If you’re just getting started as a travel advisor, you’ll quickly discover that there’s a lot to learn about the ins and outs of running a successful advising business. From understanding industry terms to scaling your business, there’s certainly a learning curve. Even experienced advisors need to stay on top of new openings and destination details.
At Fora, we offer a comprehensive digital curriculum and live Zoom-based, hands-on labs so you can transform your passion for travel planning into a serious business and keep learning long-term. Fora’s training is included when you join—there are no separate course fees or exam costs to complete it
“From the day I started building my business as a Fora advisor, I had all of the tech tools and educational resources available to help launch my new career,” Fora advisor Jennifer Lopez says. “I have also had the support and advice of all of my fellow Fora advisors, which is invaluable when I’m booking travel to places that are unfamiliar to me. With all of those elements, I was able to hit the ground running and make bookings from day one.”
What sets Fora's curriculum apart?
Flexible programs
Whether you’re starting off as a part-time travel advisor or diving in full-time, our training program is designed to meet you where you are. We offer both live and recorded training so that you can learn at your own pace—over 700 hours of on-demand lessons plus more than 28 hours of live training every week.
Advisors can dive into Fora’s library of videos in the advisor portal or attend daily live workshops with our in-house experts.
“The live labs are awesome, and it's great that I can always go back and watch something I've missed, or even re-watch something that may be relevant to a new trip I’m working on,” says Fora advisor Danielle Fisher.
Ease of use
As a Fora advisor, you’ll have access to Portal, Fora’s integrated booking, client management, and business platform, which includes access to your full library of training programs. Each program is regularly refreshed with updated content.
Portal also includes Sidekick, Fora’s AI assistant, which gathers information from all of Fora’s resources, including Portal and Forum, our community app. Sidekick can quickly answer any questions you have and point you to specific content to read further.
“The learning curve of travel advising is steep and ongoing,” Fora cofounder Evan Frank says. “We launched Sidekick to provide even quicker answers to our community.”
Community support
Because we grow and learn better together, you’ll learn alongside fellow Fora advisors when you participate in our training. Connect with fellow advisors who are cheering you along, whether that’s virtually in your training workshops and cohorts or in person by participating in Fora Chapters, local groups of Fora advisors that meet regularly to network, problem solve, and share experiences.
We also created Forum for Fora advisors to share and seek expert advice. Forum is an invaluable source when researching trips, asking for business tips, or troubleshooting itineraries. Each advisor brings their unique experiences to the conversation, enriching and building up their peers.
“To get instant feedback from other people around the world, it’s huge,” says Fora advisor Kristin Staats. “I don’t know any other company I’ve been a part of where you can get such instantaneous feedback.”
Hands-on learning
Learning by doing is one of the best ways to gain new skills. Fora’s learning opportunities are structured to meet advisors’ needs as they progress through the curriculum.
We have tools at the ready so advisors can meet their clients’ requests in real time while continuing in their education. From bite-sized content to extended tutorials, we’ve built our programs in a common sense way that works for the modern travel advisor.
To support advisors at every stage, Fora also hosts daily Office Hours during the week to tackle live questions. Topic-specific office hours range from closing your first booking and how to talk to clients to finance questions and marketing.
What do you learn from Fora's curriculum?
Fora's training in Portal, our integrated travel advisor platform
Fora’s training pillars for new advisors covers:
Booking and logistics: From your very first booking to a complex group itinerary, recorded lessons and live workshops tackle the nuances of successful bookings. Support is available to discuss and brainstorm how to lock in your first bookings.
Communication and client development: Fora provides customizable email templates to help you communicate your value to your clients and foster relationships with travel partners. Training also includes sessions on communication best practices.
Business and entrepreneurship: Advisors learn how to start thinking strategically about their business, creating a roadmap with short- and long-term goals. Business-focused workshops include topics like Measuring & Refining Business Goals, How to Leverage Marketing Data, and How to Close a Sale. Weekly live workshops tackle social media strategies, email marketing, and content creation.
Fora’s initial training, Essentials, takes most advisors about three hours to complete. After that, Fora offers extensive additional training, from its Advanced certification course to destination and supplier-specific intensives. As your business grows, our programs can help you become a cruise specialist, handle group booking contracts, partner with destination management companies, and craft itineraries around the world.
I just kept seeing this table full of resources that I could come sit at and feast on.
Stu Dressler
joined December 2023Read our guide to travel advisor training
What does it mean to be a certified Fora advisor?
