Travel Agents Do More Than Book Hotels

Travel and everything involved with it, such as hotel and motel lodging, airfare, family vacations, etc., has become the second largest money making industry in the U.S. In fact, almost seven percent of the nation's gross national product is made in the tourism industry. The field is wide open for motivated individuals to find employment or start businesses helping people plan vacations, schedule flights, and arrange hotel accommodations.

Becoming a travel agent requires training. There are different levels of training available, from online courses that take a few hours to complete to college degrees in the field of travel, tourism, or hotel management. When planning the training you will need to make this dream a reality, it is necessary to decide if you want to branch out into multiple areas of tourism service, or specialize in one area, such as planning corporate travel, family vacations, or booking hotel rooms.

When investigating any money making venture, the important rule of thumb is to do just that - investigate before you invest. Some training programs for travel agents cost thousands of dollars, while others cost almost nothing. Some involve acquiring and learning computer programs, while others hardly teach more than booking hotel rooms or locating motels.

If you are still taking general courses in high school or college, there are some areas that will help prepare you for work as a travel agent. Naturally, business classes are strongly encouraged, but don't overlook training in hotel management, geography, communication skills, computer tech skills, and world history. Even a part-time job in a local hotel is a good kick-start to your education.

Why would a travel agent need an understanding of world history? Because many sites for vacations around the world are locations of landmarks which boast a rich history. You may very well need an understanding of Biblical history, for instance, if you are planning Holy Land tours or booking rooms in a Jerusalem hotel. Knowing about England in the Middle Ages, the lifestyle of the ancient Aztecs, and similar facts from history can make the difference in a mediocre travel agent and one that is widely sought to create vacations.

A travel agent makes their income through commissions paid by businesses in the travel industry. Since the agent is promoting their hotel, tours, airline services, or hotel amenities, the businesses are willing to pay a commission for the extra business the travel agent generates for them. Ten percent commission is a typical level of income.

The person who will succeed as a travel agent needs to be more than just interested in taking vacations. They also need to enjoy interacting with people and helping them design their dream vacations or locate that special hotel for honeymooning or finding relaxation. Of course, being able to communicate well and being organized are essential to this field.

Whether you choose an online course or local school, try to find training that is accredited by the American Society of Travel Agents. If you are looking for an agency to work with, make sure it meets the standards set by the National Association of Commissioned Travel Agents, or the NACTA. ...