How to Become a Travel Agent

Posted by jerry smith on February 6th, 2021

Travel agents arrange transportation, accommodation, and entertainment for business and individual travelers after first assessing their needs and wants. An agent can specialize in the type of travel, such as leisure or business, or in destination, for example, Europe, Asia, or Africa. Travel agents also promote travel packages on behalf of cruise lines, resorts, and specialty travel groups.

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Facts

• Travel agents earn a median annual salary of $ 36,460 (2016).

• About 376,000 people work in this field (2016).

• Most work is at travel agencies; 15 percent of travel agents are self-employed.

• The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects the employment of travel agents to decline between 2016 and 2026. For this dim job prospects on to work considered for specialization in a particular destination or kind of traveler. Agents who do this will have better jobs than others.

See what it's like to be a travel agent

According to job postings on Indeed.com, on a typical day, a travel agent will:

• "Book and ticket air for both domestic and international travel"

• "Handle all aspects of the booking process, including documentation, quality control, deposits, final payments, prescriptions, visas, vaccinations, etc.

• "Responsible for the sale and retention of travel clients for crosses, tour packages, hotels, aircraft, etc."

• "Choose accommodation and design routes that fit the client's budget"

• "Solve customer problems and emergencies; speed up adjustments; follow up to ensure solution"

• "Retain ownership of each record until departure to ensure all details (including seating orders, meal preferences, upgrades, etc.) are completed to customer satisfaction"

• "Make sure all client account information is up to date so that a thorough knowledge and understanding of the account can be made by simply reading the client file"

• "Learning and skillfully using tools"

Learn how to prepare for this profession

At the very least, you need a high school diploma if you want to become a travel agent. However, many employers prefer to hire job candidates who have completed college. If you decide to earn a bachelor's degree, consider majoring in travel and tourism or a related subject.

You can instead choose to get professional training in travel planning at a community college or technical school. Topics will include booking systems, marketing your business, and international travel regulations.

Which certifications can make you more tradable?

After gaining experience in this field, you can apply for two certifications that will increase your chances of securing a job. The Travel Institute provides training and instruction leading to the directions: Certified Travel Associate (GTA) and Certified Travel Counselor (CTC).

Frontline agents with at least 12 months of experience in the retail travel industry can apply for the CTA designation. This may involve completing a 15-year curriculum that studies topics such as business ethics, understanding client needs, planning itineraries, traveling the world and travel insurance, and then an exam.

Alternatively, one can write the examination without completing the coursework. (GTA-Certified Travel Associate, The Travel Institute).

The CTC designation allows individuals with at least five years of experience in the travel industry to prove that they have the skills needed to be effective managers. As a candidate for this certification, you will study core topics including coaching and mentorship, conflict management, negotiation, project management, and team building. Before applying for this qualification, you must first complete the CTA course or pass the CTA test. After completing the CTC course, you must pass an exam and write a comprehensive paper on a topic related to the travel industry. To maintain your CTC certification, you must earn 10 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) per year (CTC-Certified Travel Counselor, The Travel Institute).

Do you have the qualities that employers want?

Job announcements on Indeed.com indicate that employers want the travel agents they hire to have the following characteristics:

• "A Commitment to Providing Exceptional Customer Service"

• "Ability to work independently as well as part of a team"

• "Well-traveled and strong working knowledge of world geography"

• "Ability to the problem quickly to solve increasingly situations"

• "Excellent communication skills in person, by telephone and by e-mail "

• "A strong knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)"

• "Good time management skills and analytical skills are important, you need to be able to prioritize and manage your own projects"

• "Demonstrates ability and desire to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends and holidays"

Is this profession a good fit for you?

Before choosing a career, make sure it is a good fit for your interests, personality type, and work-related values. People with the following characteristics have found success as travel agents:

• Interests ( Netherlands code ): ECS (Enterprising, Conventional, Social)

• Personality Type ( MBTI personality types ): ESFP, ESTP, ENFJ

• Work-Related Values: Relationships, Performance, Independence