A career as a travel agent means assisting people in planning and booking their travel arrangements. As a travel agent, you’ll offer travelers advice on where to go for their vacations, how to get there, where to stay, what kind of car to rent, and what specific packages to book.
Consequently, you’ll need to have a working knowledge of all of the major vacation destinations, air lines, car rental agencies, and hotels – plus you’ll need to know what packages and excursions are available for each vacation destination.
The Life of a Travel Agent
In addition to knowing all of this information, you’ll also be expected to have an idea of what the weather is like in each location, what sort of local rules and customs travelers will need to follow, what attractions are there, and more. If you handle international travel, you’ll also need a working knowledge of passport and visa regulations, travel advisories, and exchange rates. Yes, that’s a lot of information to know, but fortunately, you don’t need to have it all memorized.
Instead, you’ll have the internet and dedicated travel agent computer programs to help you.
Computer programs and hard copy books will provide all of the information you need when advising your clients. These resources list plane and ship arrival and departure times, hotel costs, hotel availability, restaurant locations, attractions, and more.
Without these programs and books, travel agents would be at a loss. Of course, this means that anyone who wants to work as a travel agent will need to know about computers and have a good knowledge of how specific travel agency programs work to really be efficient.
Travel agents may work in several different types of offices. They can open their own travel agencies and advise clients themselves, or they can work for larger agencies or tour groups. Here, they may put together tour packages – all-inclusive trips that include hotel, transportation and some excursions for one set price – or travel promotions. However, it's important to be aware that these positions also may involve some cold calling or telemarketing, which may be a turn-off for some people. Presentations and public speaking may also be required, especially in the marketing department of larger agencies.
Today, many travel agents specialize in travel to a specific area or in a specific type of vacation, such as cruises or international trips. This specialization is necessary since travelers have unparalleled access to travel packages across the internet. However, it’s often more difficult to put together an all-inclusive trip abroad using online sources, so many international travelers will use agents to book their vacations. Agents who learn to cater to these clients may find themselves quickly swamped with business.
Generally, travel agents spend most of their work time at their desks either meeting with clients, talking to them on the phone, doing internet research, or doing paperwork. The work is generally low stress, although there may be times when an agent is under pressure to quickly restructure a client’s vacation. The job may also be somewhat stressful during peak vacation seasons. Agents generally only work 40 hours a week, although they may need to work more during vacation season. Travel agents who own their own agencies may need to put in more than forty hours a week on a regular basis, but make up for this with the satisfaction of owning their own businesses.
Strayer University offers two degree levels – a Bachelor’s in Business Administration and a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) – so there’s something for everyone, regardless of your current education level. Learn more about Strayer University | Request free info
If you’re considering a career in the hospitality and tourism management fields, Strayer University is a great place to start. The school offers two degree levels – a Bachelor’s in Business Administration and a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) – so there’s something for everyone, regardless of your current education level.
