Retail Management Careers in Retailing

 

TRAVEL AGENTS
 
 

NATURE OF THE WORK

Constantly changing air fares and schedules, thousands of available vacation packages and business/pleasure trips, and the vast amount of travel information advertised on the Internet, makes travel planning frustrating and time- consuming. Many people who travel turn to travel agents, who assess their needs and make the best possible travel arrangements for them. Also, many major cruise lines, resorts, and specialty travel groups use travel agents to promote travel packages to the millions of people who travel every year.

Depending on client needs, travel agents give advice on destinations, make arrangements for transportation, hotel accommodations, car rentals, tours, and recreation, or plan the right vacation package or business/pleasure trip combination. They may also advise on weather conditions, restaurants, and tourist attractions and recreation. For international travel, agents also provide information on customs regulations, required papers (passports, visas, and certificates of vaccination), and currency exchange rates.

Travel agents consult a variety of published and computer-based sources for data on departure and arrival times, fares, and hotel ratings and accommodations. They may visit hotels, resorts, and restaurants to judge, firsthand, their comfort, cleanliness, and quality of food and service so they can base recommendations on their own experiences or those of colleagues or clients.

Travel agents also promote their services, using telemarketing, direct mail, and the Internet. They make presentations to social and special interest groups, arrange advertising displays, and suggest  company-sponsored trips to business managers.

Depending on the size of the travel agency, an agent may specialize by type of travel, such as leisure or business, or destination, such as Europe or Africa.
 

WORKING CONDITIONS

Travel agents spend most of their time behind a desk conferring with clients, completing paperwork, contacting airlines and hotels for travel arrangements, and promoting group tours. They may be under a great deal of pressure at times, such as during vacation seasons. Many agents, especially those who are self-employed, frequently work long hours. With advanced computer systems and telecommunication networks, some travel agents are able to work at home. These agents make travel arrangements for their clients, and promote travel offered by the travel agency and organizations they represent.

EMPLOYMENT

Travel agents hold about 142,000 U.S. jobs and are found in every part of the country. More than 9 out of 10 salaried agents work for travel agencies; some work for membership organizations. About 1 out of 10 agents are self-employed.
 

TRAINING, OTHER QUALIFICATIONS, AND ADVANCEMENT

The minimum requirement for those interested in becoming a travel agent is a high school diploma or equivalent. With technology and computerization having a profound effect on the work of travel agents, however, formal or specialized training is becoming increasingly important. Many vocational schools offer 6- to 12-week full-time travel agent programs, as well as evening and Saturday programs. Travel courses are also offered in public adult education programs and in community and 4-year colleges. A few colleges offer bachelor's or master's degrees in travel and tourism. Although few college courses relate directly to the travel industry, a college education is sometimes desired by employers to establish a background in areas such as computer science, geography, communication, languages, and world history. Courses in accounting and business management also are important, especially for those who expect to manage or start their own travel agencies. Other desirable traits include good writing skills and an ability to work with PCs.

The American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) offers a correspondence course that provides a basic understanding of the travel industry. Travel agencies also provide on-the-job training for their employees, a significant part of which consists of computer instruction. Computer skills are required by employers to operate airline and centralized reservation systems.

Experienced agents can take advanced self or group study courses from the Institute of Certified Travel Agents (ICTA) leading to the designation of Certified Travel Counselor (CTC). The ICTA also has sales skills programs and destination specialist programs, that provide detailed knowledge of the geographic areas of North America, Western Europe, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Rim.

Travel experience is an asset since personal knowledge about a city or foreign country often helps to influence clients' travel plans, as is experience as an airline reservation agent. Selling skills, patience, and the ability to gain the confidence of clients also are useful qualities.

Some employees start as reservation clerks or receptionists. With experience and some formal training, they take on more responsibilities and eventually assume travel agent duties. In agencies with many offices, travel agents may advance to office manager or to other managerial positions.

Those starting firms usually have experience in an established agency and generally must gain formal supplier or corporate approval before getting commissions. Suppliers or corporations are organizations of airlines, ship lines, or rail lines. For example, the Airlines Reporting Corporation and the International Airlines Travel Agency Network are approving bodies for airlines. To be approved, a firm must be financially sound and have at least one experienced manager/agent.

There are no Federal licensing requirements for travel agents. However, nine states require some form of registration or certification of retail sellers of travel services: California, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington. More information may be obtained by contacting the Office of the Attorney General or Department of Commerce for each State.

JOB OUTLOOK

Employment of travel agents is expected to grow faster than the average for all U.S. occupations through the year 2008. Many job openings will arise as new agencies open and existing agencies expand, but most openings will occur as experienced agents transfer to other occupations or leave the labor force.

Spending on travel is expected to increase significantly over the next decade. With rising household incomes, smaller families, and an increasing number of older people who are more likely to travel, more people are expected to travel on vacation -- and to do so more frequently -- than in the past. In fact, many people take more than one vacation a year. Business-related travel should also grow as business activity expands. Employment of managerial, professional, and sales workers -- those who do most business travel -- is projected to grow at least as fast as the average for all occupations.

Charter flights and larger, more efficient planes have brought air transportation within the budgets of more people. Also, the easing of Government regulation of air fares and routes has fostered greater competition among airlines, resulting in more affordable service. In addition, American travel agents organize tours for the growing number of foreign visitors. While most agencies now have automated reservation systems, this has not weakened demand for travel agents.

Some developments, however, may reduce job opportunities for travel agents in the future. The Internet allows people to access travel information from their personal computers and make their own travel arrangements. Suppliers of travel services are increasingly able to make their services available through other means, such as electronic ticketing machines and remote ticket printers. Also, airline companies have put a cap on the amount of commissions they will pay to travel agencies. The full effect of these practices, though, has yet to be determined as many consumers prefer to use a professional travel agent to ensure reliability and save time and, in some cases, money.

The travel industry generally is sensitive to economic downturns and political crises, when travel plans are likely to be deferred. Therefore, the number of job opportunities fluctuates.

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