How To Become a Travel Agent in 2024
LS
Summary:
If your travel is your passion and you’re motivated and organized, a career in the travel industry may be a good fit for you. As a successful travel agent, you can follow multiple paths, whether you’re looking for a side gig or a full-time career. Options include working for a travel agency, becoming an independent contractor with a host agency, or being a fully independent travel agent with your own business.
Maybe you enjoy planning vacations for you and your family, or maybe you’ve worked with a travel agent in the past and considered pursuing the same career path. Whatever your reasoning, now is a great time to get into the travel industry because it is booming, says Trisha Hutchins, a travel advisor with ET Family Travel.
“In post-Covid times, sales are better than ever and our agents have expanded their booking portfolios to many destinations. Travel is BACK!”
In addition, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that the employment of travel agents is expected to grow 20% from 2021 to 2031, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. Specifically, BLS expects an average of 7,500 new travel agent positions to open up each year.
If this sounds like an appealing career to you, read on to learn all about travel agents (also known as travel advisors), including what the job entails, the steps you need to take to become a travel agent, ideas for how to structure your career path, and tips you can use to become a successful travel agent.
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What does a travel agent do?
You may think that travel agents only book flights, hotels, and car rentals for travelers who don’t want to do the legwork themselves. In truth, travel advisors have many more responsibilities, such as booking tours and other travel experiences and creating detailed itineraries for clients, often across multiple countries.
In addition, travel agents will draw on their own travel experience, as well as that of other agents and travel suppliers in their network, to provide clients with a wealth of knowledge that the average DIY traveler wouldn’t have access to.
“DIY, while an option, can come at a cost to the traveler, especially when that travel is complex, as is more so the case in today’s complex world. In addition to travel planning, travel advisors provide their own personal expertise and knowledge to help travelers understand and prepare for the challenges of travel and minimize unexpected emergencies and situations,” explains Mark Meader, Senior Vice President of Industry Affairs and Education at the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA), a global advocate for travel agencies, the travel industry, and the traveling public.
NOTE: “In our most recent study, 27% of travel advisors indicate that more than half of their clients are using a travel advisor for the first time. This highlights the tangible benefits offered by travel advisors and the increasing recognition of their value among consumers.” — Mark Meader, American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA)
How to become a travel agent
While each person’s path to becoming a travel agent will vary, the steps required to reach that goal will be largely the same:
- Learn the basics of travel planning.
- Get certified.
- Decide your path.
- Build a client base.
- Choose a niche, such as specializing in a particular region.
- Never stop learning and networking.
Keep in mind that you needn’t follow these steps in this exact order. For example, you may start out by working for an agency and building a clientele before you select a niche or acquire your certifications.
Learn the basics of travel planning
If you’re serious about starting a career as a travel agent, the first step is to acquire the right knowledge. The following are some of your options for learning the basics of travel planning:
Education
You don’t need a college degree to learn how to become a travel agent; most travel agencies will provide on-the-job training, but they will require that you have at least a high school diploma before hiring you. You can also take travel and tourism classes at community colleges or trade schools, which could give you a leg up on the competition.
Another option is to get a bachelor’s degree from a college or university that offers travel, tourism, and hospitality programs. Business management classes are also highly beneficial for a career in the travel industry, especially if you plan to be an independent agent running your own business.
Free classes and webinars
If you have already been in the workforce for a while and are looking for a career change, you may want to start by taking a free class or seminar to help you decide if a career of booking travel and itinerary planning is right for you.
One good place to start is a free webinar offered by The Travel Institute, an independent non-profit organization that provides training and certification classes for budding and experienced travel advisors. This webinar will teach you about career options in the industry, networking skills, and exploring niche markets, among other pertinent topics.
“For those weighing their options and level of interest, ASTA provides a complementary “Career Overview: To Becoming a Travel Advisor” course to help the individual establish an initial understanding of the travel agency industry before leaping into it headfirst. This resource is designed to address commonly asked questions and concerns prior to the individual delving into greater learnings for success as an advisor,” says Meader.
Training courses
If a free class or webinar has piqued your interest, you can then start a proper training course, such as The Travel Institute’s “Travel Introductory Program” or the internationally recognized courses offered by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which range from entry-level travel agent basics to senior management for agencies or tour operations.
According to Meader, another option for those just starting out is ASTA’s “Roadmap to Becoming a Travel Advisor” class: “This course delves into the industry’s evolution [and] business requirements, how the industry works, and the key stakeholders that shape this distinctive field. Our goal is to furnish individuals with the learnings and insights necessary for a prosperous and successful career as a travel advisor.”
