Jamie Biesiada
In December 2016, I officially took over Travel Weekly's Home Based Agent eNewsletter.
As regular readers know, each eNewsletter starts with an Insight, an original piece of writing that gives "insight" into news and trends. And my first Insight from 2016 is still pretty timely -- its headline was "Prep time for the Real ID Act."
Back then, the deadline for Real ID enforcement was 2020, but it's been pushed and delayed -- so that in 2025, advisors might still be prepping clients for a Real ID deadline. But in other ways, a lot has changed since 2016.
One of the biggest has been the change to nomenclature. In 2016, we called sellers "travel agents," but today, "travel advisor" has become de rigueur. That change was bolstered by the American Society of Travel Agents, which rebranded to the American Society of Travel Advisors in 2018.
And there has been a sea change in how and where advisors work, with more and more shifting to an independent contractor (IC) model as opposed to the traditional employee-of-an-agency model.
Help rename our eNewsletter
Is the Home-Based Agent eNewsletter ready for a rebrand? What should it be called? We're seeking reader input: Submit your ideas.
But there's something that hasn't changed: the name of the Home Based Agent eNewsletter.
According to Travel Weekly's 2024 Travel Industry Survey, 63% of respondents reported being home-based ICs. It certainly wouldn't be impossible, but you might be a little hard pressed to find one who identifies as a "home-based agent," especially with the rise of the term "advisor" as a descriptor. ("Travel advisor" is the preferred term by those who sell travel, according to the survey: 49% of respondents said they use that term, followed by 19% in favor of "travel agent," 13% preferring "travel consultant," 11% preferring "travel specialist" and 1% preferring "travel counselor.")
We've thought about changing the name over the years, but I've never landed on one I really like. "Home-Based Advisor eNewsletter" sounds a little too formal to me. I do like "Agent Life," but that's already the name we use for profiles on agencies and advisors (and, Agent Life? Maybe we need a rebrand there, too).
So, I'm turning this rebrand over to you, the readers. What should this newsletter be called?
Submit your ideas via this quick survey. I promise, it's only three questions: your name and contact info, and your suggestion of what to call this newsletter. You can also email me at [email protected].
I'll even sweeten the deal a little bit. I often write about the Jersey Shore and the small town where I live, Manasquan. I'll send a few local goods, like my favorite coffee beans and a few little surprises, to whoever submits the winning name; if there are multiples of the same, I'll randomly select one.
May the best agent -- uh, I mean, advisor -- win!