Fora’s curriculum offers different levels of advisor status to help you launch and grow your travel advisor business. An advisor’s Fora journey begins with the Certified program, moving through the crucial foundations of entrepreneurship, the travel industry, client development, and the booking process. The mix of live labs and recorded lessons equips advisors to pass a test to earn Certified status.
Once you’re Certified, you’ll have access to more training and milestone-based programs to take the next steps with your career. We also have additional niche-specific opportunities, like our Cruise Specialist certification.
“I think training at Fora is one of the best parts of becoming a Fora advisor,” Fora advisor Sequoia Armstrong says. “The training was instrumental in making me feel welcome, seen and heard.”
Fora’s status levels are structured so you can set your own pace, whether you have time to take multiple lessons per day or need to schedule them across a number of weeks. You control your advisor journey, Fora’s here to support.
What other ongoing training is available at Fora?
Partner training
Fora’s extensive network includes over 180,000 partners, which means advisors have access to live partner training multiple times a week with property managers, tour operators, and industry experts. These touchpoints keep advisors up to date on travel trends, recent hotel openings, and new partnerships.
“I love the hotel spotlights, especially for properties I’m not able to see in person,” says Fora advisor Jacque Pepe. “The team does a great job of educating us on detailed selling points. This allows me to expand my horizons so that I can craft detailed recommendations for clients.”
Destination Debriefs
These hour-long sessions dive deep into a selected destination, providing advisors with insight into the type of client who would be best suited to the experience, advice on how to build the best itinerary, and detailed intel on neighborhoods, hotels, restaurants, and activities. Offered weekly, these live trainings are a great way to learn current details on the hottest properties, up-and-coming communities, and new partnerships.
Advanced certification
After becoming Certified, Fora advisors can work toward Advanced certification. Fora’s Advanced lessons are the next step for advisors who already know the basics, have worked with clients in multiple destinations, and are ready to take their business to the next level. Advisors at this stage may also have a stated niche or area of focus, like planning retreats, specializing in a destination, or focusing on a travel style. To earn Advanced certification, advisors must participate in the training, pass a test, complete a portfolio, and also hit milestone-based achievements, such as a minimum number of bookings.
Pro and Fora X
After completing Certified and Advanced milestones, Fora advisors who continue to build their book of business can hit higher tiers, including Pro and Fora X. Each program is training and milestone-based, and is designed to equip you with the tools and network to expand your business. Pro and Fora X advisors also get access to additional training opportunities, like familiarization (Fam) trips and Fora X-only retreats.
“Even though I didn’t have to, I went back and did all of the trainings with Fora,” says Fora advisor Seasen Acevedo-Zullo, who joined with years of experience at previous host agencies. “There was so much information that I didn’t know. Nobody explained it to me like that. Nobody walked me through it like that.”
Become a Fora Advisor
Fora believes that we’re all constantly learning, no matter how long you’ve been in the travel industry. From newly certified advisors to seasoned experts, Fora has developed several avenues to uplift the advisor community, providing resources and facilitating business growth.
Fora’s curriculum guides you through the steps of becoming a travel advisor, then supports you with relevant training as you and your travel business evolve. We know there’s power in community, and can’t wait for you to join ours.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to complete Fora’s training?
You can finish the foundational lessons and start booking within a few weeks. From there, training is ongoing. You’ll keep leveling up through Advanced, Pro, and Fora X as your business grows.
Do I need prior travel experience?
No. Fora doesn’t require prior travel industry experience to join. Our training program is designed to build your knowledge from the ground up, whether you’re new to the industry or transitioning from another career.
How much does Fora’s training cost?
Fora membership costs $299 per year or $99 per quarter, with Fora’s full curriculum included when you join. There are no separate course fees or exam costs to become certified.
Is the training self-paced or live?
Both. You can watch recorded lessons anytime in Portal, and drop into live sessions each week with Fora's in-house experts. Every live session is recorded for those who can’t attend live.
What does it mean to become a certified Fora advisor?
Certified is the first level for advisors, earned by completing foundational training, then passing a test. It signals you have the core skills to book travel for clients confidently, and is the gateway to reaching higher certification tiers.
Do I have to pass a test?
Yes. After you complete Essentials training, you’ll take a test to officially become a Certified Fora advisor. It’s designed to confirm that you’re ready to book for clients.
Can I do Fora training while working another job?
Yes. There are no required office hours, sales quotas, or mandatory meetings, so you can complete lessons early in the morning, on weekends, or between other commitments. Many advisors start Fora alongside a full-time job.
