Planning a trip can be a time-consuming and complicated process.
Travel agents simplify this process for consumers by helping individuals, groups, and business travelers plan and organize their travel schedules, from purchasing tour packages to booking flights and hotels.
Travel agents must be familiar with the process and technicalities of hotel and airline reservations in order to provide accurate, timely information to their customers.
Most travel agents work in travel agencies, however many travel agents work independently as freelancers and are paid a percentage based on what they sell.
Most travel agencies are specialized in certain destinations and types of travelers. Some agencies only work for business travelers and may have special arrangements with some hotels and airlines (e.g. special booking fees), while some others specialize in leisure or adventure travel and work with clients looking for a vacation.
Travel Agent Job Description
Travel agents hold a variety of responsibilities including:
- Providing clients with information about their trip (e.g. flight schedules and accommodation options, transportation, and all related costs), as well as general information about their destinations (e.g. most popular attractions, local customs and languages, and safety information)
- Providing advice to travelers regarding passports, visas, or currency exchange.
- Planning and organizing vacation trips for individuals, families, or groups, overseeing all details including flights, hotels or accommodations, means of transportation, and activities
- Using online reservation systems to promptly book transportation and accommodation for their clients.
- Selling travel and vacation packages to their clients.
- Designing packages to be sold to clients or helping clients design their own packages; and
- Promoting packages designed by hotels, resorts, and cruise lines.
Work Schedule – Travel Agents
Travel agents work all year but are especially busy during peak vacation times in the summer and during holidays. During the off season, travel agents are busy researching destinations and learning about the latest offerings of prime travel resorts and locations.
Are You Suited To Be a Travel Agent?
A travel agent must be able to understand and explain all the intricacies of the trip to their clients. In order to best serve their clients, travel agents need to be knowledgeable about travel and tourism affairs, including currency exchange policies and rates, global news, foreign customs and languages, and the best travel dates for each destination.
To be successful as a travel agent, one should have the following:
- Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills
- Outstanding organizational skills
- Analytical and problem-solving skills
- Administrative skills
- High levels of initiative, resourcefulness, flexibility, and compromise.
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Whether you would like to learn more about travel for personal gain or have an interest in becoming a travel agent, let this expansive and interesting course help you get started!
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