How to Become a Travel Agent

If you’ve got a knack for traveling and experiencing different countries and cultures, you may want to consider a career as a travel agent. Whether you decide to work for an agency or for yourself from home, don’t forget these basic requirements:

Aren’t you glad you stayed in school?

A high school diploma is a pre-requisite. It also won’t hurt to be equipped with knowledge of various local and international destinations, customs, currency exchange rates, and modes of travel. It will also enhance your image as a future travel agent to be fluent in another language or two.

Formal education

If time and resources allow, get a university degree in travel and hospitality. Your college diploma is a ticket to endless possibilities in the travel industry, albeit the most expensive. However, the time and effort spent will be worth it as you open more doors and opportunities.

Computer-savvy

All travel reservations and hotel bookings are done online. There are many online courses available, so complete as many as you possibly can. In line with this, you could also get a part-time job at a hotel doing reservations or a travel agency for some serious hands-on training.

Get registered

Find out from your local government about travel agent registration. Some states require travel agents to be certified, licensed, and registered to be able to sell travel services. An organization called The Travel Institute will issue documents proving that you are a Certified Travel Associate (CTA) and a Certified Travel Consultant (CTC).

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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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