As you can see, there are multiple different paths you take to learn the basics of making travel arrangements and the topics you’ll need to understand to become a successful travel agent, such as best business practices for the travel industry, marketing programs, travel insurance, and specific industry expertise.
Get certified as a travel agent
While travel agent certification is not a requirement for a travel agent career, it only makes sense to take advantage of travel training programs and certifications, says Brittany Mendez, CMO of FloridaPanhandle.com.
“Technically, there are no requirements to become a travel agent. However, most travel agents get certain certifications so that they can not only learn how to be an effective travel agent, but so that they can have the ability to get better rates for certain things or earn certain kinds of commission. A common certification that many travel agents will get, for example, is TIDS, or Travel Industry Designator Service. This specific certification helps them get connections with suppliers as well as earn commission opportunities.”
Other training and certification options include programs offered by the IATA (for booking domestic and international flight travel) and by the Cruise Lines International Association (for selling cruises).
Pro Tip
“I would also recommend taking online courses if you want to become a travel agent. It’s imperative to know the industry really well, as well as simply how to be an effective agent, so although formal training isn’t required, I think it’s incredibly smart.” — Brittany Mendez, FloridaPanhandle.com
Decide the path of your travel agent career
As you learn how to become a travel agent, you’ll need to start thinking about what type of career you want. For example, do you want to focus on vacation and luxury travel, or would you rather specialize in corporate travel? Do you want to become a full-time travel agent, or would you prefer to book travel as a side hustle for extra cash (and travel perks)?
A major decision of your travel agent career is whether you want to work for a travel agency, offer your services as an independent contractor through a host agency, or start your own business as a fully independent agent. If you’re just starting out, you’ll likely want to apply for a position with an existing agency to gain some real-world training and experience before you consider becoming independent.
Host agency
If you’re seeking more independence in the travel world but you don’t feel you’re ready to take on all the responsibilities (and expenses) of a full-time business, consider becoming an independent travel advisor within a host agency. This is a great way to gain some autonomy while still taking advantage of a support system in a network of travel agents.
If this route sounds right for you, be sure to research multiple host agencies to learn exactly how they operate, how the pay structure works, and what sort of support they offer their independent contractors.
Start your own business
After you’ve gained some experience working in travel agencies or through a host agency, you may finally feel comfortable enough to take on the business side of the travel industry. If you’re ready to run own your travel business, you’ll want to start by setting up an LLC, getting a business license, and building a website.
Keep in mind that you will be responsible for all software, marketing, and communication costs, among other expenses. Consider starting your agency with a partner (or two) to share the expenses. Some of the costs of running a travel business include the following:
- Marketing and advertising expenses
- Software for booking travel, managing customer relationships, and building itineraries
- Communication tools, such as Zoom, Slack, email, and WhatsApp
- Invoicing and accounting tools
Build your client base
It goes without saying that travel clients will be your bread and butter, and building and expanding that base will take time and hard work. If you’re not sure where to start, try making your first booking for your family or friends, then asking them to write you a testimonial or to spread the news of your business through word of mouth.
You’ll also want to have a strong online presence. A professional website is always important, but these days, it’s also crucial to have a strong social media presence. Marketing and advertising through social media platforms can be one of the best ways to reach as many new clients as possible. Email campaigns are another great way for budding travel agents to gain and retain clients.
You can also add to your clientele by communicating with satisfied customers after their vacations have ended. Again, it never hurts to ask for reviews or testimonials that you can add to your website or share on social media. Plus, you can use the feedback you receive from clients to learn from your mistakes and evolve as a travel agent.
Pro Tip
“The best way to be seen by your potential clients and stay relevant in the market is to deliver what is expected from you. Understand the market, know the demand, [and] connect with multiple suppliers to provide value to your customers.” — Raj Yadav, founder and CEO of Travel Portal Solution
Find a niche or region to specialize in
Some of the most successful travel agents have found that it’s best to limit oneself to a particular niche and/or region. Doing so will help you focus your services and become an expert in your chosen specialty. Finding a niche is a great way to succeed on your own, says Cameron Temple, travel agent and owner of The Luxury Chalet Company.
“If starting your own company, I’d recommend going as niche as you possibly can. I run a luxury rental company specifically for the European ski market (two niches), which are also my passions! It can be hard to break into the industry if you don’t specialize.”
Truth be told, offering generalized services would be a lot of work, as it’s next to impossible to be all things to all travelers. Picking one or two areas to focus on will be both easier on you and more beneficial to your customers.
Keep learning and networking
The travel industry is a dynamic space, so you always want to keep up with the latest developments, says Yadav.
“As a travel agent, you should participate in travel and tourism trade shows, attend seminars [and] webinars, and learn about the latest travel technology to keep your online presence up.”
