From Healthcare Marketing to Travel Advisor: Ryan Ali’s Journey with Fora
Ryan Ali’s path to becoming a successful travel advisor was anything but traditional. After spending around 15 years in healthcare advertising and marketing, Ali found a new passion that would transform his career and life. In April 2025, he launched a side hustle on Fora’s travel platform, aiming to reach $500,000 in bookings by the end of the year. Not only did he meet this target, but he more than doubled it, reaching $1.3 million in bookings within his first year. Today, Ali works full-time as a travel advisor and has amassed an impressive $2.6 million in booked travel, continuing to grow his business with fervor.
What makes Ali’s story compelling is how his previous experience and empathy shaped his new venture. While planning trips for friends and family had always been a hobby, his work in cancer care marketing exposed him to a deeper appreciation of travel’s impact. He recalls patients enduring radiation or chemotherapy expressing their dreams of exploring the world once treatment ended. “They weren’t going to buy a car or splurge on an expensive purse. They wanted an experience,” Ali explains. This insight fueled his commitment to helping clients create memorable journeys that truly enrich their lives.
Meeting Fora’s Co-Founder and Embracing Entrepreneurship
Ali’s introduction to Fora came about a year and a half before he fully embraced the travel advisor role. A chance encounter with Fora’s co-founder, Henley Vazquez, in New York sparked a conversation about Ali’s entrepreneurial aspirations. At the time, Ali was eager to break free from the bureaucratic layers of hospital systems where decisions were slow and distant.
“I knew I wanted to start my own business, where I was the CEO, the full board, and in control of every decision,” Ali shares. After interviewing several companies, he chose Fora because of its supportive community and robust tools designed to help advisors succeed. “Fora gives you a toolkit to become a $1 million advisor in six months. If you’re hungry and use the right tools, it’s up to you to make it happen,” he says. This environment, which Ali affectionately calls the “Fora sphere,” provides a collaborative network where advisors share expertise and support each other.
Rapid Growth: Booking $1 Million in Six Months and Beyond
Fora’s structured advancement system rewarded Ali’s efforts from the start. Advisors progress through levels as their bookings grow, with milestones beginning at $40,000. One of the biggest challenges Ali faced was replacing his six-figure salary with a commission-based income model. Commissions, typically ranging from 10% to 15%, are only paid after clients travel, which can delay income recognition for months or even years.
Despite this, Ali’s dedication paid off quickly. Within six months, he booked $1 million in travel, and today his total bookings stand at $2.6 million. His goal is to reach $3 million in bookable travel, translating to approximately $300,000 in commission income. Ali’s story illustrates how persistence and strategic planning can turn a side hustle into a thriving business.
Building Trust and Delivering Exceptional Client Experiences
Ali’s background in marketing, particularly in industries built on trust such as healthcare, has been invaluable in his travel advisor role. “Both sales and marketing are built on trust and emotion,” he notes. He applies this principle to travel, focusing on elevating vacations beyond mere bookings to create truly personalized, memorable experiences.
Fora supports this approach by emphasizing the importance of client relationships and offering 24/7 access to advisors. Ali highlights how this level of service sets Fora apart from booking travel independently or through traditional channels. “Clients know they can call me at 2 a.m. if their flight is canceled, and I’ll have a solution ready,” he says. Post-trip follow-ups, including FaceTime calls with families and children, help Ali refine future itineraries and deepen client bonds.
Specializing in Family Travel and Offering the Unexpected
Focusing on family travel, Ali crafts journeys that encourage children to disconnect from their devices and immerse themselves in new cultures and experiences. He often books trips to destinations like South America, the Caribbean, and Europe, and is excited about expanding into more experiential travel like Fiji.
When clients request popular destinations such as Italy, Ali digs deeper to understand their motivations and offers alternative suggestions to ensure a unique and fulfilling experience. “Fora teaches us to do what clients want, but always deliver the unexpected,” he explains. This mindset is a key factor in Fora’s disruption of the traditional travel industry.
Relationships and Research: The Cornerstones of Success
Ali emphasizes that travel advising is fundamentally a relationship-driven business. Having personal contacts at resorts and destinations allows him to create special moments for clients, such as arranging anniversary celebrations at places like Sugar Beach in St. Lucia. These connections, built through trust and firsthand experience, differentiate his service.
For those considering becoming travel advisors, Ali advises thorough research and candid conversations with current advisors. “Have a conversation with advisors. Let them tell you the good, bad, and the ugly. That is going to be the most important thing that you’ll learn,” he says. Fora’s platform, community, and commitment to advisor growth make it an ideal choice for those looking to build a scalable travel business.
Image Credit: Courtesy of Ryan Ali
Image Credit: Courtesy of Ryan Ali
Image Credit: Courtesy of Ryan Ali
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