The days of travel advisors solely selling holidays are long gone. Today, advisors are no longer simply selling travel – they’re building successful businesses around it. Discover how MTA’s tools and tailored support help redefine what success looks like.
For 25 years, MTA – Mobile Travel Agents have built a business providing everything independent advisors need to achieve their goals. With their comprehensive network, you can focus on what you do best, streamline your operations, and ensure you have work-life balance to enjoy the spoils of your success.
Whatever your travel niche, MTA has tailored back-end tools to support. From technology to training, professional development to marketing resources, business admin support and a built-in community, with MTA, you can build a loyal client base, develop niche expertise, and ditch survive for thrive.
Today’s advisors
Post-pandemic, many advisors found rigid office hours and the limitations of office-based jobs no longer suited them. With smartphones, laptops, and Wi-Fi almost everywhere, they enjoyed the freedom of running their business from anywhere, from a home-based office, gorgeous Pacific Island beach, or cruising the Atlantic Ocean.
In 2026, the most successful advisors aren’t necessarily the ones who book the most travel – they’re the ones who build the strongest relationships.
At MTA, those advisors are not rarities, but the gold standard. Or the platinum standard, as over 90 advisors recently attended their Platinum Event, reserved for the top-producing advisors. This is triple the number of advisors from five years ago.
If true autonomy, flexibility on your terms, and long-lasting income potential appeals, read on to get the lowdown on making the switch to MTA from two travel advisors who did just that.
“Success looks different to me now”
For Christine McKerrell, Senior Travel Advisor, the move to MTA and business ownership came after a major turning point.
“When the retail office I worked in for 13 years closed its doors, it prompted me to consider a new chapter,” she says.
“With three young children, the flexibility of working from home was incredibly appealing. I then met several MTA home-based advisors on famils, and their experiences gave me the confidence to try something new.”
Like many advisors making the move from retail to business ownership, McKerrell expected building a client base to be one of the biggest hurdles.
“Building my business was easier than expected – and it took off faster than expected,” she says. “The support from friends, family, and colleagues has been incredible, too. Once people experienced genuinely personal service, the referrals really started to flow. It’s been humbling to see how loyal clients can be.”
That experience speaks to one of the key benefits of the home-based model. When advisors are responsible for their own business, everything changes, from how they communicate and service clients to how they think about growth.
“Success looks quite different to me now. In the beginning, it was about making it work, but these days it’s about having happy clients, a strong base of referrals, and building genuine relationships,” she says.
“I really value knowing many of my clients personally now — far more than I ever did working in retail — and it’s truly rewarding.”
“I have not looked back”
For Mobile Travel Advisor Kimberlee Wright, the move to an independent business model came at a time when both work and life were shifting dramatically.
“I had been in retail travel for 16 years and managed a store whilst navigating many ups and downs, including Covid,” she says. “My goal was to own and manage the agency.”
However, with pregnancy and the owner’s decision to sell the business post-pandemic, Wright found the traditional retail path no longer appealed. A no-pressure chat with MTA changed everything and she took the leap. “I have not looked back.”
For Wright, one of the biggest wins has been the ability to shape the business around her life, rather than the other way around. She shared, “My daughter is three, my husband has a business, and we are also beef cattle primary producers. Adapting my work hours to suit our lifestyle is a win-win.”
When asked what she’s gained under MTA’s guidance, she says, “I love how the MTA training platform helps me learn and grow, whether diving into product training or reading trade updates.”
“Go for it!”
Both advisors point to the value of having strong support while growing a business that feels like their own.
“Being part of MTA has made the whole journey feel much more manageable and far less daunting,” says McKerrell. “Head office and BDM support has been invaluable. Marketing and social media were my biggest learning curves; thankfully, MTA provides ready-made content and is happy to tailor it further if needed.”
Wright echoes these sentiments: “MTA has a welcoming, supportive leadership group. They help you with all aspects of your business to achieve growth and ultimately success.”
When asked for advice for travel advisors considering the move to MTA, both women are clear.
“Go for it!” says McKerrell. “The flexibility is incredibly rewarding, and there’s satisfaction in building something of your own and seeing your hard work pay off.”
Wright adds, “What have you got to lose? From someone who never wanted to leave retail, I have zero regrets and have met the most brilliant advisors in the MTA family!”
Visit mtatravel.com.au/joinus for more information.
This article is brought to you by MTA – Mobile Travel Agents.
