Being a travel agent is the perfect job for those who feel passionate about traveling. You can do it entirely from home, which is a huge plus for lots of people. If you want to help others travel to beautiful places as efficiently as possible, it is important to look into this job opportunity. It could be exactly what you need to start making your life more interesting.

  1. Understand Your Responsibilities

First, you will need to understand what exactly a travel agent does. These people are responsible for communicating back and forth with suppliers to get your customers the best possible hotel rooms and transportation tickets. You will need to use the connections that you form with these suppliers to get whatever your clients need for the lowest price. This will benefit both you and the person you are booking a trip for.

  1. Know the Pay

Before you decide to become a travel agent, it is important that you know approximately how much money you are going to make. The average salary for this job is around $35,000, which isn’t a ton. This is something that a lot of people do on the side to make extra money, but starting your own agency will require a bit of time investment. Those who have their own agency can make a lot more than this, but it depends on a number of factors. The more time and effort you put into this endeavor, the more money you will make.

  1. Go Through a Training Program

There are numerous training programs for travel agents that you can go through. It will be necessary to participate in one of these programs so that you can learn everything you need to successfully build your agency. You can take a series of online courses and lectures that will provide you with the information and tools necessary to do well in this industry. Make sure that you pick a good training program with an impeccable reputation. The training program that you go through should be fully accredited because otherwise, you won’t be able to get very far in this line of work.

  1. Get a Business License

You might need to obtain a business license if you want to be a travel agent, but it depends on where you live. Take the time to find out what the laws are like wherever you are. The last thing you want to do is run afoul of any laws that might make you pay later on.

  1. Promote Yourself

Self-promotion is crucial when you are starting your own travel agency. You need to get the word out about the services you offer. A lot of people don’t even know those travel agents are still a thing. It is a good idea to pay for SEO services that can increase your online presence. The easier it is for people to find your website when searching for travel agents, the easier it will be for you to succeed. Anyone who is going to get involved in this type of work needs to promote themselves aggressively.

  1. Work on Your Communication Skills

In order to become a truly successful travel agent, you will need to be able to communicate very effectively with both clients and suppliers. There is a very specific type of personality that travel agents have and you will need it. The more you have traveled, the easier it will be to get this personality just right. You also need to establish connections with businesses that supply travel agents with tickets and accommodations. The stronger your connections are, the easier it will be to make money in this industry.

  1. Do Your Research

When you are recommending places to travel for clients, it helps to know about some of the more popular vacation/holiday destinations. Those who take the time to learn about these places will have an easier time becoming a successful travel agent. It helps to actually visit these places, but sometimes all you can do is just read about them. This information will really help you to put yourself ahead when starting your own agency.

  1. Consider Pairing with a Company

You could go off on your own when becoming a travel agent, or you could pair up with another company. Both of these options are worth considering, as they have their advantages and disadvantages. You may be able to still work from home even when you work for another company, so you should keep that in mind.

TIPS:

  • The more you learn about what being a travel agent really means, the better your chances will be of being good with your decision.
  • Take as much time as you need to prepare for this type of work so that you can increase your odds of success as much as possible.

How does a travel agent make their money?

Generally, leisure travel agencies‘ main revenue is from commissions vendors pay on vacation packages, cruises, air and other add-ons. However, consultation fees and service fees are becoming more common as agencies try to diversify income sources to become less dependent on supplier commissions.

How much does a traveling agent make?

The BLS currently lists the average travel agent salary in 2019 as $44,690 with a range of $23,360 and $69,420 dividing the lower to upper 10% of travel agents. These results are similar to our most recent income report. We found an average income of $44,312 for hosted travel agents with 3+ years experience.

Is it hard to be a travel agent?

Most have been in the travel agent field for years, or they’ve come from another segment of the travel industry and have both an experienced passion and a resourced knowledge of the global travel business. Being a travel agent is hard work, long hours, and [frequently] low pay.

Is a travel agent worth it?

Travel agents are useful if you’re doing a very costly or complex trip, planning a honeymoon or something fancy, or traveling with a large group. They are also perfect for people who just don’t want to handle a big, complicated trip themselves. Travel agents offer them peace of mind.

How much do travel agents make per booking?

Some offer a meager $2 per reservation (regardless of value), while others based on incentives and productivity will pay commissions as high as 20%. Across the board the average commissions are 3% for Internet bookings, 3-5% on promotional rental rates and 10% on leisure rates booked through GDS distribution channels.

Can I be a travel agent with no experience?

Learning how to become a travel agent is simple with our organization. You can become a Dream Vacations franchise owner with no prior experience or education. We provide full training and support to help every one of our franchise owners have success. No specific degree or training is required beforehand.

Do you pay a travel agent a fee?

Travel agent fees and discounts

Many travel agents do not charge a fee to their clients for planning standard vacations; they earn money from commissions paid to them through partner vendors. “Those fees range per agent from approximately $25 to $75 per ticket.”

How long does it take to be a travel agent?

You could start your career right after high school, or you could put in one to four years to earn a certificate, associate’s, or bachelor’s degree in tourism. Of course, you could also change course from a related job, and morph your experience as, say, a destination wedding planner into a career as a travel agent.

Do travel agents travel for free?

In truth, most of the time, travel agents don’t get free travel although they sometimes get discounts or a chance to keep the commission they would get on their own travel plans. Convention properties give them a cheaper trip to let them learn about their property on a working vacation.

Can travel agents get better deals?

But travel agents, believe it or not, have access to information unavailable to you to get better deals. They obtain much of their information from the same sources as the booking sites we use. Travel agents also can make phone calls and have direct communication with resorts and hotels to bargain for better deals.

How do I become a freelance travel agent?

How to Start a Successful Independent Travel Agency
  1. Connect with a Host Agency. One of the best tips is to connect with a host agency to begin a career as an independent travel agent.
  2. Make Sure You Get the Necessary Training.
  3. Develop a Niche Market.
  4. Become the Expert.
  5. Give Your Customers the Service You Want for Yourself.

Do you need a certificate to be a travel agent?

Certification is not required as a travel agent, so if you‘re looking to save the hundreds of dollars courses and programs for them cost, you don’t need to take them. Those who can afford it and are looking for a way to advance their careers, though, may be interested in looking into it.

How do I get IATA certification?

IATA/IATAN card applicants must also meet the following criteria:
  1. Hold a remunerated position at the accredited travel agency.
  2. Be registered with IATAN.
  3. Be at least 18 years of age.
  4. Work for the agency at least 20 hours per week.
  5. Earn a minimum of $5,000 in the year prior to application.

How do I become a IATA certified travel agent?

While applying for becoming an IATA Accredited Agent, the following four criteria’s are evaluated:
  1. Financial record and standing Agent.
  2. Staff qualifications.
  3. Identification and accessibility of premises.
  4. Security and procedures.

What credentials do you need to be a travel agent?

The very minimum professional certification a travel agent can attain is the Certified Travel Associate (CTA). This can be earned after 18 months of travel industry experience. You cannot become “certified” with them until you have been on the job for at least a year and a half, studied for and passed a rigorous exam.