Held at FIU’s Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, the pilot program offered students firsthand perspectives on building successful careers in travel. Speakers discussed entrepreneurship, relationship-building and the ways emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, are shaping the profession.
Throughout the program, industry professionals emphasized that while technology continues to transform travel, trusted relationships and personalized service remain central to the value travel advisors provide.
“Loving travel is just the beginning. Learning how to create extraordinary experiences for someone else—that’s where your career grows,” said Dr. Michael Cheng, Dean and Professor of the Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. “I hope this event showed students the real entrepreneurial opportunities available and gave them the confidence to pursue their passions in travel.”
“It’s important to take chances,” said keynote speaker Cristina Cunha, owner of Luxe Voyage Travel, sharing the experiences and opportunities that led her to establish her own successful travel agency. “Your first opportunity to work in travel does not have to define your entire career.”
“The future of the travel industry is wide open,” said Jennifer Chandler, a Travel Leaders specialist in cruises and group travel. Addressing questions about how AI may affect the profession, Chandler continued, “AI is a tool that can make our lives easier. It is not here to replace us. Get out there, meet people and build relationships because you never know where your next opportunity will come from.”
Following the program, speakers and panelists joined students for a networking luncheon, where they answered questions, shared professional advice and discussed potential employment opportunities.
“It was very nice to be here and to learn from the experiences of others who have already been successful in the industry,” said Farid Cuello, a Chaplin School hospitality student.
“This was a great networking opportunity, especially for those who are new to the travel industry,” said FIU student Alexandra Fernandez.
Students continued speaking one-on-one with presenters after the event, seeking career guidance and building connections as they prepare to enter the travel industry.
“The strong student engagement demonstrated the value of connecting the next generation directly with travel industry professionals,” said Todd Wallace, Director of Industry Affairs for ASTA. “Students stayed after the program to continue asking questions and building relationships with our speakers.”
“I can’t wait to see the turnout when we do this again next year,” said Dr. Cheng.
