Tools Change. Suppliers Change. Relationships Still Win.
Contributed By: Jennifer Dugan
Recently, I attended a Travel Leaders Network event where I had the opportunity to spend time networking with suppliers and industry partners. Events like these serve as a gentle reminder that relationships still matter deeply in this business.
In an industry filled with technology, automation, and endless supplier choices, it is still the personal connections that often create the biggest opportunities for growth.
For travel advisors, building supplier relationships can open doors to better support, stronger knowledge, increased confidence, and valuable business opportunities. For agency owners, having supplier partners who truly understand your agency and support your goals can make an enormous difference for both the agency and the advisors within it.
There Are a Lot of Suppliers – But Not Every Supplier Is the Right Fit
One of the biggest challenges advisors face today is figuring out who they should truly align themselves with.
There are countless suppliers in the travel industry, all offering different products, specialties, and support systems. It can be overwhelming, especially for newer advisors who are still discovering what kind of business they want to build.
Sometimes advisors choose suppliers based simply on familiarity or personal preference rather than what supports their business goals.
For example, we may ask an advisor what niche they want to focus on, and they will say honeymoons and romance travel. But when we ask what supplier they want to build around, they might answer Disney.
Now, Disney is an incredible supplier and can fit adult travelers, but it may not align naturally with a romance-focused marketing strategy. Disney is often a much stronger fit for advisors focused on family travel and multigenerational vacations.
This is where many advisors struggle.
They often do not yet know what they do not know. Learn from the supplier who their target clientele is.
Your Supplier Relationships Should Match Your Business Strategy
Successful advisors do not try to market everything to everyone.
They specialize.
They narrow their focus.
They identify the types of travel they are passionate about, the clients they want to attract, and the suppliers that naturally support those goals.
If you want to focus on luxury cruises but have never stepped foot on a cruise ship, it becomes much harder to sell with confidence and authenticity. If you want to specialize in a destination or travel style, you need to immerse yourself in it, learn it, and build relationships with suppliers who support that market.
You cannot effectively market something you do not understand or feel passionate about.
And once you identify your focus, your branding needs to support it.
Your website, social profiles, marketing content, and conversations with clients should all reinforce your niche and expertise.
Supplier Relationships Take Effort From Both Sides
Not every supplier relationship develops easily.
Sometimes communication feels difficult. Sometimes support feels limited. Sometimes a partnership simply does not feel like the right fit.
But often, suppliers genuinely want to help.
Most Business Development Managers want to understand your struggles and find ways to support your growth. They have tools, resources, data, and experience from working with other agencies that can provide valuable insight.
The key is being willing to reach out and ask for help.
That first step matters.
But equally important is following through after support is offered. Suppliers want to see advisors making an effort, implementing ideas, and actively working toward growth.
Relationships work best when both sides are engaged.
And sometimes, it may simply come down to finding the right connection. One BDM relationship may not click naturally, while another may become an incredible partnership that helps transform your business.
Have a Plan – Not Just Random Activity
One of the most common mistakes advisors make is throwing random ideas at the wall to see what sticks.
They market one destination this week, another supplier the next, then suddenly switch focus again a month later.
Growth rarely works that way.
Strong businesses are built with intention.
Choose your niche carefully. Build supplier relationships that align with your goals. Create a marketing strategy that supports your focus. Execute consistently. Then evaluate the results.
Six months later, ask yourself:
- Is this working?
- Are the right clients responding?
- Could I improve my approach?
- Do I need more training or supplier support?
This is often the perfect time to reconnect with your BDM and ask for guidance. Suppliers often have valuable insight into what is working in the market and how advisors can position themselves more effectively.
Relationships Matter
Relationships have always been one of the strongest foundations of the travel industry.
The advisors who build meaningful supplier partnerships, stay engaged, ask questions, follow through, and create intentional business strategies are often the ones who see long-term growth.
Technology may continue changing the industry, but strong relationships still open doors.
And sometimes, one conversation, one event, or one supplier connection can completely change the direction of a travel business.