What Does It Take to Be a Travel Agent?

You definitely love to travel. You are happiest when exploring new places, trying out foreign and delicious food, and immersing yourself in cultures different from your own. Your experiences have led you to believe that you’d make a wonderful travel agent, but what else do you need besides the desire to be one?

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Benefits of Home-based Travel Agent Jobs

In the past, a 9 to 5 job was considered as the norm for travel agents. However, with the advent of the Internet and the rise of technological innovations like smartphones and tablets, more and more travel agents are able to do the tasks expected of them without having to step out of their homes. Here are the benefits of being a home-based travel agent:

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Why Consider a Job as a Travel Agent

Travel agencies have undoubtedly contributed greatly to global tourism. Not only have they made traveling easier and stress-free for their clients, they’ve also provided jobs for thousands of people, particularly those who are travel buffs themselves. If you are one of those who are curious about the benefits you can get out of a career as a travel agent, consider those listed below.

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The Many Faces of Tourism

People travel to Chile to swim in the largest swimming pool in the world, or to Mexico to see the remnants of an advanced civilization. In fact, everyone has a hundred different reasons to go out and see the world, and the travel and tourism industries continue to remain strong contributors to world economies.

The services of travel agents are vital to these industries, as they facilitate travel processes for their clients, and make them aware of the myriad adventures and experiences the world has to offer, such as those listed below.

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3 Things to Look for in a Travel Agent

With the current popularity of online bookings and reservations, you might be wondering what travel agents are doing in this day and age—and if it's still worth pursuing that career track. After all, people can easily find tickets, hotels, and attractions by themselves. However, some people might not have the luxury of time to meticulously plan and organize their own trips, and still need the help of pros.

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Travel Agent Jobs: Going for Delight, Not Dough

In 2011, an Oprah Winfrey Show episode revealed that travel agents are some of the happiest professionals in America, along with firefighters and special education teachers. After all, travel agents are mostly adventurers themselves who enjoy unique experiences whenever they go to different destinations and want to share what made them feel alive to others.

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How to Become a Travel Agent...and Stay One

Travel agent jobs are widely ventured these days. People want their hard-earned money spent wisely. They may choose leisure travel. They want to make the most of their vacations without any hassle in preparations. Going to travel agents for expert help is just practical.

Are you looking to become a travel agent? If so, then you need certain things first.

Train With the Best

A lot of agencies out there serve as training schools for travel agents. Sure, Dr. Internet helps, but formal training will give you the edge. Consumers today trust only professionals. 
 

Work With the Best

Aside from financial capital, you have to gain a network of partners, as well. With contacts to airlines, hotels, resorts, and other accommodations, you can offer sweet travel packages to customers. The partnership will also benefit the agent's contacts since the agent's generating business for them by referrals.

Work For the Best

Lastly, you have to attract clients. The common way to go may be to recruit a lot of customers through effective marketing strategies, but another alternative is to find potential long-time customers. You can ensure the quality of service you provide to a small set of clients and, in turn, they may continuously acquire your services for their future needs.

Becoming a travel agent may not be as easy as one-two-three. With hard work and business-mindedness, however, you're sure to become one and stay one.

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The Travel Agent Job That Suits You

Among the long list of travel agent jobs, it's easy to be overwhelmed by all the choices. Here's a quick guide in finding the travel agent jobs that suit you.

Part-Time or Full-Time?

First, determine if you're getting a travel agent job just for extra cash or for a nine-to-five career. Moonlighting as a travel agent can be good for those who are not too busy with their day job, while a full-time travel agent job is perfect when you have the passion for it.

Which Specialty?

You can either specialize in leisure or corporate travel. In leisure travel, you can delve deep into exotic destinations. You can also specialize in travel agent jobs for savvy individuals, romantic couples, families, or groups. This can make you stand out among the other travel agents out there.

Work From Where?

Now you're not limited to signing up for travel agencies, although that's the traditional and tested way to go. You can venture into being a home-based travel agent. Most host agencies offer training at minimal cost, so you can start becoming a travel agent and even put your own travel agency.

Travel agent jobs are booming these days. Which one is perfect for you?

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How to Become a Travel Agent in the United States

According to statistics from the U.S. Department of Labor, more than 80,000 people work as travel agents. This type of work still matter, especially since they are the ones making travel arrangements for clients or give advice on destinations.

Arguably, how to become a travel agent in the U.S. is easier today than years past. Whereas people used to sit in class to learn the trade, we now have online courses to learn even at home. Some vocational schools also offer travel agent courses.

To become a travel agent, you need at least two to three things: a high school diploma, good communication and computer skills. Although some employers desire formal training, those three things – especially computer literacy – are required for the job.

Before proceeding, check the guidelines from your local state office. Some states like California, Illinois, Michigan and Virginia have specific laws for licensing individuals and companies before they can offer travel services.

Next step is learning the trade. Like other professions, the best way to learn the trade is from renowned industry organizations, such as the American Society of Travel Agents, the National Association of Commissioned Travel Agents, or the International Air Transport Association. Alternatively, you can take online courses from agencies certified by any of the mentioned organizations.

Once you fulfill any state requirements and pass any online courses, you should eventually receive some form of certification for being travel agents. By then, you can already plan trips, give advice, and more.

