Tag Archives: Career

What Is the Typical Travel Agent Salary?

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Travel Agent Salary CoinsTravel agents are professionals who assist travelers by sorting through huge amounts of information to help them make the best travel arrangements on their trip.

Travel agents plan trips for their customers by coordinating tours, accommodations, meals, and transportation, finding only the best value for money. Most employers prefer agents with formal training that can be obtained from community colleges and vocational colleges. Today, there are travel agents who specialize in air, rail and sea travel.

A travel agent’s salary consists of a base rate plus commissions sales.

Entry Level Travel Agents

According to the recent reports from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics or BLS, the average annual wage for travel agents as of May 2010 was $33,950. Salary for entry level travel agents can be more or less depending on factors such as job demand and location.

Travel agents work on a forty hour week in nice offices where they meet clients, make travel reservations online or over the phone and research travel information through the Internet.

Self employed travel agents work longer hours during peak seasons like Christmas and summer, part time on weekends for client convenience. As of this year, travel agents with less than a year work experience can earn around $19,000 to $41,000 annually.

Travel Industry

In the year 2010, the BLS reported that the majority of travel agents were employed by tour operators and travel agencies.

Salaries in the industry reached the average wage of $33, 700 every year. As of May 2010, the non-scheduled air transportation industry was the top industry in the field with a median annual salary of $49,000.

This industry includes chartered air transport companies and air sightseeing. Sightseeing firms were the top paying employers and the median salary for land based travel agent jobs was around $47, 000 and $40,000 for those offering travel packages on water.

Regional Travel Agent Salaries

Compensation for travel agents working in huge metropolitan areas tends to be higher as these areas are the centers of business and tourism. Professional travel agents working in Ocean City, New Jersey earned an average yearly salary of $45,000 as of May 2010.

Among the top paying states include Washington and Alabama, with annual median salaries of $39,000 and $40,000 respectively, as reported by the BLS.

Work Experience

Professional travel agents with more work experience can earn better monetary compensation because of their large network of suppliers and client database. Their experience gives them a deep and valuable understanding of the travel industry. Travel agents with more than ten years of experience in the market can earn up to $50,000 annually.

Better job opportunities are in store for candidates who accomplished a formal education in hospitality, travel and other related studies. A special training program or certification from accredited organizations and learning institutions are also helpful tools in enhancing your credibility and earning power.

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Requirements To Be a Travel Agent

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Be a travel agent - plane photoA high school diploma is the minimum educational requirement for being a travel agent. If you are interested in pursuing a career as a travel agent, make sure you have computer courses in your study schedule.

Most of a travel agent’s work involves computerized reservation systems for booking flights, cruises, hotels, car rentals etc.

Being able to communicate yourself clearly with clients is crucial to this job and any high school course that enhances communication skills is a good choice. Proficiency in any foreign language, while not a requirement, can be helpful in many cases especially if you are dealing with international travelers.

Specialized Travel Agent Courses

Many travel agencies hire individuals with an education specializing in tourism or any travel related field. Candidates can benefit from finishing full time travel agent training programs from community colleges or vocational schools. There are also adult classes that are more flexible to suit busy schedules, with courses available in the traditional classroom settings and through the Internet.

The ideal travel agent training program includes courses on sales, marketing and geography. Specialized programs may also include courses about ticketing & reservations, travel agent administration, and procedures involved in the travel business.

IATAN Accreditation

Organizations like the International Airline Travel Agent Network or IATAN offer certification programs to interested travel agent professionals.

Earning the IATAN accreditation provides travel agents with international recognition of their skills and knowledge as an agent, while allowing for global reach.

The organization requires an agent’s proof of commitment to the business through regular sales reports and evidence of good financial standing. Applicants must also demonstrate ethical responsibilities.

Travel Institute Certifications

Earning a certification from the Travel Institute is a great way of showing clients that they are dealing with a professional travel agent who delivers value and excellent customer service. Earning a CTA, CTC or CTIE designation will give you the following benefits:

  • Gets you ahead of the competition
  • Advances your career
  • Gain credibility from peers and client
  • Increases job satisfaction
  • Demonstrates a strong commitment to the profession
  • Increased earning potential

CTC Certification

The Certified Travel Counselor program teaches agency owners, managers and travel agents how to assess business opportunities, develop marketing techniques, negotiate and manage their business more efficiently. The program is specially designed for seasoned travel agents who want to advance their career.

CTIE Certification

The Certified Travel Industry Executive program is made for corporate travel professionals who want to take their career to the next level.

CTA Certification

The Certified Travel Associate program teaches front-line travel agents about how to close travel deals, broaden their geography knowledge, enhance customer service skills and improve efficiency.

TRIP Program

The Travel Introductory Program is geared toward individuals who are new to the industry and are interested in pursuing a travel career. The course is designed to provide people with a solid foundation on how to prepare for a travel related career.

