You may be wondering how to become a travel agents, If you’re someone who spends your days scanning flights, loves hotel reward points, and in general is an avid traveler.
Travel agents are not as important as they used to be, people use them more than you think. Just because travelers don’t call agents every time they need to book a quick flight, doesn’t mean they don’t want to consult an expert for a big trip. This is especially true when it comes to honeymoon or travel experiences that have lots of moving parts — coordinating a tour company, translator, or multiple resort stays, for example. It’s often easier to leave the logistics to someone else the travel agent.
You don’t need a specific work background to become a travel agent, so if you’re looking for a new career start, that’s OK. You’ll have to start somewhere on your path to becoming a travel agent, and the sooner you jump in, the sooner you’ll build your client base. On the other hand, if you are hoping to stake your experience in a semi-related industry, be it marketing or hospitality, it can help because you will have more context for your new gig. Either way, it can be a rewarding career path (with some fun perks), so here’s what you need to know how to become a travel agent.
How to Become a Travel Agent
Despite the popularity of automated booking systems for vacations, travel agents are still in demand for trips that require careful planning and expertise. Travel agents ensure itineraries, such as activities and expenses, receive a personalized touch while often providing clients with the best value for their money.
In this article, we explain what a travel agent does and how to become a travel agent, and we answer some common questions about this career path.
What do travel agents do?
Travel agents help clients make travel arrangements or explore various travel package options. They may suggest accommodation or destinations, and they can help clients arrange travel plans. Travel agents can also book flights, hotels and reservations.
Before travel agents can make appropriate travel arrangements, they must learn important information about their clients, including budgets, schedules, ideal vacations, and preferred travel methods. For example, a travel agent who learns that his client is afraid of flying might suggest a cruise instead.
How to become a travel agent in 4 steps
Becoming a travel agent requires a certain level of education and training, and some may need to obtain certification before they can start working. Follow these steps if you are considering a career as a travel agent:
- Get formal training
Most travel agencies require at least a high school diploma, but some higher education can help you gain essential knowledge in areas such as tourism, best business practices, international relations and marketing. You will need comprehensive knowledge—either in person or through a degree program—in this area to provide travel plans and advice to your clients.
You can also pursue a travel agency certification to showcase your skills to clients and potential travel agency employers. For example, The Travel Institute offers a Travel Agent Proficiency test (TAP), which you can take to demonstrate your skills and qualifications as an accomplished travel agent.
After a few years of experience, you can take additional exams with The Travel Institute or a similar organization to earn more advanced certifications, such as becoming a Certified Travel Associate (CTA).
- Develop your interpersonal skills
Part of a travel agency’s success depends on being able to interact with other people, whether that’s through phone calls, emails, or face-to-face meetings. Effective communication and interpersonal skills will help you gain and retain loyal clients, which is especially important if you plan to work independently and not for an agency.
Developing your soft skills so you can follow up on questions or communicate changes in a timely manner will also help you negotiate more easily with hotels and similar businesses to get the best deals for your clients.
- Research planning and budgeting techniques
As a travel agent, your clients depend on you to help them save as much money as possible when they travel. This is why it is useful to research local hotel, cruise, flight, or event deals that may offer special prices.
If you work for an advertising agency, you are likely to receive on-the-job training that shows you how to quickly find the best deals for clients and make the best reservations for their value. It may be useful to gain this experience before starting your own business.
- Develop your travel industry knowledge
Your client’s vacation spots and travel priorities will change from time to time, so it’s useful to keep your knowledge current and up-to-date on new developments in the field. It can also be helpful to continue taking courses specifically designed to help you gain a deeper understanding of the tourism industry.
In addition to the TAP test, The Travel Institute offers courses in subjects such as geography and itinerary planning that equips you with the knowledge to plan memorable trips for your clients. These courses can be especially useful if you plan to specialize in one area of travel.
Travel agency FAQ
Here are answers to some common questions about becoming a travel agent
How much money do travel agents make?
Travel agents earn an average of $57,968 per year plus $150 in daily tip, but this figure can vary depending on education, location and level of experience.
Additional travel agent certifications can also make it easier to negotiate for a higher salary.
What are the job prospects for travel agents?
Employment for United States-based travel agents is expected to grow 5% between 2020 and 2030, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, even if this is slower than the average of all occupations. The COVID-19 pandemic has temporarily affected the industry with a decline in travel job postings and an overall slowdown in tourism.
Nonetheless, an average of about 7,500 travel agency openings are projected annually during this decade.
Do travel agents work for themselves?
Some travel agents work for travel agents, but others become highly specialized in their area of expertise and start their own business. If you decide to work for yourself, consider choosing a unique specialization to stand out from the competition in the field.
What skills are needed for a travel agents?
Soft skills, such as written and verbal communication, can help you find good deals when planning travel and booking flights and hotels. Time management skills are also important in this career as you may be working with multiple clients or planning an itinerary at once.
Do you need to specialize in any area of travel?
While not always necessary, it can give you a competitive advantage if you choose a particular specialty as a travel agent. For example, you could focus on planning trips for one geographic area, or you could specialize in a specific type of vacation. Gaining expertise in a particular area can also help you build a loyal client base.
What are the duties of a travel agent?
Common day-to-day responsibilities for a travel agent may include:
Negotiating hotel rates for clients
Helping clients make travel plans
Determine travel costs and help clients find ways to save money
Advise clients on activities in the areas they visit
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Similar jobs to travel agent
If you are interested in working in the travel industry but not necessarily a travel agent, there are similar career options. Here are some related jobs to explore:
Travel consultant
Tour manager
Tour guide
Travel writer
hotel manager
Hospitality manager
Event planner
What to Think When Becoming a Travel Agent
Once you land a job as a travel agent, you’ll want to think about how you can earn more money and differentiate yourself from other agents. Here are three things to consider as you begin your career.
Making Commissions
If you work for a larger travel agency as an independent contractor, how do commissions work? Make sure you have this conversation early on before accepting the position. When you get started, you want to make sure the commission rate you receive is similar to industry standards.
Growing Your Client Base
How do you make more money as a travel agent? Client, client, client. You want happy customers who will come back to you every time they want to book a travel experience. You’ll want to keep your clients happy by finding them great deals, providing them with a great experience, and just being a great person to work with.
Building a Niche
This is by no means a requirement to become a travel agent, but as you build your career you may want to consider focusing on a specific niche. For example, maybe you are someone who focuses on honeymoon travel, luxury travel, or adventure travel. Your niche can help you attract clients, and it can be anything in the travel field, as long as there is a need for it.