Travel Leaders Network will be losing its longtime president, Roger Block, when he steps down at the end of this year. At his last Edge conference as president last week, Block spoke with senior editor Nicole Edenedo about his new advisory role, what he’s looking forward to doing with his newfound free time and where Travel Leaders Network is heading.
Roger Block
Q: What has surprised you most about how travel has changed in your 45-year career?
A: This business constantly changes; that’s the cool thing about it. What’s really interesting is that back in the ’80s, people used to talk about how no one can make any money in the travel business. It was a lifestyle industry versus an industry of professionals, an industry where you can make a career. Today, you look at the number of entries into the business; most of them are coming in as independent contractors. But I hear what the top performers are making, and it’s six figures, up to mid-six figures, meaning $500,000. That is such a sea change.
Q: Why is now the right time for you to step down?
A: The businesses have never been performing better. We offer more services than we’ve ever offered, and we’ll continue to always expand those. But it really gets down to the team. I have such an incredible team working with me that I have no doubt, no fear, no hesitation whatsoever that they’re going to be able to take this to the next level. What a perfect time to leave. You can’t leave when it’s down. That’s not my style.
Q: What will your advisory role entail?
A: It’s kind of loose. It’s kind of like, “I really want you around. I want your input and advice on new product enhancements, or a strategic idea, maybe develop a business plan, or maybe even do it.” Those kinds of things. I’ll be involved with all of the member activities. So I’ll be at Edge and the owners meetings. Industry affairs. I’ve been very active in ASTA, on the board for 13 years on and off. This transition allows me to stay and do the things that I really love doing, like strategic planning, staying involved in the industry.
Q: What does the rest of the year look like for you?
A: Nothing will change probably until late fall. [Travel Leaders Group president John Lovell] and I will probably meet in August or September to talk about what we think is best. If it doesn’t happen until Jan. 31, it’s no big deal.
Q: What’s next for Travel Leaders Network?
A: We will expand in terms of products and services. AI is going to open up a huge opportunity. People say it’s a threat, but we already have on the drawing board probably five or six major initiatives that we were looking at as to what we can develop that’s going to be of benefit to all of our members. And we have both corporate and leisure business, so it’s different platforms for both. So that’s just one area. We’ll continue to refine Agent Profiler [Travel Leaders’ lead-generation tool]. So there’s so many things like that, and it’s trying to figure out which ones are going to give the most benefit to the most advisors to create the most sales and profit to them.
Q: Any big plans for your newfound free time once you step down?
A: I like to do woodworking; I have no time for it today. I want to travel throughout the U.S. Family activities. Just little things. I want to have the time and energy to do it. You only have so many years on this earth, and you come to the realization that at a certain point in time your health doesn’t allow you to do things you used to be able to do. And I don’t want to wait to the point where I’m past the point where I can do things.