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.
