Absolutely, and I’m living proof! I accidentally fell into travel during COVID when my green tea business collapsed, with zero industry experience. Now I’m running JLT Group with 400+ agents, many of whom started exactly where you are now. What I’ve learned? Experience isn’t everything. Support, training, and community are.
When I joined InteleTravel a few years ago, I wasn’t looking to build a travel empire. My Matcha Now business had just collapsed thanks to COVID, I was in a pretty dark place, and honestly? I signed up for the travel discounts.
I had zero travel industry experience. No connections. No idea what ATOL meant or how commission worked.
But here’s what happened: I started learning, got excited about the possibilities, and realized this industry had something special – the chance to create genuine moments of joy for people while building a business that actually fits around your life.
Fast forward to today, and I’m running JLT Group with over 400 agents. Many of them started exactly where you might be right now – wondering if they could possibly make this work without years of experience.
The answer? You absolutely can.
Curiosity Beats Experience Every Time
I’ve seen people with 20 years in corporate travel struggle because they couldn’t adapt to new ways of working. Meanwhile, I’ve watched complete beginners like Megan book £100K+ in their first few months because they asked questions, listened to clients, and weren’t afraid to learn.
People Skills Trump Passport Stamps
You don’t need to have been everywhere to help someone plan an incredible trip. You just need to care about getting it right. Some of our most successful agents specialize in destinations they’ve never personally visited – because they’ve mastered the art of understanding what their clients actually want.
The Right Support Changes Everything
This is the big one. When I was starting out, I quickly realized that most travel “opportunities” expected you to figure it out alone. That’s exactly what I refused to do when I built JLT. Our agents succeed not just because of effort – but because they’re never doing it alone.
Let me share some wins from our JLT family:
Megan joined us with no travel background and booked over £100K in her first 5 months. She works around her full-time job, focusing on once-in-a-lifetime holidays. Her secret? She genuinely cares about creating perfect moments for her clients.
Harri started with us having never worked in travel and has now booked over 100 holidays totalling £250K+ in 9 months. What made the difference? Her focuses on making travel accessible and affordable for everyone – and that passion shows.
Shannon leveraged her experience as a mum to become a family travel specialist, hitting £46K in bookings while building toward her £100K goal. She didn’t need industry experience – she had real-life experience with what families actually need.
These aren’t unicorns. They’re people who started scared but started smart, with proper support around them.
“Want to explore how JLT could work for you?”
Here’s what I learned from my own journey and building JLT: most travel training is either too theoretical or throws you in the deep end without a life jacket.
We Do It Differently
When I designed our training, I made sure it covers:
The JLT Approach
The difference? When our agents get stuck, they’re part of a community that actually cares about their success.
Find out: Why I built the JLT Group
“I Haven’t Travelled Much Myself”
Neither had I when I started! Some of our top earners focus on destinations they’ve never visited. The secret isn’t personal experience – it’s knowing how to research, ask the right questions, and connect with suppliers who can give you the inside knowledge.
Plus, here’s something nobody tells you: clients often prefer agents who ask thoughtful questions over those who assume they know what you want because they’ve been there.
“I Don’t Know Anything About the Travel Industry”
Perfect! That means you haven’t picked up any bad habits. I’ve found that people coming from other industries often bring fresh perspectives that make them brilliant at client service.
The travel industry is actually quite welcoming – suppliers want to work with agents who bring them business, and they’ll teach you everything you need to know about their products.
“I’m Not a Natural Salesperson”
Good news: the best travel agents aren’t salespeople. They’re matchmakers. Your job isn’t to convince someone to buy a holiday – it’s to understand what would make them happy and then make it happen.
I’m not naturally pushy (anyone who knows me will confirm this!), but I’ve built a business by genuinely caring about getting things right for people.
1. Choose Your Support System Carefully
This is everything. Look for:
2. Start Before You Feel Ready
I spent months thinking I needed to know everything before I could help anyone. Biggest mistake ever. You learn by doing, with support around you.
3. Focus on Service, Not Sales
The agents who struggle are the ones trying to push products. The ones who thrive are focused on creating amazing experiences for real people.
Ready to explore starting your travel agent journey?
When I talk to our agents about their wins, it’s rarely just about the money (though that’s important too). It’s about:
Timeline reality check:
Most of our agents see their first bookings within weeks and build to consistent income within 6-12 months. Not because they’re special, but because they’re not trying to figure it out alone.
Three years ago, I was sitting where you might be right now – wondering if I could possibly make this work without experience, connections, or a clue about the industry.
I’m not naturally the most confident person. I definitely wasn’t born knowing about travel. But I was willing to learn, and I found the right people to learn from.
Now I get to watch people discover they’re capable of so much more than they thought. That’s honestly the best part of my job.
The travel industry needs people who care about getting it right. People who’ll take the time to understand what someone really wants from their holiday. People who see this as more than just transactions.
Experience helps, but what matters more is finding the right support system and being willing to start before you feel completely ready.
Want to chat about whether JLT might be right for you? Book a discovery call – no pressure, just honest conversation.
Most comprehensive travel agent training programs take 3-6 weeks to complete, covering industry basics, booking systems, and legal requirements. However, becoming truly confident and successful typically takes 6-12 months of practical experience with ongoing support.
No formal qualifications are required to become a travel agent in the UK. However, you’ll need training on industry regulations, booking systems, and customer service. Most successful agents join host agencies that provide comprehensive training and ongoing support.
Yes, many travel agents start part-time while maintaining other employment. The flexibility of working from home and setting your own hours makes it possible to build a travel business around existing commitments.
New agent earnings vary widely based on commitment level and business development. Some agents make their first commission within weeks, while building to consistent monthly income typically takes 6-12 months. Successful agents can earn anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand pounds monthly. See our blog post – How much does a travel agent make.
Independent agents have more flexibility and higher commission rates but need to handle their own marketing and business development. Agency employees receive regular salaries and benefits but typically earn lower commissions and have less control over their client relationships.
Ready to start your travel agent journey? I built JLT because I believe everyone deserves proper support when they’re building something new. No experience required – just passion for travel and willingness to learn with the right people around you.
Book a discovery call to chat about your options – let’s see if JLT might be right for you.
