Travel Advisor Success Stories focuses on veteran advisors and how they achieved success. We’d like to introduce you to Angela Hughes, CTC, founder and CEO of Trips & Ships Luxury Travel.
How did you start working as a travel advisor?
I started my travel career at the age of 14, working for my father’s travel agency. I started by creating brochures and delivering tickets. I humorously call this “child labor.” My passion for travel grew as I majored in Travel, Tourism and Geography, and later earned a Master’s degree in the same field. After spending time abroad, including Japan, those international experiences further fueled my desire to build a career in the travel industry.
I also had the opportunity to teach travel, tourism, and geography as an adjunct professor at Brigham Young University (BYU) for several years, sharing my knowledge with future professionals. With a rich blend of family experience, education, and global insight, I ultimately took over the family business and grew it into Trips & Ships Luxury, which is now a successful host agency. Today, in addition to running this thriving business, I also consult, mentor, and educate other advisors through Luxury Travel University to help them succeed in the luxury travel field.
How have you built your business over the years?
By leveraging decades of hands-on experience and constantly evolving with the industry, I have built Trips & Ships Luxury Travel into a leading host agency with over 100 advisors specializing in premium and luxury travel. I did. Over the years, I have leveraged the deep industry knowledge gained from my early start in the travel industry to build strong relationships with top suppliers. This has been the key to providing an exclusive and high-end experience to our clients. Staying ahead of market trends has helped our business thrive and remain relevant in an ever-changing market.
With an entrepreneurial spirit, I have continued to expand my services from luxury cruises to custom safaris, constantly pushing the business into new areas of growth. Speaking on powerful travel stages around the world has allowed me to establish myself as a recognized voice in the industry, share insights, and connect with other leaders. Through my teaching and teaching at BYU and consulting with my own program, Luxury Travel University, I help shape and inspire the next generation of advisors and equip them with the necessary skills to succeed in the luxury travel field. I’ve made sure I’m ready.
What characteristics make you a successful advisor?
My true love for travel allows me to connect with my clients and create meaningful experiences that resonate with them on a personal level.
Our deep understanding of the travel industry, honed through education and decades of experience, allows us to create professional, luxury itineraries that meet each client’s unique needs. From accommodations to excursions, we meticulously plan every aspect of your trip to give you a seamless travel experience.
By building trusted partnerships with vendors, cruise lines, and hoteliers, we can offer our clients special access and travel-enhancing benefits.
In an ever-changing travel environment, the ability to adapt and quickly resolve issues is key to maintaining customer satisfaction, especially when unexpected issues arise.
By understanding your client’s desires and concerns, you can tailor the experience to their preferences and create memories that will last a lifetime.
I coach and support teams and other advisors in the travel industry, so I’m always growing and learning from others.
I stay up-to-date on the latest travel trends, destinations, and technology to ensure my clients benefit from the latest travel opportunities.
Multiple trips to over 107 countries also contributed to my success.
What was your biggest challenge?
My biggest challenge early in my career was balancing raising four children, giving back through my family’s humanitarian programs, and managing an overachieving lifestyle. Balancing these responsibilities while growing my business and maintaining my personal well-being is an ongoing challenge, but one that has shaped me into the person I am today.
My brain never stops, which is both a gift and a curse. It’s great for me as an entrepreneur because I’m always thinking outside the box and always coming up with new ideas. However, it can be difficult at times as it can be difficult to stop thinking about work and it can be difficult to switch off.
While many may see COVID-19 as one of the biggest challenges, for me it has been an incredible period of creativity and reflection. That gave me the space to design what my second act in the travel industry would look like. I have almost quit the industry three times due to stress, boredom, and customer dissatisfaction. However, COVID-19 has given me a whole new level of growth and rethinking my career post-pandemic, and it has clarified what I really want going forward. It was a catalyst for innovation and personal growth in a way I had never experienced before.
What is your greatest accomplishment?
While it is a great honor to be named Travel Leaders Influencer of the Year 2024, my greatest accomplishment lies in the humanitarian work I have done using my travel skills, especially in the poorest countries of the third world. That’s what I think. Helping create sustainable programs has had a huge impact both on the communities we support and on me personally.
For nearly a decade, we’ve been developing sustainable travel programs through family-friendly nonprofits that empower people to volunteer and give back. This work has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my journey, connecting travelers with meaningful opportunities to positively impact some of the world’s most disadvantaged communities.
It was a great experience to go to Poland to help move refugees from the Ukraine-Poland border when the war broke out. Over the next few months, using my travel skills to help them relocate was both challenging and rewarding, and taught me how our industry can make a real difference in times of crisis. It strongly reminded me of that.
What tips can you offer advisors new to the industry?
Success comes from continuously working hard for our business, clients and partners. Attend industry events, network with suppliers, build relationships, and deepen your knowledge. Stay connected and informed by actively participating in industry associations, conferences, and learning opportunities.
We advocate for our clients and the travel industry as a whole. Establish yourself as an expert to build trust and credibility. Approach your travel business with professionalism and dedication, and don’t approach it as a part-time hobby.
Clients won’t come to you, so you have to look for them. Actively seek and find customers. Be polite, always treat others with respect, and never tolerate rudeness or arrogance. Kindness and respect are essential in all business situations.
Your real work is at home, and this business should be a supplement to your home life. It doesn’t matter what you achieve in your industry if you fail in your personal life.
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