A recent industry survey has revealed the growing pressures facing travel advisors across Australia.
The insight from Destination Webinars highlights widespread time scarcity, rising operational complexity and increasing competition from online and direct channels.
The findings paint a picture of an industry under strain but also one that is actively seeking efficient, high‑quality professional development to stay competitive.
Drawn from 600+ travel advisors, the research shows that agents are grappling with heavy workloads, burnout, airline and NDC frustrations, technology overwhelm and shifting client expectations.
Many report struggling to keep up with product updates, marketing demands and the rapid pace of change across the sector.
“Agents are telling us loud and clear: they’re stretched, they’re juggling too much and they need support that respects their time,” said Charlie Trevena, Founder and Host of Destination Webinars and the Travel Agent Takeaways podcast.
“This research validates what we’ve been hearing anecdotally: the industry is stretched beyond capacity and advisors need training that is practical, concise and genuinely useful.”
A Clear Need For Efficient, High‑Impact Learning
Against this backdrop of industry pressure, the research shows that webinars and podcasts have become essential tools for travel advisors seeking to stay informed without adding to their workload.
Key findings include:
- Advisors are hungry for clarity, support and practical insights. They prefer concise, high-quality updates and practical takeaways that support real client conversations.
- Webinars are frequently used for internal training, shared among teams and incorporated into onboarding programs.
- 87% of podcast listeners say episodes influence their work, with many reporting improved itinerary design, expanded product knowledge and increased confidence when presenting options to clients.
“Learning needs to feel achievable and something that agents can fit into the cracks of their day,” Charlie added.
“When someone tells me they listened to an episode on the school run or between client calls and immediately applied what they learned, that’s exactly the impact a great webinar and podcast makes.”
Audiences tend to be mature, experienced and highly engaged. So just what does the Australian audience landscape look like?
# 38% of respondents have 20+ years in the industry.
# A further 48% have 7–20 years of experience.
# 71% are aged 35–64.
Content That Directly Supports Agents’ Needs
The most sought‑after topics include:
# Destination and product updates
# Best practices and sales tips
# Industry trends and forecasts
# Themed deep‑dive topics
“This research confirms that advisors are hungry for practical support, not more noise,” Charlie said. “They want to know what’s new, what’s changed and how to sell it.”
As the travel sector continues to grow, the research reinforces the critical role of accessible, high‑quality training and supplier engagement.
“The key for travel agent support is to cut through the overwhelm and give agents the tools, insights and confidence they need to thrive,” Charlie said.
