Women are shaping the travel industry from both sides of the business, from leading travel agencies to making the majority of travel purchasing decisions, according to a new survey from premium host travel agency Nexion Travel Group.

In honor of International Women's Day, Nexion surveyed members of its Circle of Excellence, MillionAir and Advisory Board, representing some of the company's highest-performing travel advisors. The results reveal a powerful trend: women are playing a leading role in the travel advisor profession while also driving much of the industry's consumer demand.

Ninety percent of respondents identify as women, and the influence extends beyond leadership roles. Across the group—including male advisors—70% report their travel agencies are at least 76% women, including employees and independent contractors. The findings highlight how women are building businesses while also creating economic opportunities for other women within their agencies.

For many of these top advisors, entering the travel industry was a deliberate entrepreneurial decision. Survey respondents cited three primary reasons for launching their travel businesses: the opportunity to travel, the ability to own their own business and the chance to achieve greater work-life balance.

The results reinforce that becoming a travel advisor is increasingly seen not as a fallback career, but as a pathway to entrepreneurship with relatively low overhead, professional independence and the flexibility to turn a passion for travel into a thriving business.

But women's influence in travel extends well beyond agency ownership.

When asked about their client base, respondents reported that 64% of their clients are women making travel decisions on behalf of others, underscoring the enormous purchasing power women hold in the travel marketplace. An additional 15% of bookings come from female group travel, while 11% are solo female travelers.

Taken together, the data reveals a striking reality: women are among the travel industry's most powerful economic forces, both as the entrepreneurs selling travel and the decision-makers purchasing it.

Those interested in learning more about becoming a professional travel advisor and building a business with the support and resources of Nexion Travel Group can call 800-747-6813 or email sales@nexion.com.