Generally speaking, the news is good, if not great, for travel advisors. Travelers are ready to hit the road this year, and a Travel Weekly poll of readers in April found that more than three-quarters of respondents said they were optimistic about their agency’s future.

But the survey also asked advisors to describe their biggest challenges, and as one person put it: “Everything.”

In this episode of the Folo, we’re talking with senior editor Jamie Biesiada and Global Travel Collection president Angie Licea some of the biggest agency challenges: Staffing, long hold times, how to get information for clients and how to combat pandemic-era burnout.

This conversation was recorded May 19 and has been edited for length and clarity.

Sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by Windstar Cruises

Related: 

Cover story: Hurdles ahead for travel advisors 

Suppliers rush to hire and train staff as frustration builds over wait times

Travel advisors are optimistic about the future of their agencies 

Global Travel Collection refreshes its learning library

Generally speaking, the news is good, if not great, for travel advisors. Travelers are ready to hit the road this year, and a Travel Weekly poll of readers in April found that more than three-quarters of respondents said they were optimistic about their agency&rsquo;s future.
But the survey also asked advisors to describe their biggest challenges, and as one person put it: &ldquo;Everything.&rdquo;
In this episode of the Folo, we&rsquo;re talking with senior editor <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/jamie-biesiada">Jamie Biesiada</a> and <a href="https://globaltravelcollection.com/">Global Travel Collection</a> president <a href="https://internova.com/leadership/angie-licea/">Angie Licea</a> some of the biggest agency challenges: Staffing, long hold times, how to get information for clients and how to combat pandemic-era burnout.
This conversation was recorded May 19 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by <a href="https://windstarcruises.com">Windstar Cruises</a>
Related: 
Cover story: <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Hurdles-ahead-for-advisors">Hurdles ahead for travel advisors </a>
<a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Suppliers-rush-to-staff-up-train-as-ire-builds-on-call-wait-times">Suppliers rush to hire and train staff as frustration builds over wait times</a>
<a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Travel-advisors-now-optimistic-on-the-future-of-their-agencies">Travel advisors are optimistic about the future of their agencies </a>
<a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Global-Travel-Collection-redesigns-its-Learning-Library">Global Travel Collection refreshes its learning library</a>

Travel Weekly's team of reporters, editors and contributors explore ideas, share experiences and provide insight into what they’ve uncovered while reporting on some of the biggest trends in travel.

Travel Weekly's team of reporters, editors and contributors explore ideas, share experiences and provide insight into what they&rsquo;ve uncovered while reporting on some of the biggest trends in travel.

Hosted by Rebecca Tobin, managing editor of Travel Weekly

The Folo by Travel Weekly

Travel Weekly's team of reporters, editors and contributors take a deep dive into the biggest travel story of the week. 

In each episode, we invite invite our team of journalists and their trusted sources to delve into major travel trends that industry insiders, or just travelers, want to know about.  

You may be wondering: Why the Folo? Well, a folo -- f o l o -- is a journalism term, a kind of shorthand that basically means to follow a breaking news story with more in depth reporting and analysis. And at the Folo podcast, that's what we do. 

Hosted by Travel Weekly managing editor Rebecca Tobin.

Travel Weekly's team of reporters, editors and contributors take a deep dive into the biggest travel story of the week.&nbsp;
In each episode, we invite invite our team of journalists and their trusted sources to delve into major travel trends that industry insiders, or just travelers, want to know about. &nbsp;
You may be wondering: Why the Folo? Well, a folo -- f o l o -- is a journalism term, a kind of shorthand that basically means to follow a breaking news story with more in depth reporting and analysis. And at the Folo podcast, that's what we do.&nbsp;
Hosted by Travel Weekly managing editor Rebecca Tobin.

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