Becoming a travel agent requires enthusiasm for travel, customer service skills, computer knowledge, and the ability to coordinate various travel arrangements. Specialization in a specific type of travel and knowledge of foreign languages are also useful. Certification is not mandatory but can complement job applications. Starting in an agency office or working on commission for a year can help gain experience before starting a business.
Becoming a travel agent is a great way to see the world, interact with a wide variety of people, and learn a lot about coordinating travel across planes, trains, and automobiles. The job comes with many perks, including free or heavily discounted travel to exotic locations around the world. Travel agents working for large companies are often encouraged to travel to new and interesting places every year so that they can better communicate with clients. People who enjoy customer service and travel might want to become travel agents. It’s also a wonderful way to share your love of adventure and new locales with others.
Learning the job usually starts with working in a travel agency office. Most offices require a high school diploma and an enthusiasm for travel. Some agencies may prefer people with advanced degrees in history, business, communications or public relations. Travel experience is useful, although not normally required. The American Society of Travel Agents offers correspondence courses and special trips designed for people interested in entering the field. This type of travel agent certification is not mandatory, but will complement your job application.
Due to the complex computer systems that travel agents interact with, a demonstrated knowledge of computers is a huge benefit in a job application. Some vocational schools and junior colleges offer special courses in the type of software used in travel agencies and present students with a certificate of completion if they successfully complete the course. Becoming a travel agent requires an increasing amount of computer skills, from fast typing to database management.
Some travel agencies specialize in a specific type of travel, such as ecotourism, ocean cruises, or travel to a specific region. If you want to work for a specialist agency, be prepared to show extensive knowledge of that area of the travel industry. Knowledge of a foreign language and strong geographic skills are also very useful for travel agents, who may find themselves negotiating with people from other countries. Chinese, French, English and Spanish are all good languages to study.
It is also important to be able to think quickly and reconcile information from a large number of sources. A large part of the hassle in modern travel is found in coordinating various methods of transportation, hotel stays, and other travel miscellaneous items. If you are able to work in a fast-paced, sensory-intensive environment, becoming a travel agent may be a good career choice for you. Be prepared to spend a lot of time on the phone, sifting through documents and arranging itineraries for your customers. Designing a customer’s trip of a lifetime can result in referrals and repeat business, and it’s important to make sure every customer counts on you.
If you are interested in becoming a travel agent for yourself, many organizations offer courses to help you start your own business. Be aware that limited experience in the travel industry may hold you back, and you might consider working for another agency on commission for a year or so until you’re ready to strike out on your own.
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