In early January, LinkedIn reported that the travel advisor profession has become one of the fastest growing lines of work in the United States. There’s so many people wanting to break into the profession that being a travel advisor is nearly as popular as cutting-edge careers like Artificial Intelligence Consultant and Artificial Intelligence Engineer. The news didn’t exactly come as a surprise to career travel advisors. Those already in the industry say there are many things to love about being a travel advisor including the ability to be your own boss, make your own schedule, and work from anywhere in the world. That kind of autonomy and flexibility is hard to come by and hard to beat. What’s more, being a travel advisor offers a life of adventure thanks to the regular travel opportunities involved. And it’s a very attractive second career for those who have hopped off the corporate ladder. But these same conversations almost inevitably include a touch of frustration about the misperceptions regarding what it takes to be a travel advisor. And with equal measure, there’s also consternation about the reasons some of the profession’s most recent entrants are choosing to join the field in the first place.

Maya Kapoor-Miller, an independent travel manager with the global online platform Dreamport, shares her insights on this reality. Click here to read more.