The Course
From idea to first booking, and beyond
Seven core modules get you launched. Pro adds eight advanced modules that take you deeper into selling, FIT, groups, tours, trip insurance, cruising and growing your business. Pro+ adds four hands-on modules and membership on our team. Each module ends with a short quiz to check what you've learned.
Core modules · All plans
Launch your business
Module 1: Is This Business Right for You? What Are the Real Perks of Being a Travel Advisor? ▶ WATCH FREE
A day in the life and the biggest myths versus reality, plus: What are fam trips? What are the real perks I can get as a travel advisor? Can this work just booking my own travel?
Module 2: What Is This Going to Cost Me?
Real numbers. We walk through the 2 absolutely necessary must-haves, E&O insurance and Seller of Travel registration, plus host agency fees and other states’ seller-of-travel rules.
Module 3: Choosing a Host Agency
Host agency vs. going independent, what to compare (splits, fees, training, leads, technology), red flags to avoid, and questions to ask.
Module 4: Picking Your Niche
Cruises, all-inclusives, Disney, groups, river, adventure. Why niches win, and how to build one from your own travel.
Module 5: Finding Your First Clients
Your friends-and-family launch, Facebook groups, TikTok and Reels, and asking for referrals.
Module 6: What Is a CRM?
What a CRM (customer relationship management system) is, and how it keeps your clients, reservations, payments and commissions organized in one place.
Module 7: The Bottom Line: How and When Do Travel Advisors Get Paid?
How and when you get paid, whether you can charge a planning fee, and the legal rules on taking credit cards and storing card authorizations.
Advanced modules · Blueprint Pro & Pro+
Go deeper: selling, FIT, groups, tours, trip insurance, cruising and growth
This is where new advisors usually get stuck: knowing the suppliers well enough to sell with confidence. Pro walks you through it.
Module 8: Before, During and After the Sale PRO
Discovery calls, writing quotes, handling "I can book it myself online," follow-up, and repeat clients.
Module 9: What Is FIT? PRO
FIT (flexible independent travel) explained: building custom itineraries with hotels, air, transfers and tours, how to price them, and when to charge a planning fee.
Module 10: Group Travel and How It Can Grow Your Business PRO
Why groups are one of the fastest ways to grow: setting up group space, amenity points and tour conductor credits, deposits and deadlines, and marketing a group trip.
Module 11: Tours & Tour Operators PRO
Escorted tours, river and land packages, and the tour operators behind them: how they work, who they fit, and how to book them.
Module 12: What Is a BDM/SAM, and How to Use Them to Your Advantage PRO
Business development managers (BDMs) and sales account managers (SAMs): who they are, what they can do for you, and how to build relationships that bring in support, marketing help and perks.
Module 13: Growing Your Business PRO
Group travel, email lists, extra income from travel gear, and your 12-month plan.
Module 14: Trip Insurance and Why It’s Important PRO
What trip insurance covers, why every client should be offered it, and how to explain it so clients understand the risk of traveling without it.
Module 15: Cruising 102 PRO
The next step past the basics: how cruise lines really compare, cabin categories and locations, fare types and promotions, and matching every client to the right ship and sailing.
Blueprint Pro+ only
Book for real, with a team behind you
Pro+ turns the course into your business. You get four hands-on modules on our CRM, your agent profile, AgentUniverse, and Canva and AI, plus everything included as an active independent contractor with Cruises Tours and Travel.
Module 16: The Cruises Tours and Travel CRM PRO+
Hands-on training in our CRM: how to add a client, add a reservation, and use the marketing, forms and reports tools.
Module 17: Your Agent Profile PRO+
A walk-through of your Travel Leaders Network Agent Profile: adding your specialties and past travel experiences so the right clients find you.
Module 18: Training on AgentUniverse PRO+
Quoting, tools, marketing and booking in AgentUniverse, step by step.
Module 19: Canva and AI: The Do’s and Don’ts PRO+
How to use Canva and AI tools in your business the right way, and the mistakes to avoid.
Included as an active independent contractor
Included
Templates you can use the same day
Ready-to-use templates you can copy, paste and start with that day.
Startup kit
A New Travel Advisor Startup Checklist, a 30-Day Plan, a Business Expense Tracker, and a Travel Industry Terminology Cheat Sheet.
Sales kit
A discovery call script, a client intake form, quote email templates, and follow-up sequences.
Legal & setup checklist
The Florida Seller of Travel agent steps, E&O insurance and business setup, in order, plus a host agency comparison worksheet.
Social media kit
30 days of post ideas, TikTok hooks, and how to run a Facebook group.
Bonus: Travel Finds affiliate starter
How to earn extra from travel gear on TikTok Shop and Amazon.
Bonus: Live Q&A
A monthly call with Samantha (Pro and Pro+ members).
Self-paced, on your schedule
Lessons are 5 to 12 minutes, so you can learn in a lunch break. Most students finish Blueprint and Blueprint Pro in 10 to 30 days, depending on their level of learning.
See pricingNot sure yet?
Watch the free introduction
Anyone can watch it. See what being a travel advisor is really like and how The Travel Advisor Blueprint works, before you buy anything.
Watch the Free Intro