By Fi Morrison-Arnthal, Founder and Managing Director of Ambitions Travel Recruitment, placing leisure travel professionals across the UK, South Africa, and North America.
The soft skills that make or break a leisure travel industry hire are empathy and active listening, communication, problem-solving, adaptability, and sales and negotiation, the qualities employers now weigh alongside experience when recruiting leisure travel talent.
Successfully finding a role in the fast-paced, dynamic world of leisure travel no longer just depends on years of expertise. Employers are increasingly considering soft skills as a determining factor in recruiting, and the leisure travel sector has witnessed an increase in demand for outstanding travel advisers since COVID. Working with a specialised travel recruitment agency like Ambitions Travel Recruitment, who ensure all candidates are well trained in these all-important soft skills, can make all the difference for companies looking to gain a competitive edge.
Knowing the importance of soft skills is crucial, whether you’re a leisure travel professional trying to improve your abilities or an employer trying to hire the best. At Ambitions Travel Recruitment, we’re experts at finding applicants with the appropriate background and go above and beyond in putting forward the best candidates, by offering targeted training to help them excel.
Why soft skills are critical in leisure travel recruitment
The travel industry thrives on customer experience. Especially in leisure travel, where clients expect personalised service, empathy, and professionalism, a candidate’s ability to connect with customers can make or break a business relationship.
While technical expertise and a proven track record remain essential, the demand for measurable performance, such as conversion rates, customer satisfaction scores, and revenue generated, has grown. Employers want to see these important stats on CVs, backed by the soft skills that drive these achievements.
The following soft skills are non-negotiables in today’s leisure travel recruitment landscape:
1. Empathy and Active Listening: In travel consultancy, understanding a client’s needs and concerns is paramount. Candidates who can listen actively, empathise, and provide tailored solutions are invaluable and will help to grow your client satisfaction and, in turn, revenue.
2. Communication Skills: Whether it’s crafting the perfect email, navigating a difficult customer interaction, or delivering a presentation, clear and professional communication is fundamental for any candidate.
3. Problem-Solving: Travel plans don’t always go as expected. Candidates who can think on their feet and offer creative solutions will stand out in a crowded market.
4. Adaptability: The post-COVID travel landscape is constantly evolving. Employees who can embrace change and adapt to new systems, tools, technology, or customer demands will have the edge.
5. Sales and Negotiation: In leisure travel recruitment, the ability to close deals while ensuring client satisfaction is a winning combination. This is especially critical for homeworking travel consultants.
How Ambitions Travel Recruitment helps employers find the right talent
At Ambitions Travel Recruitment, we go beyond traditional hiring processes. As a specialist leisure travel recruitment agency, we focus on identifying candidates with the soft skills that truly matter in today’s market.
Our tailored approach includes:
- Performance-Based Screening: We analyse a candidate’s CV for measurable results, such as sales stats and customer satisfaction scores, ensuring they meet your expectations.
- Soft Skill Assessment: Using behavioural interview techniques, we evaluate empathy, adaptability, and communication to find the perfect cultural fit for your organisation.
- Leisure Travel Expertise: With over 100 years of combined experience in leisure travel recruitment, we understand the unique demands of this sector and source candidates who can exceed client expectations.
Upskilling travel professionals with Ambitions Travel Recruitment
Beyond recruitment, Ambitions Travel Recruitment offers training courses to help new and existing employees enhance their performance. Our sales, customer service, and homeworking courses are designed to elevate soft skills and empower travel professionals to deliver exceptional results.
For example:
- Sales Training: Learn proven techniques to boost conversion rates and revenue. Our Managing Travel Consultants To Sales Success course has a proven track record of delivering sales success for travel organisations.
- Customer Service Courses: Develop the skills needed to build lasting client relationships and handle challenging scenarios with grace. Here we recommend our Complaint Resolution And Great Travel Customer Service training.
- Homeworking Support: Equip remote travel consultants with the tools and strategies to stay productive and connected. Check out our Successful Working From Home For Travel Employees course for more information.
By investing in these programs, travel businesses can ensure their teams not only meet but exceed performance expectations, resulting in CVs with the stats employers love to see.
Partner with Ambitions Travel Recruitment for recruitment success
In today’s competitive market, the difference between a good hire and a great hire often lies in a candidate’s soft skills. Ambitions Travel Recruitment is here to help your business identify top-tier talent and nurture their growth through tailored training solutions.
Whether you’re hiring for a high-performing travel consultant role or looking to upskill your current team, Ambitions Travel Recruitment will be a trusted partner in leisure travel recruitment. Together, we can shape a workforce that delivers measurable success while exceeding customer expectations.
Ready to build your standout travel team? Contact our team today to learn more about our recruitment and training services.
Looking for your next role in leisure travel? Register your CV here.
Ambitions Travel Recruitment is a specialist leisure travel recruitment agency placing professionals across all areas of leisure travel — including, but not limited to, tour operators, tailor-made travel, safari companies, expedition and adventure travel, ocean and river cruise lines, ski operators, and UHNW concierge businesses — in the UK, South Africa, GCC, Asia, and North America.
FAQ’s
Employers prioritise empathy and active listening, clear communication, problem-solving, adaptability, and sales and negotiation skills, alongside measurable performance stats like conversion rates and customer satisfaction.
Demand for outstanding travel advisers has grown post-COVID, and clients now expect more personalised, empathetic service, making soft skills a key differentiator alongside technical expertise.
Ambitions Travel Recruitment uses performance-based screening and behavioural interview techniques to evaluate empathy, adaptability and communication, ensuring candidates are the right cultural fit before placement.
Yes. Ambitions Travel Recruitment offers sales, customer service, and homeworking courses designed to strengthen soft skills and help travel professionals deliver measurable, exceptional results.
