Build Personal Relationships - One key thing a new grad or job seeker should know about the Travel and Hospitality industry is that it’s deeply rooted in personal relationships and emotional intelligence. It’s not just about the logistics of booking flights or managing hotel reservations—it’s about understanding the needs and desires of clients and creating experiences that resonate on a personal level. The industry thrives on exceptional customer service, and those who succeed are often the ones who can anticipate client needs, think on their feet, and adapt to changing circumstances with a positive, can-do attitude. So, beyond any technical skills or qualifications, demonstrating strong interpersonal skills, a passion for travel, and a willingness to go above and beyond for clients will set you apart when applying for roles in this space. – Angela Adto Tepper, Founder, AZA Luxury Travel

Gold Medal Travel - Angela Adto Tepper is the founder of New York-based AZA Luxury Travel specializing in France, Italy, and Portugal. Want a two-month vacation across seven European countries with private wine tours, helicopter transfers, yacht charters, a balloon ride, and a Sting concert? She’s your gal. This summer she’s designed a program for a family coming to Paris from Hawaii for the Olympics that will include Michelin-starred restaurants, carefully curated shopping guides in the fashion districts, and private tours of the Louvre. The family will also be attending basketball, wrestling, and volleyball games at the Olympics. “Planning for the Paris 2024 Olympics has been an exhilarating experience,” says Adto Tepper. “Paris presents a wealth of opportunities for luxury travelers to indulge in during the Olympics. The energy and excitement surrounding the Games make this a truly unique and special event to be a part of.” The booking process starts by discussing a client’s preferences and requirements to create a tailored itinerary.

A week-long trip during the Olympics—similar to her Hawaiian client’s plans—starts at about $100,000.

If you're ready to move into the industry, it's worth taking stock of your skills first. For example, Tepper said people with event-planning experience might transition well into travel advising since itinerary planning and familiarity with booking platforms are part of the job. She added that soft skills, like interpersonal communication, problem-solving, and adaptability, would also come in handy.

Tepper recommended contacting an advisor before switching over. "If you're considering the career change, one of the best things you can do is secure a reputable mentor," she said. "A mentor can offer invaluable guidance, accelerating professional growth and enhancing skill development, leading to greater success and higher earnings."

"To maintain the quality of our personalized work, we occasionally have to turn away a client," Tepper said. "Not every client is the right fit for our service. This selectivity ensures that we can devote the necessary time and attention to crafting great experiences for everyone while upholding the high standards we have put in place."

"[Music] is such a joyful, exciting thing for people to plan travel around so I'm not surprised by it," Angela Adto Tepper, of AZA Luxury Travel in New York, part of Travel Edge Network, told TMR. "Song is transcendent and can transport you back to a certain time in your life, so people get nostalgic about that."

AZA Luxury Travel’s Angela Adto Tepper says her company has designed a whole Paris program for a family of financiers from Oahu, Hawaii, who are coming specifically to watch basketball and wrestling. “Paris presents a wealth of opportunities for luxury travelers to indulge in during the Olympics,” Adto Tepper says. “I have tailored an itinerary that includes Michelin-starred restaurants, guided curated shopping excursions in Parisian fashion districts and private tours to iconic sights like the Louvre.”

“I can’t recommend Singita enough, having just visited three of their outstanding properties recently in Zimbabwe, Sabi Sands, and Kruger National Park,” Tepper said. “While this is a family-friendly property, it’s a popular safari experience for our honeymooners. At Singita’s Kwitonda Lodge in Rwanda, they too accept families at the lodge, but the minimum age to trek with the gorillas is 15 years old.”

Angela Adto Tepper of AZA Luxury Travel creates highly produced Instagram video posts that include information about a destination or property with a compilation of pictures and videos, voiceover with subtitles and background music. The response from these posts has translated into a steady stream of travel itinerary requests and bookings.

Nadiya Makarenko added that the inaugural group "truly represents the highest standards for our network - as well as for the industry." Angela Adto Tepper, AZA Luxury Travel, in New York is one of the 16 selected ambassadors.

Angela Adto Tepper, the founder of luxury brand AZA Luxury Travel, explains that the pandemic refocused people’s priorities; she's seeing groups plan bachelorette trips that focus more on bonding and spending time together, rather than just having wild and crazy nights out.

And if all of this overwhelms you but you still want to travel, Angela Adto Tepper, founder of AZA Luxury Travel, advises finding a good travel advisor to help guide you. “Everything from flights to government policies and openings and closing of borders change constantly, making travel confusing and more complex,” she tells TZR. “The service of a travel advisor is valuable more now than ever.”