Three Best Qualities of a Good Travel Agent

You’ve been thinking of starting your own travel agency business for some time now, and the time finally feels right. However, before you take the plunge, know that it takes a lot more than travel knowledge to get your business started and keep it going. Whether you’re going to be a franchisee or a completely independent travel agent, you need to have certain personal traits in order to succeed.

The Undeniable Importance of a Host Agency

Most travel agencies in the past operated in an office, where travelers needed to go to properly book their trips, and iron out travel arrangements. While some bookings could be done by phone, the entire process proved too inconvenient for travelers.

Living it up as a Travel Agent

Your job isn’t what it used to be. The excitement and the challenges are gone. Still, it’s never too late to switch careers as long as you’ve got the patience and determination. If you’re well-traveled and possess above-average people skills, you could become a travel agent and put all that experience to good use.

Work from home

Forget about the daily grind when you set up shop at home. All you need is a decent internet connection and telephone (both landline and mobile). Find some good travel consultant online courses and complete them. Sign up with a travel publication to get updates about the travel industry.

Get a host with the most

Enlist the services of a credible online host agency to get your career off to a flying start. For a fee, they will provide all the online tools you need, from a booking engine to free web design. Their affiliations will be helpful in finding great deals for your customers. Just make sure they have accreditation from established organizations.

Enjoy the perks

Now the good stuff: travel agents enjoy free travel or reduced rates for business or pleasure. In addition, airlines and cruise lines will often sponsor what they call familiarization trips for travel agents to know what they are selling. Lastly, working for yourself will allow you to relocate anywhere you please. This mobility will open opportunities to expand your client base. Feels great to fly high in a career that loves you back, doesn’t it?

Carving Niche Tour Operations

In learning how to become a travel agent, certain factors may drive you to concentrate your marketing and booking efforts on select places. Doing so can turn your travel agent business into a niche/specialty service. There are some workable methods to help your business attract sufficient traffic.

Custom Packages

Some travelers may prefer a tour package or itinerary that’s different from other travel packages in your area. In many occasions, this would involve establishing partnerships with as many client attractions in the area as possible, and pitching your services to help them land a stream of customers. The bevy of connections you create may help you design the tour packages around certain themes while accounting for the various vendors.

The Right Destination for the Right Niche

Niches allow travel agents to focus their services on specific market segments. Due to the broad spectrum of niches in travel—families, PWDs, businessmen, and so on—it’s nearly impossible for one agent to cover all of them. As a travel agent for a niche, you can help your clients decide on travel destinations that would match their specific needs and preferences.

Honeymoons

If you choose to help newlyweds find their honeymoon retreats, a 2013 Google Trends report stated that New Zealand tops the list based on search data. You can offer clients a trip to the lake town of Taupo in North Island where there are many opportunities for outdoor adventures, as well as for quality privacy. Other destinations which ranked high in the report included Cancun, Mexico, and the Maldives.

The Basics of Travel Bonding

Most travel agent training services don’t charge a cent when you start your own online travel agency. However, as with many instances, there’s always a catch.

Consumer protection will become one of your priorities in this business. In the event that a travel agent fails to fulfill the consumer’s expectations (hopefully, this doesn’t happen to you), bonding will make sure the client gets a just recompense. Normally, this comes either in the form of a refund or another travel package of equal value.

Most travel organizations require an agency to be bonded to join their ranks, although licensure by these organizations isn’t really a requirement. Take note that a travel agent bond is a type of insurance which ensures that an agent will legally handle money and other transactions. Hence, it’s not unusual for travelers to opt for bonded travel agents.

Like mortgage, travel bonds are maintained via a monthly fee. The amount depends on the terms set by the bond provider, but estimates range more or less $60. Nevertheless, the large commission you’ll get from running an online travel agency is more than enough to offset the monthly cost. If you want to make the most out of your business, attract more clients to your agency by ensuring that you have the necessary credentials.

How to Become a Travel Agent Without Leaving The Comforts of Home

“Aspiring travel agents, however, should know that technical knowledge is not enough. For them to successfully become a travel agent, they should also assess their people skills and make an effort to improve them if necessary. Since a travel agent’s main goal is to ensure that customers receive a positive experience, it may be worth noting that a travel agent’s job may not be suitable for those who don’t have an innate desire to serve their customers well.

It is a known fact that working from home allows individuals to become more productive. Even budding travel agents can benefit from this setup. As long as you have the right online tools and get sufficient training, you are on your way to becoming a reliable travel expert even from the comforts of your own home.”
http://homebasedtravelagents.org/how-to-become-a-travel-agent-without-leaving-the-comforts-of-home/

The Perks Of Becoming A Travel Agent

If you want to be a travel agent, you have to know the demands that come with the career itself. It is vital that you equip yourself with formal training from institutions as a high school diploma may not be enough. Remember that as time passes, the standards also are raised so there is a need to improve your skills and knowledge. With good training and preparation, the reality to become what you want isn’t at all an impossibility.

There are a lot of travel planning institutions you can rely on that would equip their trainees with the latest advancements in the industry. Continuing education helps always helps improve your career chances. The pedagogy is strongly anchored on reservation systems, international travel regulations, and sales and marketing, primarily to shape trainees into becoming resourceful and knowledgeable travel agents.

There are states that require independent agents to have a business license before they are allowed to operate their travel business. The state licensing agency provides comprehensive information about this so it would be helpful if you can check them out before setting yourself up to become an independent agent.

Generally, formal certification may not be needed for travel agents but they are given the leeway to pursue career advancement with further training.