Ask-an-Advisor: What’s One Thing You Would Change About Supplier Relationships?

This is 2026’s fourth edition of TMR’s Ask an Advisor series, a regular column where a team of travel advisors tackles questions from others in the industry. All questions from this series have been submitted by readers and vetted by the TMR editorial team.

Dear Ask-an-Advisor,

We all value our supplier partners, but let’s be honest, there are still plenty of daily headaches that make our jobs way harder than they need to be. If you could wave a magic wand and change just one standard practice in how cruise lines, tour operators, or hotel brands work with advisors, what would it be, and how would that help your business?

Sincerely,
Anonymous

Jennifer Schwartz, Owner, Zig Zag with Jenn

If I could change one standard hotel practice, it would be to collect deposits (where applicable) at the time of booking rather than weeks, or even months, later when the free cancellation period expires. Once the client has decided to book, that’s the most intuitive moment to collect a deposit.

It sounds like a small operational change, but it would eliminate a surprising amount of friction. As advisors, we’re often chasing payment links that arrive after a client has already departed on their trip or is otherwise unavailable. Suddenly we’re coordinating credit card authorizations, one-time verification codes, and payment deadlines while they’re on vacation. It’s just not an ideal experience for the client, the advisor, or the supplier.

I appreciate that suppliers have internal accounting and operational processes that drive these timelines. But if a deposit is required, collecting it upfront while the client is actively engaged in the booking process would create a much smoother experience. Hotels could then simply collect any remaining balance once the guest has arrived on property. This operational change would reduce administrative follow-up, minimize missed payment deadlines, improve conversion, and allow advisors to spend less time tracking payments and more time doing what we do best: creating exceptional travel experiences.

As the founder of zigzag Travel, Jenn Schwartz brings a unique and highly professional perspective to the luxury travel market. After more than a decade of experience in the legal field, she transitioned her sharp analytical skills and attention to detail into the hospitality industry, focusing exclusively on high-end, bespoke travel. Jenn specializes in crafting personalized, immersive itineraries tailored to each client’s unique preferences.

Savannah Sharp, Travel Advisor, Trip Guy Travel

If I could change one thing, it would be making direct communication with the actual front desk, onboard team, or in-house reservations the standard for travel advisors. So many issues happen because everything has to go through multiple departments or call centers, and details can get lost along the way.

Having a direct line to the people actually handling the reservation would make it so much easier to confirm VIP notes, special requests, and important booking details before arrival, and it would help us resolve issues much faster when something does go wrong. It would create a better experience for both advisors and clients.

Savannah Sharp has carved out a distinct niche in the industry, specializing in custom FIT travel throughout Europe and Asia. With nearly a decade of experience, she focuses on designing highly personalized itineraries, destination weddings, and experiential travel for clients across the United States. Her expertise spans luxury accommodations, immersive cultural experiences, and specialty trips such as equestrian and small-group journeys.

Lesley Sawhook, Owner, Exclusive Travel Partners

This is SUCH a great question and my magic wand is out and ready : )

I would love an across the board system featuring functional, up-to-date, and easy-to-navigate websites. The ability across all platforms to easily book placeholders, price match, and make modifications. I would also love one easy-to-use system across the board for registering bookings for rewards and incentives. This would make my daily processes much faster and more efficient for myself and my guests. 

Lesley Sawhook leads a national team of travel professionals alongside her husband, Tim. With over 17 years of experience in the industry, she prides herself on delivering excellent customer service and utilizing social media to drive business growth. Lesley has personally maintained over a million dollars in annual sales for the past 15 years. She manages both her personal and agency social media accounts, achieving significant reach on TikTok (@LesleyETP), where she has over 250,000 followers.