Why can the travel advisor-supplier relationship be so fraught?

The travel advisor-supplier relationship can be key for higher sales on both sides of the coin. It’s truly a win-win, but really solid relationships between advisors and their supplier representatives can sometimes be elusive. This week, we get deep into the topic with Kate Thomas and Heather Christopher, a supplier and advisor who have a great, long-standing relationship. 

This episode is sponsored by Windstar Cruises https://www.windstarcruises.com/.

In this episode:

• 1:17 - Meet our guests, Heather Christopher and Kate Thomas — and advisor and supplier, respectively, and longtime friends and colleagues and co-founders of Travel Pro Theory
• 5:29 - A 30,000-foot-view on travel advisor-supplier relationships
• 8:19 - Is a good supplier-advisor relationship a unicorn?
• 11:25 - Mary Therese Dinga of Addicted to Travel, a newer advisor, shares a positive story about working with a business development manager
• 16:35 - Why are suppliers frustrated with travel agents right now?
• 21:45 - Lena Sutton of Go Wander Travel asks: what kind of qualifying questions should she ask to determine if a supplier is a proponent of sustainable travel?
• 23:35 - Are many advisors asking suppliers about sustainability?
• 28:22 - Curated Greece’s Seetha Ramanathan asks about commission invoicing, and final documents
• 36:53 - Lindsay Deevy, and advisor with Houlahan Travel, asks about qualifying questions outside of the basics

Further resources:

Travel Pro Theory, advice and resources for travel pros

Travel Pro Theory’s The Digest

Tourism Cares

Kate on Instagram

Heather on Instagram

Heather’s BE The Travel

This is why advisors, suppliers and clients are frustrated right now

Need advice?

Call our hotline and leave a message: 201-902-2098

Email us: tradesecrets@travelweekly.com

Theme song:

Sock Hop by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4387-sock-hop

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

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