A career as a travel agent is a great way to see the world, Do you want to have a career in travel? The travel industry is one of the largest industries in the world. It employs people from numerous walks of life, from casual entrepreneurs to hardcore adventurers. Selling travel to consumers is one of the many ways a person can work inside one of the most exciting industries in the world.
The median income for a travel agent, according to the U.S. Department of Labor is $34,600. While this may seem low, the advantages that come with being a travel professional are that you have the opportunity to see the world — and the sky is the limit when it comes to income if you are selling for yourself. Your profit is up to you. Despite the ability for many people to book travel online, there is an increasing demand in the travel industry for travel agents as a new generation of travelers seek the professional and personal advice of a travel advisor for their vacations.
Where to Start
The place to start, as with most professions, is with education. In order to be a travel agent and to book travel for customers, you will need to complete some training courses. While travel selling may seem like a breeze, there are many systems and practices that you will need to learn and adhere to in order to sell travel successfully.
The first thing that you need to do is enroll in a travel school. There are both online and in-person courses that you can take and even the opportunity for financial assistance. A great resource for beginning your education is the Travel Institute. On their website, they offer information on a variety of travel schools around the U.S. There is also a similar list and information about becoming a travel agent on the website of the American Society of Travel Agents.
Another great place to find information about becoming a travel agent is Travel Leaders of Tomorrow, which offers comprehensive career counseling along with their online program and the opportunity to affiliate with a Travel Leaders Group business unit.
“The travel business is as robust as ever, and the Travel Leaders of Tomorrow program intends to infuse it with fresh energy and talent, which will continue to sustain it for years to come,” said Jackie Friedman, president of Nexion.
Courses
If you love travel, your course load will sound pretty exciting. Through Ashworth College, which offers an online travel school, your curriculum includes:
“People and Places: Destination Geography” – The course covers the importance of service, marketing, the role of technology, map reading, local customs and a lot more.
“North American Aviation and Airports”- Not only does this course cover the evolution of the aviation industry, but it includes information on the airline rules and regulations, codes and jargon, the automated services used in the travel industry, including Sabre, Amadeus, Apollo, reservations and more.
“International Travel” – this course covers the rules and regulations for international travel such as information on passports, visas, travel advisories and more.
The curriculum also includes in-depth training on computer basics and the global distribution system (GDS) as well as classes for cruising, world tours, rail travel, the hospitality industry, building itineraries, creating passenger records, meetings, marketing and more.
Once you complete your course, you need to obtain the proper certification for travel selling in your particular safe. Apart from your travel school, a resource for information is the Travel Institute, where you will find details about the travel agent proficiency test or TAP. This is one of the first steps toward recognition as a travel agent in the industry. It is often included in travel industry training programs and allows candidates to demonstrate their knowledge of the basics, including selling skills, basic geography and the items/products sold by travel counselors.
Further Education
Once you have passed TAP and have at least 18 months experience, you can receive your Certified Travel Associate or CTA. The certification is comprised of eight core courses and four electives.
Other credentials include the CTC (Certified Travel Counselor) or CTIE (Certified Travel Industry Executive).