Travel Agents: A Career as a Travel Agent

Travel Agents can be based in either retail outlets or call centres where they act as agents for leading tour operators. Their role is heavily target driven and they are required to promote and sell a range of holidays and related travel services to members of the public.

The role of a Travel Agent

The general responsibilities of a Travel Agent are the same whether they are call centre or retail outlet based. By liaising with customers, either in person or over the telephone, they ascertain their requirements and budget, and tailor the most appropriate holiday package accordingly. They are also responsible for selling insurance and foreign currency and for advising on other services such as car hire. Computers are used to search for and book flights and accommodation and to reserve tickets. In a retail outlet, a Travel Agent will also be responsible for the presentation of the store including implementing effective merchandising techniques to promote special offers.

Entry requirements

It is possible to enter the industry with little or no qualifications as most Travel Agents will provide their own training. This is a highly competitive industry with the Internet now offering a range of cheap deals so there are vacancies available almost all the time. The salary is notoriously low although there are added benefits of discounts on holidays and opportunities to travel overseas on educational visits.

Available qualifications

There are BTEC First and National Diploma qualifications available in Travel & Tourism as well as HNC, HND and degree-level qualifications in Travel & Tourism Management. Many travel agencies offer their own in-house training courses and the Association of British Travel Agents, which regulates the industry, also offers a range of qualifications. In addition, the International Air Transport Association can provide training in areas such as itinerary planning, ticketing and fare construction.

Skills requirements

The ideal candidate for a Travel Agent role is someone who has a lively and friendly personality as well as the following skills:

• Experience in customer services
• The ability to respond professionally to complaints
• A keen interest in global destinations
• Excellent communication skills
• The ability to integrate into a team environment

Future opportunities

As a Travel Agent, you can really only progress as far as Branch or maybe Area Manager although some people do decide to open their own agencies, which can be a risk considering the significant levels of high street and online competition. It is possible to diversify into areas such as business travel, or proficiency in a foreign language may lead to the opportunity to progress into more demanding roles.