5 Common Mistakes Young Travel Managers Should Avoid for a Successful Career

As a seasoned traveller and member of the travel industry, I've seen my fair share of rookie mistakes made by travel managers and have even been guilty of a few myself. One of the biggest mistakes is not planning, which may lead to expensive delays, missed opportunities, and unhappy customers. Nevertheless, young travel managers can avoid these mistakes and succeed in this fascinating and rapidly changing industry by adopting the proper mindset and awareness.

I'll outline the top five errors that young travel managers should avoid in this blog post, along with helpful advice and examples from real-world situations to help them succeed. Young travel managers can use these suggestions to prepare ahead of time, cultivate strong relationships, adopt technology, prioritize quality control, and learn from their mistakes.

Failing to Plan Ahead: First off, many new travel managers make the mistake of reacting to situations rather than preparing for and foreseeing potential problems. To avoid this, they should develop a strategic plan that outlines goals, priorities, and key milestones, and regularly review and update it as needed. Do you do this at least once a month? I can't emphasize enough the importance of planning in our lives! That's why I chose this point first.

Not Building Strong Relationships: As the travel industry is so social, travel managers who don't forge solid bonds with their customers, vendors, and other stakeholders will find it difficult to succeed. You should prioritize communication, responsiveness, and transparency to establish great relationships. Take the initiative to get in touch with clients and other partners to establish rapport and confidence. I recommend a book called "Never Eat Alone" by Keith Ferrazzi that will help you understand this topic better.

Ignoring Technology & Trends: I have heard this a lot! "I am busy, being busy," work pressure, and day-to-day life almost like hypnosis blinds us from looking ahead and, before you know it, suddenly years have passed! You have to step back and invest in training and education to ensure you have the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed and avoid making this error. Keep an eye on current trends and innovations in our field. Follow influencers on YouTube, subscribe to travel journals like BTN and Phocuswright, and attend travel conferences to meet and hear experts talk. Never be shy to ask a question or two.

Underestimating the Importance of Quality Control: Our industry is a complicated one with many moving components, and young travel managers who don't prioritize quality control may find it difficult to satisfy the demands of their customers. Young travel managers should adopt strict quality control methods, such as regular audits and feedback, to avoid making this error. To avoid this mistake, young travel managers should implement rigorous quality control procedures, including regular audits, feedback loops, and other measures to ensure that all aspects of their work meet high standards. It's important to take a short course. Try Udemy and select a course on this topic (or any other). In 20-30 hours, you will have enough knowledge to understand this subject better.

Failure to Adapt to Changes: Young travel managers who are unable to adapt run the risk of losing relevance in a field that is continuously changing. Missed opportunities and lost business may occur from a failure to respond to industry developments. Be aware of market developments, open to picking up new techniques, and adaptable in your thinking to avoid making this error. Keep a close watch on the trends in our industry and what technology is doing around it. It's easier than you think - you just need to be aware and smell the cheese. Yes, do read "Who Moved My Cheese" once more! Resisting and denying change is just a waste of time and a sure way to slip! Sometimes you may or may not be aware that you are resisting change! Don’t fall in love with your old ways of working.

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I could have added few more to this list like lack of cultural sensitivity, Time management and?Customer focus . The trick is also to learn and not repeat a mistake twice. The travel industry is a demanding and fascinating field that calls for a particular set of abilities and information. Young travel managers can achieve success in this exciting field and leave a lasting impression on the industry by avoiding these frequent errors and implementing best practises.

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As Steve Jobs once said, "Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower." By adopting innovative and forward-thinking strategies, I have no doubt young travel managers can become leaders in their field and achieve great success.

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If you're a young travel manager looking to take your career to the next level, be sure to incorporate these tips into your work and never stop learning and growing. And hey what other mistakes should we avoid ? Love to know your thoughts!