Usha Rao, CTC — Alumni Spotlight
Originally published by The Travel Institute, where Usha gained her vacation planning certification.
What inspired you to pursue a career in travel and tourism? Was there a defining moment?
My college degree was in the hospitality industry in India, but due to various circumstances I found myself needing to pivot away from it. I have always loved interacting with people and wanted to travel the world. So given these interests and on reflecting on how best to use my degree in hospitality, I found the tourism industry was a great fit. I then pursued further education in travel and tourism as well. I soon got the opportunity to work as a travel advisor.
Can you share a moment in your career when you realized, “This is exactly what I’m meant to do”?
Early in my career, after I pivoted from hospitality to tourism, I designed a European holiday covering several countries. I found I was good at figuring out logistics of planning a trip, and my client expressed gratitude for the amount of time I spent putting it together (this was pre-internet days). I feel that I am one of the lucky ones as I knew the industry that I wanted to be in very early in life, and I have stayed on this course for the past three decades.
How has your journey evolved since graduating from The Travel Institute?
The Travel Institute’s certification process to become a “Certified Travel Counselor” (CTC) wasn’t easy, but it was definitely rewarding. The title is highly regarded in the industry, so I found that my peers took me seriously and over these years I found that my clients appreciate the level of professionalism and knowledge that I bring when planning their trips.
What’s your favorite part about helping others experience the world through travel?
As I plan custom holidays, I always try to include local experiences while I also incorporate specific interests of my clients. Seeing their reactions and anticipation towards the program is very rewarding and my favorite part is when they return home and share their feedback.
What’s one cultural experience that left a lasting impression on you?
I find all cultural experiences tend to have their own impact; it varies based on the time and place of the experience. I am drawn towards the performance arts especially the ones where the performers are weaving a folk story of their region or country.
What advice would you give to someone just starting their travel industry journey?
The best advice for someone just starting out in the industry would be to put aside some time to build their knowledge about the destinations that are of particular interest to them. I would also like to add that they should find the right supplier partners, be it hoteliers, destination management companies or tour operators, for delivering the services that clients are expecting.
How do you stay motivated and inspired in an industry that’s constantly changing?
Keeping up with an industry that is constantly changing does come with its own challenges, but keeping my focus on what my clients need has always guided me on how to navigate through these changes.