When we think of the travel industry, it’s easy to imagine exotic destinations, thrilling experiences, and a lifestyle full of adventure. For travel advisors, that image fuels our passion and inspires our work. But behind the allure of this industry lies a more challenging side that many would rather not think about: the real risks that can threaten your business.

From fraud to hype-fueled distractions, these pitfalls can jeopardize your hard-earned reputation and success if not addressed head-on. To protect your business, you need to be realistic, proactive, and grounded. Let’s dive into the risks travel advisors face, how to mitigate them, and how a simple framework can help you focus on what truly matters.

A newly released survey from TRAVELSAVERS and NEST advisors across the U.S. and Canada points to a decisive shift in traveler preferences for 2026. According to the data, travelers are prioritizing upscale comfort, bucket-list experiences, immersive cultural encounters, and stress-free planning as they design next year’s vacations.

Below is a breakdown of the key…

Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has pulled back a major proposed consumer protection from the previous administration: a rule that would have required airlines to pay passengers for long delays or cancellations caused by the airline itself.

The DOT’s previous proposal aimed to make airlines pay cash when delays or cancellations were the airline’s fault — for example, when there was a mechanical problem or a crew-scheduling issue. The payouts would have worked somewhat like Europe’s rules, where compensation is standard. But before the proposal took effect, the DOT withdrew it, saying it would be too costly for airlines and might lead to higher fares.

As a result, nothing about compensation is changing. U.S. travelers…

“The fish are biting,” says Brad Tolkin, and the travel advisors in the World Travel Holdings franchise divisions are racking up “astonishing numbers” of both cruise and land vacation sales—including the highest numbers of the entire year in the past 12 weeks.

Speaking to a happy and confident audience at the annual Dream Vacations/CruiseOne conference last week, held this year on the first revenue sailing of the beautiful new Star Princess, Tolkin said the parent company is “accelerating into 2026”—thanks in part to the record $1 billion in sales the two franchise divisions are expected to deliver…