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Where Can I Find a Travel Agent Training Course?

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Travel Agent Training Course Train StationTravel agents assist clients by providing valuable information on affordable travel arrangements. They also offer advice on touring destinations and can arrange transportation, hotel accommodation, tours, restaurants, car rentals and so much more.

Clients expect travel agents to be very accustomed to the weather conditions, events, customs and attractions of popular destinations.

Travel Agent Training Courses

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the most efficient training for travel agent professionals includes specialized information that will appeal to a certain type of traveler and comprehensive knowledge about specific destinations. A well rounded training covers:

  • Cruise ships
  • Airlines
  • Lodging
  • Tour options

This variety enables travel agents to remain flexible and serve a diverse set of clients.

Formal Education

Most travel agent jobs don’t require more than a high school diploma. However today, more and more travel companies are requiring a college degree in addition to an individual’s travel and business experience.

Some of the four-year college degrees that could be helpful to aspiring travel agents include studies in the field of marketing, business, communications, and computers.

A bachelor’s or master’s degree in tourism, travel and hospitality will provide an edge for those wanting positions in the industry. Many travel companies also put importance on an individual’s ability to speak several foreign languages.

Vocational Training

Community colleges and accredited online institutions provide travel agent training courses that can help mold professionals to work as home based travel professionals or for bigger companies. There are courses that focus on teaching the basics of cruise lines, destination geographies, navigating airlines, putting tours together, car rental and hotel reservation systems.

Computer Literacy Training

Sabre, Apollo, and WorldSpan training are crucial to any travel agent’s success. These are computer reservation systems that are used by all major cruise lines, carriers and hotels all over the globe.

Home study online travel agent training courses are also available, with computer training as the most popular course offered.

Educational institutions such as Hospitality Academy and International Air offer campus based educational training for students who prefer classroom instruction.

Specialized Travel Agent Training

There are two basic types of travel agents: leisure and business.

Corporate travel agents work for one big company or work for many small business travelers. These professionals arrange car rentals, flights and lodgings for business trips.

On the other hand, leisure travel agents are those who work for families, groups and individuals who are searching for vacation packages. Leisure and corporate travel agents can train through online organizations like the Travel Institute or Travel Academy.

Travel Agent Designations

Designations offered by the National Business Travel Association can assist travel agents to be more effective in their job. Professionals can enroll for programs and complete examinations to earn certifications such as:

  • Certified Corporate Travel Executive
  • Global Leadership Professional
  • Corporate Travel Expert

Travel Institute offers courses that can lead to a Certified Travel Counselor professional designation. BLS recommends courses in sales & marketing for efficient travel agent skills that will include knowledge of the Caribbean, Western Europe, North America and the Pacific Rim.

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Are There Home Based Travel Agent Jobs?

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Home Based Travel Agent JobsThe travel industry is one of the world’s biggest markets.

A growing number of travel agents are no longer found inside the walls of an office, but in their private homes doing business.

This is largely due to the automation of many transactions, the flexibility of the Internet, costs of renting a commercial property and caps on commissions from airlines, cruise ships and etc.

Becoming a Home Based Travel Agent

When starting a career as a home based travel agent, make sure you know what you need to help you get started.

Travel agent training

  • Although formal training isn’t mandatory for this profession, it is very helpful especially for individuals who have no work experiences in the field. There are travel agent training courses offered online and in community colleges that will teach you how to operate computer reservation systems for airlines, famous tourist destinations and vacation packages that will help you better serve clients.

Draft a travel agency business plan

  • An important aspect of starting a company is creating a business plan that will outline your company’s vision, mission, finances and etc. Planning can help you save money, enhance profits and speed up the growth of your home based travel consultancy business.

Be an independent travel consultant

  • As a home based travel agent, it is essential to be affiliated with a successful and well established travel agency. By finding a credible and secure travel company and enrolling as a home based agent, you become a sales representative for the company. Tools are usually provided by your host company as well. Resources and online ticketing tools will be shared with you as you begin your career as a travel agent.
  • You’ll need to find clients and start arranging their travel requests online with hotels, airlines, car rentals, cruises, and tour providers. It is the travel agency that usually issues the ticket and you earn a commission split as an outside travel agent.

 

There are agencies that will not employ untrained agents or outside sales representatives. But there are also travel companies who believe that the only way to increase sales in this era of internet travel is by embracing the philosophy of home based opportunities and accepting the benefits of having home based travel agents.

You can always start by referring friends, families and colleagues to your travel business as a first step to becoming a full-blown expert in the field.

Compensation Packages

Home based travel agents are usually paid through commissions. These commission splits can vary from one travel agency to another. Most home based travel agents earn a 50% to 60% commission for every package they close.

Selling cruises, resort packages and tours can earn you around $200 to $500 for every sale you make.

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How To Become a Travel Agent

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How to become a travel agentThey are plenty of travel agencies that offer certifications, training and the chance to own your very own travel agency.