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Important Things to Consider When Starting a Home-Based Travel Agency

Working as a travel agent is a great way to jumpstart your career. Nowadays, you can even take on travel agent jobs you can do from the house. Being a home-based travel agent is proving to be one of the best and most exciting business opportunities you can take.

Becoming a travel agent is pretty easy, but becoming a successful one is a different matter altogether.

Below is a list of steps you need to take to be able to start a travel agency from home:

• File all the paperwork needed to work legally as a home-based travel agent in your state.
• Secure your business plan.
• Create bank accounts to track your funds.
• Choose to work with a company that best suits your preferences.
• Inquire from more than one company to help give you an idea of different package deals available.
• Join organizations like the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) and other societies so as to increase your visibility.
• Make sure that the travel agency you join will enable you to make connections with airlines, cruise lines and accommodations.

Starting a travel agency without much experience is possible, but it's always a plus to take some business courses to get a better grasp on things.

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In The Shoes Of A Travel Agent

A travel agent may be one of the underrated jobs in the industry, but there's really room for growth, and a good career can flourish in this industry. Needless to say, it provides an avenue for a beginner to combine sales and interpersonal skills with the end-goal of providing satisfying customer service. As a travel agent, you will do some legwork with planning vacations or business trips, so expect to be on your toes during the peak season.

Travel agents have to strike a balance between selling destinations and selling the most appropriate transportation and accommodation for their clients. There are times when they are tasked to take care of lodging, as well as the entertainment activities for their clients. They have to understand, especially with longtime clients what makes them tick, the activities that entertain them. Because of their extensive background and knowledge, they are the go-to resource persons to seek out advice on famous destinations. Since effective communication is in the core of their responsibilities, travel agents need to be effective communicators, salespeople competent enough to seal the deal.

With the unending demands in the industry, travel agents may also be assigned to visit hotels, resorts, and restaurants so that they get a fuller grasp of what they are offering. They may be tasked to evaluate every promotional destination package offered to them, and be able to judge the worthiness of each before presenting them to their customers.

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Benefits of Becoming a Travel Agent

Travel agents have access to a lot of discounts, special rates, and travel offers that enable them to pass on the savings—and advice—to their customers. You get to have first taste of the industry information and promotions that, if you understand people's passion for travel and vacation, would seem just the perfect job for you.

Travel Benefits

Travel agents are usually given heavily discounted or complimentary stays in hotels all over the world. Some hotels extend their discounts to traveling agents in the hopes that if they enjoyed their stay in these hotels, they would highly recommend them to their clients. One of the main reasons why people choose a career in this industry is because of the opportunity for travel.

FAM Trips

Another benefit of being a travel agent are the FAMs or familiarization trips. This type of benefit is given to travel agents to allow them access to different destinations around the world. All-expenses paid trips are given to top selling and large-scale agents every year to lure them to offer the same to their clients. The more exciting the experience, the more enthusiastic the sales pitch.

Doing What You Really Love

Most travel agents get into this field because many of them are travelers themselves. They get the opportunity to work in this field while getting paid to travel and see the world. Successful travel agents are those who get to impart—and infect—their love for travel and places to their clients.

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What it Takes to Become a Travel Agent

In a fast-paced world, people are likely to turn to travel to de-stress and re-energize themselves; in fact, for most people, traveling is akin to a good therapy session. You come home with a new perspective on life and a new zestful attitude toward your work, family, or friends. This is one thing that keeps travel agencies going; one way or another, someone will find himself in need of their services when he wishes to take a breather from daily life.

Being a travel agent, however, means that you need to have great sales skills to see to it that you have regular clients. Like any other career that involves selling products and services, the customers are the lifeblood of the business, and without a steady supply of clients, you might as well try selling a furnace in the Sahara Desert. Getting clients is all about selling the point that you can make travel arrangements for them efficiently so everything will run smoothly once they're headed to their much-awaited vacation.

First, they need to provide vacationers detailed information on the rates for cruises and tours. Everyone will welcome a cruise or tour where they can get the most perks and so it will help you, as a travel agent, to have a tool that allows you to compare cruises and tours easily. You also need to create itineraries quickly so clients can know what to expect on their vacation.

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Working From Home as a Travel Agent

Thanks to the Internet, many jobs and businesses from various industries may now be done from home. Among these are travel agent jobs and home-based travel agencies. Being a home-based travel agent does not require a big investment or special skills, and thus can be done by practically anyone. However, if you do not have the right experience for the job, it would be best to affiliate yourself with a host travel agency.

A host travel agency offers training, accounting, and booking support to its home-based agents, which are especially ideal to those who have little or no background in the travel industry. While you may need to share your commissions with the agency, you will also have a greater chance of getting more clients because of the host agency's network and travel industry credentials. The income you can get from working with more clients through your affiliation with a host agency may come up to a lot more than from working independently but with a smaller clientele.

It is important to choose the right host travel agency to work with. You can check such sources as the Better Business Bureau to learn about a potential agency's credentials, as well as ask around from existing home-based travel agents. You then need to review the benefits the agency offers and the fees they require, and compare these against those of other agencies. Some host travel agencies require a start-up fee while others don't. You will also want to compare commission rates. 

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