On this episode of Destination on the Left, Joshua Harrell, Chief Revenue Officer at WorldVia, joins me to discuss the evolution of travel advisors in the United States in a post-pandemic world. Joshua shares his insights on how content creation can help travel advisors build their businesses, and he offers some fantastic practical tips for sharing great content with your audience.

What You Will Learn in This Episode:

How Joshua transitioned from a background in marketing and entrepreneurship into the travel advisor industry
How the travel advisor profession has evolved to provide personalized value for travelers
What content creation means for travel advisors and how becoming a content creator at any level can help build an audience and demonstrate expertise
How Joshua encourages travel advisors to overcome the fear of content creation with his mantra: "get going, get smart, then get good"
Why he advises advisors to align their business with personal passion and interests
How collaboration between travel advisors and supplier partners leads to mutual business growth
Marketing systems and foundational strategies Joshua recommends to help advisors streamline their marketing

The Modern Travel Advisor

Once upon a time, the idea of a travel agency conjured images of mall storefronts and swivel chairs. But today's travel advisor is a totally different breed, part consultant, part marketer, and 100% expert.

Pre-2020, many Americans believed DIY online booking made travel advisors obsolete. But it was really the post-pandemic world that revealed just how valuable a travel professional can be. Whether unraveling complex travel restrictions or finding that off-the-beaten-path experience, advisors offer insider knowledge and advocacy that algorithms simply cannot replicate.

Building Authority and Community

Successful advisors aren't just travel experts; they're also storytellers, educators, and digital community builders, whether they do it by sending curated newsletters, going live on platforms like TikTok and YouTube, or sharing firsthand travel experiences on social channels.

Don't be fooled into thinking only "influencers" can play the content game. Most successful travel advisors are content creators at some level. The key is helping potential clients see not just what you know, but how you think, your personality, experience, and specializations shining through. Start where you're comfortable, learn as you go, and trust that consistency breeds improvement and audience growth. The perfect lighting or equipment can wait. What matters is showing up and sharing your expertise.

The Secret Sauce for Sustainable Growth

The real magic happens in collaboration. Joshua backs this up with real stories, discussing the power of reaching out to suppliers, account managers, and fellow advisors. Whether joining mastermind calls, exploring new product lines, or simply sharing best practices, these partnerships unlock opportunities you might never have considered.

He shares an example of an advisor who built a thriving business creating group trips for botanical societies, all sparked by a single phone conversation with a tour operator's representative.

Resources:

Website: https://worldviatravelnetwork.com/
LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuaharrell/
LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/worldvia/

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