Earlier this month, we welcomed 10 new Travel MBA advisors into the Gifted Travel Network office for their in-person Jumpstart orientation. As part of that experience, we took them on a field trip for a site inspection at our go-to property, the Grand Bohemian Hotel Charlotte.

I do not always attend this outing, but I have joined enough times to know the highlights by heart. I know about the Argentinian influence woven through the design. I know about the funky, original artwork placed intentionally throughout the property. I know about the monkeys in the Mico restaurant and the owls in the Búho bar. I even know about Ann, the friendly but polarizing face in the guest rooms, and the custom covers available for guests who would prefer not to wake up to her watching over them.

How do I know all this? Because the purpose of a site inspection is not simply to see a hotel. It is to understand it through the lens of a travel advisor.

For those unfamiliar with the term, a site inspection is a guided walkthrough of a property led by someone from the hotel team. Advisors are shown the public spaces, restaurants, bars, room categories, event venues, and all the behind-the-scenes details that do not show up on a website.

While touring the Grand Bohemian, our cohorts visit the different bars and lounges, explore multiple room categories when availability allows, and learn what truly differentiates two suites that may look similar on paper. They see the event spaces and go beyond capacity numbers to understand how the property customizes experiences. Fun fact: the Grand Bohemian has a cute lawn area where they can change the turf color to match the vibe of the event!

Details like that may seem small, but they are often what make a recommendation feel thoughtful instead of transactional.

It’s so fun to attend this outing with our new Travel MBA’ers because we get to watch them begin to sharpen their advisor lens. Early in their business, they are learning what to notice and what questions to ask. As they grow their business and gain clarity about the clients they serve, their questions will evolve. Advisors who work with families will start asking about adjoining rooms, kid-friendly dining within upscale restaurants, and how flexible the property is with young travelers. Advisors who serve clients with disabilities will ask about accessibility beyond the designated ADA rooms, including common spaces, restaurants, and transportation logistics.

And even when client needs are not highly specialized, site inspections help advisors evaluate something more nuanced: fit.

Personally, I am drawn to properties with a cohesive story. One of my favorite aspects of the Grand Bohemian is how every piece of art has intention behind it, and a reason it hangs where it does. There is a narrative thread that runs through the space, and all these pieces tie into the overall story. On a past inspection at another beautiful property, I asked about the artwork and learned that the backstory was essentially that corporate selected it and shipped it out. That may not matter to many travelers, and that is perfectly fine. But for the right client, that distinction changes everything.

Luxury travel advising is not about memorizing amenities. It is about understanding what will resonate with a specific human being and why. A site inspection trains the eye and the ear, teaching advisors to notice, to ask better questions, and to translate a property’s personality into a meaningful recommendation. In the end, the goal is not to sell a hotel, but to match the right experience with the right client.

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