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How to Become a Travel Agent
By
Cece Gilmore
Cece Gilmore is a Content Writer at Scholarships360. Cece earned her undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from Arizona State University. While at ASU, she was the education editor as well as a published staff reporter at Downtown Devil. Cece was also the co-host of her own radio show on Blaze Radio ASU.
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Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.
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Do you love the feeling of excitement the night before vacation? Are you someone who loves traveling to new places and experiencing new cultures? Do you especially love detailing your trip to friends and family and giving them advice on what hotels or food to eat in certain places? If you answered yes to all of these questions then becoming a travel agent may be the perfect career for you. In this guide, we’ll go over everything you need to know about how to become a travel agent.
Also see: Fastest growing careers
What does a travel agent do?
Travel agents work closely with their clients to:
- Give advice on destinations
- Plan itineraries for trips
- Find transportation accommodations
- Make general travel arrangements for their clients
Don’t miss: Top careers to a four-year college
How to become a travel agent, step-by-step
1. Obtain formal training
Most travel agents need at a minimum a high school diploma or GED.
For the most part, a college degree in a specific travel agent related field such as hospitality can be helpful for context surrounding this occupation. However, it is not necessary or mandatory.
You can pursue a travel agent certification which will teach you how to:
- Close sales
- Expand geographical knowledge
- Communicate effectively with clients
- Learn the general day-to-day functions of the job.
The Travel Institute offers the Travel Agent Proficiency (TAP) test which “allows candidates to demonstrate that they have mastered the basics of the travel industry – selling skills, basic geography, and the items/products sold by travel counselors.”
- 100 multiple-choice question test
- 2 hours to complete it
- Costs $95
2. Decide if you want to work for an agency or independently
Becoming a travel agent means you have a choice between working for a big agency such as TripAdvisor or Expedia or working as an independent contractor.
There are benefits and drawbacks for both options.
Working for a big agency
- Receive a set salary
- Travel discounts through the company
- Can use coworkers to help build client relationships
- Health benefits and insurance
Working self-employed
- LLC vs independent contractor
- Taxes will not be as straightforward as someone working for an agency
- Might not receive health benefits
- Ability to build own client-base
- Flexible
3. Develop skills and focus on a specialty
To make yourself stand out from all of the other travel agents, you must find a niche. Find something that you are passionate about to specialize in to be able to create a close-knit community within your client base.
Specialties can include:
- Honeymoon travel
- Luxury travel
- Bachelorette/Bachelor travel
Becoming a travel agent is all about your relationship with your clients. Building strong and steady relationships will allow you to build your brand.
Think about it like this – if one person likes you and recommends you to all of their friends that is a lot of positive business!
Another way to stand out from the crowd of travel agents is to experience first-hand the travel destinations, hotels, and events that you may be recommending to clients. The best way to sell a product or service is to experience it firsthand to know what to recommend to your clients and what is not worth it. Being a travel agent can give you access to deals and discounts for trips so take advantage of them!
You should be constantly researching and developing your skills so you can continue to thrive and become an expert in your field.
Don’t miss: How to land an internship
Additional resources
Travel your passion? If you are still in school, maybe you would enjoy reading our article on everything you need to know about studying abroad. If you are just starting your career search, and future earning is a factor in your search, this list of highest paying careers to consider might come in handy. Looking to the future? We did the research! Check out college majors for the future and be on the cutting edge of career growth! No matter where you are on your journey, make sure that you apply for all the scholarships you qualify for while you are eligible!
Frequently asked questions for becoming a travel agent
How much do travel agents make?
How does a travel agent make money?
Do travel agents get free trips?
Do I need a college degree to become a travel agent?