In addition to working on one’s own professional development, savvy travel agents will want stay up to date on emerging trends, current travel advisories, and new and exciting travel destinations.
Pros and cons of being a travel agent
Every career path has its perks and drawbacks. Before you decide to become a travel agent, you’ll want to consider the following advantages and disadvantages that come with the job:
Pros of being a travel agent
- Work remotely: As a travel agent, you can work anywhere you want, from the comfort of your living room to virtually anywhere in the world.
- Full- or part-time work: Whether you want to be a travel advisor in your spare time to make a little extra money or you choose to run your own travel business full-time, there is space in the travel industry for you.
- Work on your own schedule: You can contact clients and book travel experiences whenever it’s most convenient for you, essentially fitting your work around your other life commitments.
- Perks of the trade: Becoming a travel industry expert can give you access to a world of travel perks, such as discounted hotels and flights, room upgrades, and “FAM trips,” when travel experts are invited to familiarize themselves with new travel destinations at discounted prices.
- No degree necessary: While it’s advisable to seek online training and certification programs, unlike with other professions, you don’t need to go to college or go through expensive training to follow a career path as a travel agent.
Cons of being a travel agent
- Odd hours: While the hours may be relatively flexible, when your clients’ trips are in vastly different time zones, you may need to be ready to answer phone calls at all hours and solve your clients’ travel problems on the spot.
- Inconsistent income: It is possible to make a decent living as a travel agent, but it is also a highly competitive market. Unless you are highly specialized with a lucrative niche and have good connections with a wide variety of travel suppliers, you’re not likely to strike it rich as a travel agent. Seasonal fluctuations can also affect your income, meaning you’ll make less money during slower travel periods.
- Competition with online resources: With so many online booking sites available today, many potential clients prefer to plan and book trips online rather than with the help of a travel agent. You’ll need to dedicate a lot of time and effort toward marketing yourself so you can stand out from other travel resources.
- Stress: If you want to be competitive in the travel industry, you’ll need to be extremely organized, have excellent customer service skills, and be willing to plan trips and handle on-the-fly travel problems at a moment’s notice. Because of this, working as a travel agent can be fairly stressful at times.
- Risk of liability: Unfortunately, we live in a litigious society. If you’ve planned a detailed itinerary for a client and something goes wrong during their trip, you could potentially be held responsible and face legal action.
How much do travel agents make?
According to the most recent numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), travel agents made an average of $43,810 per year in 2021. This salary may vary depending on how much travel agents work, where they operate, and what niche they specialize in (e.g. luxury travel, European vacations, theme parks, etc.).
Travel agents can also be paid in a variety of ways: a salary (if working for an existing agency), commissions from travel suppliers, planning fees, or a combination of all of the above.
Tips for becoming a successful travel advisor
While it may seem like anyone with an internet connection and a laptop can become a travel agent, there are certain tips the most successful travel agents use to stand out and keep clients coming back. Here are a few ways you can get ahead in the travel industry:
Know your clients
Each client is unique, and it’s up to you as the travel agent to tailor each trip to the client’s specific wants and needs. This means getting to know your clients before you even start planning their trips. In-person meetings are a great way to really get to know someone, but you can always talk to clients over video calls or even old-fashioned phone calls.
Take the time to ask about some of their favorite travel experiences, their travel budget, and their vacation style. For example, some of your customers might want to stay in luxurious hotels, whereas others might prefer more whimsical Airbnb-style lodgings. Make sure to also pin down their preferred mode of travel, such as flying, traveling by train, or going on cruises.
Stay organized
When planning trips for multiple people, there are many details to keep track of, from flights to rental cars to hotels to tours and everything in between. You can’t afford to miss a beat, so if you’re serious about working as a travel agent, you’ll need incredible attention to detail and a meticulous organization system.
Use your travel community and network
No one has all the answers to every travel situation, so if you ever feel out of your depth, don’t be afraid to ask your network or travel community for help. This is one reason why starting out with a host agency can be a great idea, especially if you are new to the industry.
Host agencies typically have a ton of resources that you can take advantage of. They also give you access to a network of travel advisors who can answer any questions you might have as you learn the ropes.
Key Takeaways
- A formal education and professional certifications are not required to become a travel agent, but they can help ensure financial success in your new career path.
- When working toward being a travel agent, decide if you want to be your own boss, work for a travel agency, or become an independent contractor through a host agency.
- You can often make more money as a travel agent if you choose a niche, such as booking travel for popular vacation spots or specializing in luxury travel.
- To succeed as a travel agent, you should continually strive to expand your travel knowledge and professional development. Take online classes, attend trade shows and seminars, and keep traveling!
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