September is the new January, which means that it’s the best time of year for a career change. Innovative US-headquartered host agency for luxury leisure travel sales, Departure Lounge, is now recruiting home-based Travel Advisors in Italy through its official representative for Italy and Europe, Essence of Italy, an incoming destination management company based in Florence.
Founded by Texan Keith Waldon in 2013, Departure Lounge has grown from its origins as a retail storefront travel agency to becoming an international luxury host travel agency with more than 175 advisors and exceeding $175 million dollars in annual sales. In 2020, Departure Lounge US decided to open Departure Lounge Europe, in partnership with Essence of Italy in order to expand the network in Europe. That’s why Departure Lounge has started recruiting Travel Advisors in Italy (and Europe).
Travel planning specialist Departure Lounge is a network that provides affiliated home-based independent advisors with everything they need to personalize travel plans for upscale clients. A host of innovative technological tools facilitates the travel advisor’s work, including a global database of service providers, an exclusive, easy-to-use online platform for air, hotels, private aviation and mileage/points redemption to secure the best value for clients and highest commissions for advisors, and a cutting-edge Customer Relationship Management system. Departure Lounge’s primary focus is achieving outstanding traveler client satisfaction, in addition to concentrating on the compensation and satisfaction of affiliated travel advisors.
What makes working with Departure Lounge so unique is the opportunity to become a Virtuoso agent, with access to the top luxury travel network in the world with annual sales surpassing $29 billion. For luxury clients, being affiliated with Virtuoso means receiving the best benefits in the industry: special upgrades, perks, amenities and all-inclusive VIP treatment. Virtuoso works with a vetted portfolio of the best travel brands globally, such as Four Seasons and Hyatt.
Keith Waldon, the founder of Departure Lounge, is the reason for this special relationship, having created the Virtuoso brand and elevated the awareness of travel advisors during his 16 years as a senior executive for the international luxury travel network. He was even voted Most Innovative Travel Advisor by the Virtuoso network in 2019.
The benefits of being a Travel Advisor for Departure Lounge include the chance to become an independent Travel Advisor without having to cover the huge management costs involved with opening your own travel agency. Plus, you can work from home—or anywhere in the world. You need to be confident in English and selling experience is a must, but no previous travel advisor experience is required. What’s important is that you have an existing or potential client portfolio (Departure Lounge does not provide booking leads!), must be capable of working independently and must be well-traveled at a luxury level on three or more continents.
This unique opportunity is currently open to Italians, Europeans and Americans based in Italy.
Apply now to Elisa Pozzoli, Europe Division Director epozzoli@departurelounge.com
Operating throughout Italy since 2002, Essence of Italy is an incoming destination management company based in Florence and local referent for Departure Lounge in Italy for the last ten years.
