As a travel consultant, you will help people plan vacations,
trips and tours to locations across the country or around the world. You’ll
help clients determine the types of trips that are suitable for them, and then
arrange to sell them travel products that best meet their needs. Travel
products you will sell to your clients include airline tickets, hotels, rental
cars, travel tours or packages, cruises, rail passes, and more.
In most cases you are not the direct supplier
of these products, but a "middleman" who arranges the sale between a
supplier and your client. In exchange for arranging this deal, you are paid a
service fee or commission by the supplier and/or the client.
A day in the life of a travel consultant might include:
§ Speaking with clients about their travel
needs.
§ Researching destinations, accommodations and
fares.
§ Getting clients’ approval to purchase travel
products.
§ Booking travel products by computer, fax, or
phone.
§ Developing itineraries (travel schedules) for
individuals and groups.
§ Sending confirmation to clients with travel
details.
§ Traveling to new places to learn about their
amenities and attractions.
Travel consultants may work as independent contractors, or as
employees of travel agencies. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics,
3 of 5 travel consultants work for an agency, and about 13% are self-employed.
While many travel consultants work in an office at an agency, technology
has now made it possible for the travel consultant to work out of his or her
home.
What Do You Need to Become a Travel Agent?
Working as a professional travel agent is a rewarding career for
many people. Travel is a billion-dollar industry that offers many opportunities
for those interested in tourism. As a travel agent, you make travel
arrangements for the corporate businessperson, individuals, families or groups.
Being a travel agent allows you to learn about exotic locations and different
cultures while helping people plan their trips. You also get to travel yourself
in many cases, often for free. But there are certain skills and training you
need to become a professional travel agent.
Travel
and Tourism Training
Many community colleges, universities and online schools offer
programs that train you to become a travel agent. The American Society of
Travel Agents (ASTA) is a trade association that has member travel schools in
14 states including New York, California, Maine, Ohio and North Carolina. Depending
on the school, you can train via correspondence study, on-campus classes and/or
online. Curriculum varies with each school but usually includes courses on
computerized reservations systems, world geography, marketing, sales, group
tourism, cruises and customer service.
While going to travel agency school is not a requirement to
become a travel agent, completing such a program and getting a certificate or
diploma can greatly improve your chances of getting a good job in the travel
industry. The minimum requirement for becoming a travel agent is a high school
diploma or GED.
Computer
Skills
Because most of the allied industries of air travel, hotels and
car rentals use computerized systems, it is imperative that anyone who wants to
be a travel agent become proficient in using a computer. Taking classes in word
processing, spread sheets and databases is very useful. There are inexpensive
online courses and books that teach these skills. Many public libraries offer
free computer classes to patrons.
Travel
Experience
It is a good idea to have some travel experience when seeking
work as a travel agent. While this is not a mandatory requirement, it helps if
you can put yourself in the shoes of your customers. Once you have traveled,
you have a better understand ding of the pleasures and problems of planning and
going on a trip. This is invaluable experience for a travel agent.
Other
Useful Skills
Being a people person definitely helps when interacting with
people of all nationalities. Respect for other cultures is also necessary.
Being a good listener and being detail-orientated are also important skills to
have. A tiny mistake on a reservation could cause a disastrous trip. Interest
in learning about other countries and being willing to do research to find the
best deals for your customers will result in repeat business.
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