A travel agent’s job functions may vary from assisting with booking/selling reservations to referring people to travel booking sites, where an agent receives commission.

Here are some steps to help you become a successful travel agent.

Research Travel Institutions and Education

The minimum educational requirement for individuals who want to become travel agents is a high school diploma. Computerization and technology have increased training needs and most employers prefer applicants with a higher level of education such as a post secondary vocational award.

There are vocational schools that offer full time travel agent programs as well as weekend and evening programs. Travel agent programs are also offered in community colleges and universities.

There are colleges that also offer a bachelor’s or master’s degree in tourism and travel. Although there are only a few courses that directly relate to travel and tourism, college degrees with background in world history, foreign language, communication and geography are often preferred by employers.

The American Society of Travel Agents features a correspondence course that teaches the basics of travel industry. Most travel agencies offer on the job training programs for their employees. Continuing education is critical, as the proliferation of online travel information has resulted to an informed consumer who wants only the best travel agent.

Be a Certified Travel Agent

Certifications will enhance your reputation as a travel agent and will show clients that you have met the professional standards set by an institution in the industry. The travel industry features several certifying organizations that are widely recognized today.

Experienced travel agents can take advantage of study courses from the Travel Institute that leads to a Certified Travel Counselor professional designation. The Travel Institute also features sales/marketing enhancement programs and destination specialist programs that provide a detailed knowledge of regions like:

  • Western Europe
  • The Caribbean
  • North America
  • The Pacific Rim

Cruise Lines International Association or CLIA offers various certification programs that are recognized and respected in the travel industry.

Get a Travel Agent Job

Find a travel agent job with an agency or partner with an agency to help you run your own travel counseling business. Try to work with an established agency.

There are also travel agencies which will allow you to work from home. Find a host company that will help you in establishing your own travel agency. A host agency provides travel agent services, back office support, travel suppliers, marketing support and access to reservation portals.

Become a Registered Travel Agent in Your State

There are states that require travel seller registration. This type of regulatory requirement helps protect consumers and ensures that agencies are legal. Don’t forget to check with government offices for local regulations.

Become a Part of Travel Organizations

Joining travel organizations is a great way to stay up-to-date on trends and news in the travel industry. These societies also offer continuing education and updates to their members. If you expect to be booking online airline tickets, become a member of the International Air Transport Association or IATA.

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Where Can I Find Travel Agent Jobs?

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Travel Agent Jobs - Eiffel TowerBecoming a travel agent is perhaps one of the most rewarding jobs today. You can potentially travel all over globe, interact with people with different cultural backgrounds, and learn a lot about coordinating travel destinations with automobiles, airplanes, trains and etc.

The job is well sought because of its advantages such as heavily discounted (or free) travel packages all around the world. Travel agents who are employed under corporate travel agencies are often sponsored and encouraged to travel to new locations regularly to have better client interaction.

People who love to travel and interact with different types of people may be interested in travel agent jobs.

But where do you find these travel agent jobs?

Online Job Sites

Through the years, job boards have become more than just plain job search sites. They now offer additional functionality and resources for millions of job seekers.

Here are the top online sites for travel agent jobs these days:

TweetMy Jobs

  • This is a free service site that connects job seekers with many openings. TweetMy Jobs is currently affiliated with the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches and the National Career Development Association. After registration, you get access to thousands of job postings that fit your profile qualifications.

LinkUp

  • LinkUp is one of the top job search engines that give you the ability to search thousands of sites from a single location. The site also allows you to set up job alerts, save searches and bookmark jobs.

 

Indeed

  • Recognized by Time Magazine in the recent years, Indeed is a job search engine that lets users find job opportunities worldwide. The site also features valuable information such as average salary, employment/industry trends and job postings per capita.

Simply Hired

  • Simply Hired is a search engine that allows job searches by company, category, location, title and etc. Companies like MacWorld and PCWorld have partnered with the site to create job channels.

CareerBuilder

  • CareerBuilder is a job site that enables you to search by job category or location. Employers are also able to view a candidate’s profile as well. The site also offers enhanced profile and resume-writing services to increase your chance of getting hired.

Monster

  • Known as one of the premier job search sites today, Monster allows job seekers to search for jobs and post resumes for employers to find. The site has already established a strong presence in social media with targeted Facebook Pages, YouTube channel and Twitter accounts.

LinkedIn

  • LinkedIn is a good meeting place for employers and job seekers. The site recently added a ‘resume builder tool’ that allows job seekers to import career profiles and customize it at the same time.

Newspaper and Yellow Pages

It still pays to look for travel agent jobs in traditional print media such as magazines and newspapers. Broaden your search by looking for travel agencies and other travel related firms in yellow pages.

Employer Sites

If you can’t find what you are looking for in these general job sites, then try to look for your potential employers’ sites. Many travel agencies, hotels, resorts, and airlines post their job postings in their own company sites.

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