look for a mentor is through The Travel Institute, an organization that has helped hundreds of thousands of advisors refine and expand their skill sets. Every year, the organization enrolls more than 2,500 new-to-the-industry students for mentorship, guidance and coaching. 

The Travel Institute also offers the Professional Educators Program through which seasoned professionals share wisdom with newer advisors through webinars and white papers. In addition, the institute offers in-house trainers who coach and mentor advisors at the beginning of their careers. Many advisors who meet as students at The Travel Institute stay connected, often peer mentoring each other throughout the years, Petras says. 

As a Certified Travel Industry Executive, Petras believes deeply in the importance of keeping knowledge fresh amid an evolving industry. “This invaluable exchange of wisdom ensures that everyone benefits from decades of collective experience,” she said.

Advice To Grow On

There are two pieces of business advice Smith has heard over the years that he keeps coming back to, especially when it comes to mentorship.

The first: “You’re never going to get something unless you ask for it.” Put simply, if you want to reach out to someone, do it! 

The second: “It’s not who you know. It’s who knows you.” Putting your mentees in the right rooms and introducing them to leaders in the industry can help them grow in their business for years to come — and there’s nothing more rewarding as a mentor than seeing your mentee bloom.

The American Society of Travel Advisors’ Mentoring Program

Another great resource to try? ASTA’s Mentoring Programs. Whether you’re looking to be mentored or want to give back as a mentor yourself, this one-on-one program is designed to offer insights and resources to improve advisors’ professional lives — and their personal lives, too. Expect guidance to help with self-worth and provide a much-needed confidence boost. If you’re looking to level up, this program can even help with leadership skills to develop an executive presence. Visit asta.org/professional-development/asta-mentoring-program to learn more.

Eighty-seven percent of mentors and mentees feel empowered by the relationship and have developed greater confidence, according to stats ASTA cites from Women Ahead. Mentors in the ASTA program hail from a variety of backgrounds, from honeymoon travel to cruises, meaning there’s a mentor there to suit your needs.

What’s the Best Advice You’ve Ever Received From a Mentor?

More mentorship is always a good thing. These pros used the best advice they’ve ever received to power their travel business, and now they’re passing it along to you:

• Joshua Smith, president of Global Citizen Journeys and co-founder of Millennials in Travel: First, you’re never going to get something unless you ask for it. Secondly, it’s not who you know. It’s who knows you.

• Don Capparella, CEO and founder of Quality Travel Solutions: First, remember that learning never stops. It is so important to carve out time for continuing education, whether that be new suppliers to partner with, new destinations that are up-and-coming, and most importantly, technology that can help you market your business. Secondly, do not be afraid to close the sale. Learning how to use an assumptive closing method is paramount in being able to grow your business.

• Angela Hughes, owner of Trips & Ships Luxury Travel: Consistency and showing up daily, both as a travel advisor and business owner, is key to building a sustainable and successful career in this industry. It sets the tone for client relationships, builds trust, and ensures that you’re constantly improving and growing your business.

• Hannah Haldeman, CTA senior travel advisor: My best advice is to remember that we work in an industry that is always changing. A key piece of advice that I received early in my career is to stay educated. My company has an incredible partnership with The Travel Institute which has allowed me the opportunity to grow and stay on top of market trends. During this time, I participated in everything from destination training to focusing on the front-line skills needed to be a successful travel advisor and build exceptional experiences for my clients.

Originally appeared in the Winter 2024 issue of The Compass magazine