Success Stories focus on veteran travel advisors and how they achieved success. Here’s a look at Adam Duckworth, president and founder of Travelmation

How did you get your start as a travel advisor?

I founded Travelmation in 2012 with the goal of modernizing the travel space. I had been working as an agent for about three years prior to starting Travelmation and during that time I kept thinking to myself, ‘This business is old!’ My very first commission check was handwritten along with a statement handed to me on notebook paper. I knew that all needed to change. The industry desperately needed to go to the next level and dive into the digital era – and that’s when Travelmation was born.

Fast forward to today and Travelmation is a national, innovative agency with over 1,800 advisors around the country. Our team is happy, thriving and lives are being changed for the better.

How did you build your business over the years?

We started small and just kept growing. In 2012, our main focus was selling Disney Destinations. Once we felt strong and secure with our sales we added cruises. As our organization continued to multiply, we added more and more destinations and went full service in 2019. Disney and cruising are still a large part of our business, but so are all-inclusive resorts, international travel, luxury, groups and so much more.

What characteristics make you a successful advisor?

To be a successful advisor you have to have something you can’t buy and you can’t learn. You have to have driven. When you’re driven to do better for your life then you will push hard to win.

I was a travel advisor for about 12 years, but today my focus is more on leading an organization that equips advisors to be the best in the business. I strongly believe that the important factor behind my success now, and the success of Travelmation, is our leadership team. Sometimes the stars align and the right people – the right leaders – sit around the right table at the right time to make the magic happen. That’s what’s occurring right now with Travelmation, and we are flourishing.

What have your greatest challenges been?

Overall, operations had been smooth, but when the pandemic hit in 2020, it completely rocked the travel world. Many places completely shut down for over a year. We were forced to ask ourselves, ‘Can we keep our business going?’ The answer was yes, but we had to figure out how. Number one – we stayed hopeful. Mindset is important. We also changed our focus to places people could go more locally. As things began to open up, we expanded that focus. It wasn’t easy, but we kept pushing forward and managed to come out stronger on the other side.

What have your greatest accomplishments been?

On the business side, becoming an Earmarked Diamond Producer for Disney Destinations was a big honor for our organization. Travelmation was also recently named the Southeast Partner of the Year for Royal Caribbean Cruise Line. We take these awards very seriously and work hard to make it all possible.

On a more personal side, watching people change their lives and their stories is powerful. Many of our agents have left careers that no longer serve them to focus solely on selling travel. They are providing for themselves and their families in a whole new way, but more importantly, they are happy. That’s the greatest gift.

What tips can you provide advisors new to the industry?

One word: travel. If you want to sell travel you have to do it yourself and experience it firsthand. The best way for you to communicate with your clients is to say, ‘I’ve been there and here are my personal tips to make your trip memorable.’ Also, when you travel and post on social media, every single person in your network will be constantly reminded of your skills and passion for travel. Don’t be afraid to highlight what you are doing and learning. Your book of business will grow and you will find success.

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