The Result of Consistent Effort and Dedication

Each travel advisor has their own unique path to how they entered the industry. Some worked several other jobs before landing a career in travel. Others grew up speaking the language, as generations before them established long-lasting agencies for their families to carry on.

Shayla Northcutt, founder and CEO of Northcutt Travel Agency, has her own story, and it began after leaving her corporate accounting role in 2014 and having her second child in 2015. When she didn’t envision herself returning to accounting or being a stay-at-home mom, her husband had the idea of working in travel.

“On his recommendation, I explored a career as a travel agent,” Northcutt said. “By 2017, having gained experience with an online sign-up company for 18 months, I took the leap to establish my own venture.” 

Northcutt points to her educational background in business as one of the components that aids in her success, as well as her involvement in charitable organizations. “Being active in various charitable organizations gave me a wide network from the start,” Northcutt said. “Trust began with that circle as they relied on me for their travel needs, and from there, my reputation spread rapidly.”

At Northcutt Travel Agency, each advisor brings something special to the table — and while Northcutt is familiar with everyone’s strengths, the team also collaborates across different niches to accommodate each client’s preferences.

Instead of confining themselves to one area of travel, such as selling only cruise vacations or honeymoons, the agency embraces everything.

“One distinct feature of our agency is our breadth of service,” Northcutt explained. “My motto? We want to be with you from your honeymoon right through to your retirement journey!”

While working remotely seems to be an ongoing trend, having a dedicated space to conduct business has always been valuable to Northcutt, as it helps both her focus and her balance between work and life. To encourage this delicate dance, and in response to the growth of her agency, Northcutt opened a storefront in May 2023.

It’s important to her to accommodate her team in a physical office so they have a place fully dedicated to work. In addition to this, though, the storefront lends itself to being a place to meet with clients, vendors and potential new hires.

Another crucial aspect of the job for Northcutt and her team is traveling, which leads to additional education, first-hand experiences and expertise. “I pride myself knowing firsthand over 400 resorts and 24 cruise ships as well as countries and cultures and experiences,” she said. “How are you going to truly be able to say you are an expert in travel if you don't travel?”

With every business comes goals for the future, and Northcutt is focusing on technology so her team members can be equipped with the tools they need to get the job done. 

“Think of it as giving superheroes their capes, courtesy of tech tools,” she said. “I've been busy crafting a ‘Traveler’s GPS’ – a manual encompassing the good, the bad and our personal tales from the road.”

Travel advisors with thriving businesses know very well that success is not handed out on a silver platter. It’s the result of hard work, consistency and perseverance, and these are the exact attributes the advisors at Northcutt Travel Agency have shown during their journey to a successful and reputable business — and Northcutt leads by example.

“Launching a business is a comprehensive endeavor; it requires expertise in technology, accounting and a clear vision of the company's structure and values,” Northcutt said. “Success doesn't simply fall into place; it demands consistent effort and dedication.”

Shayla’s Advice for New Advisors

“Put your money where your mind is: invest in education and travel. Hustle to those conferences. Peddle what you know – because in this game, ‘fake it till you make it’ is a no-go. Don't jet off on a trip if you've zero zeal to sell that spot. And heads up! Every industry has its tricksters; so if a group wants your cash to join their ranks, raise an eyebrow.”

This article originally appeared in the Winter 2023 issue of The Compass magazine.