On Travel Advisor Day, 01MAY, Travelsavers Canada shared survey results from its consultants, which found that 89% of agencies are planning to hire advisors in the coming year. However, almost two-thirds of them are facing difficulties in finding qualified applicants due to the current advisor shortage.
“The travel industry has definitely bounced back and we’re delighted to experience such momentum around leisure travel,” said Jane Clementino, SVP and GM of Travelsavers Canada.
“Our concern is not having enough staff to support the increased clientele, and while our affiliate agencies are continuously searching for new employees, they tell us that candidates tend to lack in skill set. As an industry, we have an obligation to attract new talent to get ahead of the huge demand we face.”
"Advisor crunch," the cause of the shortage is twofold. As more travellers seek the expertise of a consultant, the market for travel agency services is increasing and is expected to grow.
Simultaneously, experienced advisors are leaving the business.
The Travel Institute says 36% of agencies lost staff during the pandemic, and 56% of those haven’t replaced them. Also, two-thirds of advisors today are over 50, with retirement nearing. Only 6% of advisors are under 35.
Recruitment Methods
In their often challenging search for advisors, agencies report using various methods to locate candidates. The most common are referrals from others (56%), job listings (47%), social media posts (36%), and networking (33%).
Another issue hampering the quest for talent is a lack of awareness. Twenty-three percent of advisors surveyed say people don’t know the profession still exists.
Candidate Issues
When agencies do locate interested prospects, misconceptions about the field often deter candidates. Many underestimate the amount of work required to build a clientele while overestimating earnings. Some believe they will journey the world for free. Yet others lack the talent and background to be successful.
About 60% of advisors surveyed say applicants don’t have the right combination of skills and abilities. They also say the pay isn’t high enough to attract qualified candidates, and 30% say candidates aren’t willing to work hard to establish a book of business.
Thirty-two percent report applicants only want to travel for free.
“It’s really important to recognize that as a travel advisor, you’re running your own business,” said Clementino. “And this boils down to three key things – investing in building a network, getting the right training, and delivering excellence in client services – to be successful in this industry.”
The survey results are as follows:
Agencies planning to hire advisors over the next year
● 53% yes
● 36% maybe
● 11% no
Number of advisor agencies plan to hire
● 35% one
● 35% two or three
● 5% four or more
● 25% as many good ones as we can find
Ease finding qualified candidates
● 2% say it’s easy
● 0% say it’s often easy
● 31% say it’s sometimes easy
● 33% say it’s rarely easy
● 33% say it’s not easy
Problems with finding candidates
● 59% don’t have the right combination of skills
● 59% pay not high enough
● 32% just want to travel for free
● 30% are not willing to work hard to establish themselves
● 23% of people don’t know the travel advisor profession still exists
Methods for finding candidates
● 56% referrals
● 47% job listings
● 36% social media posts
● 33% networking
● 18% leads from consortium (TRAVELSAVERS Canada)
Advisors from Travelsavers Canada and Affluent Traveler Collection affiliate agencies in Canada took the survey between 21MAR to 14APR, 2024
