Terri Steele (Source: Terri Steele)
Travel Advisor Success Stories focus on veteran advisors and how they achieved success. Here’s a look at Terri Steele, owner, president and chief travel advisor at World Class Travel.
How did you get your start as a travel advisor?
I entered the travel industry in 2011, and in many ways, it was a second career that felt like a natural next chapter.
Before that, I spent nearly 30 years in the construction industry, working as a woman in a traditionally male-dominated field. That experience gave me a strong work ethic, resilience and the ability to stay composed in just about any situation.
Travel was a shift in industry, but not in purpose. I had spent years helping build things, and I realized I wanted to help people build something a little more lasting in a different way: memories, meaningful experiences and trips they’d talk about for years.
It turns out, the tools may be different, but the satisfaction of creating something worthwhile is very much the same.
How did you build your business?
I built my business the same way I built my reputation before it: through hard work, consistency and doing what I said I would do. I’ve always believed trust is earned, not claimed and that principle has guided me from the beginning.
Over time, I grew by focusing on relationships, staying educated and being the kind of advisor clients can count on when travel gets complicated, because it sometimes does.
I’ve also learned that a strong business is not built by trying to be everything to everyone. It is built by knowing your strengths, serving people well and staying true to your values.
What characteristics make you a successful advisor?
I’d say my success comes from a mix of persistence, good listening skills, attention to detail and the ability to stay calm when things get a little sideways. Coming from construction definitely helped with that. If you can manage deadlines, demands and strong opinions in one industry, you can handle a few travel curveballs.
I also think being successful means being honest, adaptable and genuinely interested in people. Travel is personal. Clients are trusting you with special moments in their lives, and that responsibility deserves both skill and heart. A little humor doesn’t hurt either. Sometimes a calm voice and a well-timed laugh can do wonders.
What have been your greatest challenges?
One of my greatest challenges has been proving myself in industries where I was often the only woman in the room, first in construction and later as I built my travel business. That taught me not to wait for permission and not to be intimidated by a title, a timeline or a table full of people who think they already have the answer.
In travel, another challenge has been staying flexible in an industry that can change overnight. The rules, expectations and circumstances can shift quickly, so adaptability is everything. But I’ve always believed challenges are opportunities in disguise. They may not always be convenient, but they are often useful.
What are your greatest accomplishments?
My greatest accomplishment is building a successful second career in an industry I genuinely love. It means a great deal to me that I was able to take everything I learned from nearly 30 years in construction and channel it into something completely different yet equally rewarding.
I’m also proud of the trust I’ve built with clients over the years. When people return to you for some of the most meaningful trips in their lives, that says a lot. It means they know you care, you listen and you’ll tell them the truth, even when the truth is not as glamorous as the brochure.
On a personal level, I’m proud that I took the leap into something new and found a place where my experience, work ethic, and passion all came together.
What tips can you provide advisors who are new to the industry?
My biggest tip is this: don’t try to sound like you know everything on day one, because nobody does. Learn constantly, listen carefully and focus on being useful before trying to be impressive. Clients will forgive inexperience much faster than they’ll forgive inattention.
I’d also tell new advisors to build trust first. People may be drawn in by confidence, but they stay with honesty.
Be patient. A good business is built over time, not overnight. Ask questions. The best advisors are usually the best listeners. Stay flexible. Travel will keep you humble if you let it. Know your value. You are not just booking trips – you are creating peace of mind, confidence and memorable experiences.
Enjoy the work. This industry can be demanding, but it is also incredibly rewarding. If you love travel and helping people, it will come through in everything you do.
Finally, I would like to share my motto with you: Life is Short! Create memories, change your life. Take that trip!
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