Travel Agent

Snapshot

Career Cluster(s): Hospitality & Tourism, Transportation, Distribution & Logistics

Interests: Travel, event planning, tourism

Earnings (Yearly Median): $47,410 per year $22.79 per hour

Employment & Outlook: 3% (As fast as average)

Entry-Level Education High school diploma or equivalent; relevant certifications

Related Work Experience None

On-the-job Training Moderate-term on-the-job training

Overview

Sphere of Work. Travel agents strive to provide customers with pleasant, hassle-free vacations and business trips that meet those customers’ expectations. They specialize in the scheduling and preparation of travel arrangements, lodging, activities, and other travel-related services for individual clients and larger travel and tour groups. Travel agents evaluate and organize a large amount of print and web-based information and then select the most suitable travel options for their clients, often obtaining an additional discount for them. Travel agents recommend destinations, hotels, and tourist events to customers based on their interests, budget constraints, and locations. In some cases, resorts and travel groups compensate travel agents for endorsing their companies by promoting specific vacation packages to customers.

Work Environment. Travel agents typically work in clean, comfortable, and well-lit offices. Self-employed travel agents often work out of home offices. Most work alone or among a small staff of employees consisting of administrative personnel or other travel agents. It is customary for travel agents to work at least forty hours per week; however, many work overtime, especially leading up to peak travel seasons like holidays and school vacations. They spend most of their time behind a desk, coordinating and negotiating with airlines, cruise lines, hotels, and tourism companies via phone and Internet. They frequently meet and interact with customers to fulfill their requests and offer travel advice.

Occupation Interest. The travel industry is often demanding and challenging. Successful transactions frequently rely on speed, effective communication, and in-depth knowledge of national and international destinations. Prospective travel agents must be willing to operate in a fast-paced, stressful environment and should thrive under pressure. They should enjoy working with people, even when this becomes a challenge. Since people tend to hold idealized views of vacation trips, customer expectations are often difficult to fulfill. When unforeseen events occur, travel agents are sometimes blamed for a customer’s poor travel experiences. Travel agents must be detail-oriented and take pride in the successful coordination and planning of events.

A Day in the Life—Duties and Responsibilities. Travel agents spend most of the workday at a desk, on the phone, and on the computer. Travel agents act as the liaison between customers and travel companies. They are responsible for calculating travel costs and making air, cruise, hotel, and rental car reservations. They also process special financial transactions for customers. Travel agents are in constant communication with vendors and clients to arrange travel and vacation packages to suit the needs of the particular customer. They consult with travelers about desired destinations, availability, budget restrictions, and any special requirements they might have. Travel agents also provide customers with information regarding national and international regulations, including travel advisories, currency exchange rates, and required documentation like passports and visas. For long-term or high-profile clients, some travel agents make themselves available on an on-call basis to deal with any travel-related issues that arise during a client’s trip. Travel agents must handle any problems related to itineraries they have booked.

Travel agents research and obtain flight information and locate high-quality destination attractions, tourist exhibitions, and special deals, like group rates and discounts. Sometimes, they travel to specific destinations to research the quality of a travel experience themselves, which further bolsters their credibility with clients. Many travel agents specialize in a specific geographic area or region, demographic group, or cultural preference. Specialization is increasingly advantageous due to the competitive nature of the profession.

Automotive Club Travel Counselors (238.167-014). Automotive club travel counselors plan trips for members, providing maps and brochures.

Reservation Clerks (238.362-014). Reservation clerks make travel and hotel accommodations for guests and employees of businesses.

Hotel Travel Clerks (238.367-030). Hotel travel clerks provide travel information and arrange accommodations for tourists.

Work Environment

Immediate Physical Environment. Most travel agents work under minimal supervision, from a small, comfortable office or out of their own homes. They sit for long periods and must communicate regularly with clients and vendors.

Human Environment. Travel agents constantly communicate with clients and customer service personnel over the phone, in person, and through email. They often deal with difficult and impatient people and must maintain an outwardly pleasant attitude and an accommodating demeanor at all times. In larger offices, travel agents interact with other office personnel.

Technological Environment. Travel agents use basic office equipment to help them complete their daily tasks. They routinely use smartphones, fax machines, calculators, computers and software, and the internet and email. They should also be highly proficient at reading and understanding maps, travel schedules, itineraries, and other related documents. Travel agents should also be social media savvy, using the platforms to encourage clients to tag them on their vacations, which often serve as an advertisement for the agent.

Education, Training, and Advancement

High School/Secondary. High school students who wish to become travel agents should enroll in academic courses that emphasize business, communications, geography, foreign languages, world history, and social studies. Students should also participate in extracurricular clubs and student groups that focus on travel and tourism. It is also helpful for students to travel as much as possible, even to local or regional attractions, in order to develop a sense of how to evaluate and critique locations and exhibitions. Students can gain valuable research experience by investigating online travel sources, deals, itineraries, and popular tourist attractions across the globe.

Postsecondary. After graduating from high school, most prospective travel agents find it helpful to enroll in full- or part-time travel agent programs. Many vocational schools, public adult education programs, local community colleges, and distance learning programs offer courses in travel and tourism that provide students with a solid understanding of sales and marketing, ticketing and reservations, tour planning and development, and world geography. A small number of colleges and universities offer bachelor’s and master’s degrees in the travel industry. Specific certifications are also available for agents who wish to specialize their business.

− Reservation and Ticket Agent

Bibliography

"Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2023 41-3041 Travel Agents." US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 3 Apr. 2024, www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes413041.htm. Accessed 27 Aug. 2024.

"Travel Agents." Occupational Outlook Handbook. Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor, 17 Apr. 2024, www.bls.gov/ooh/sales/travel-agents.htm. Accessed 27 Aug. 2024.