How to Become a Travel Agent: Step-by-Step Guide to Start Your Travel Career

Contents

• What does a travel agent actually do?
• Your step-by-step guide to becoming a travel agent
• FAQs about becoming a travel agent

What does a travel agent actually do?

Travel agents do more than just click a “book now” button. Your day-to-day schedule will vary, whether it’s planning itineraries for destinations like Bali or booking accommodation and transport for Istanbul. You’ll be providing destination expertise and advising clients, while managing relationships with suppliers. 

As a travel agent, one of your most important responsibilities will be solving travel disruptions. Modern travel agents are experience-focused, typically specializing within a niche, consulting clients on potential destinations and aligning an itinerary to their specific interests and travel style. 

Your step-by-step guide to becoming a travel agent

1. Understand the different types of travel agents

While agents often have the same responsibilities, there are different business models. The advisors you see working in stores are different from remote travel agents, who may work exclusively with high-net-worth clients, offering a concierge-style service.

Leisure travel specialists are the most common type. They specialize in family vacations and common itineraries, like honeymoons and cruises. Luxury travel also falls into this category, although several niches exist within this. 

Corporate travel agents may work in-house with a business or offer their services on an ad-hoc basis for better flexibility. They’ll book packages that align with the company’s travel policies.

By comparison, group travel specialists offer packages for tours, sports teams, and school groups. Other agents may choose to become destination specialists, such as for Asia or for adventure-focused travel and luxury destinations. 

Leisure travel specialists are the most common type.
Photo by Nanci Santos Iglesias on Shutterstock

2. Learn the skills successful travel agents need

Depending on your background, you may need to work on your sales and relationship skills before starting your business. Understanding booking systems and having destination knowledge are non-negotiable hard skills for agents.

Soft skills include customer service, communication, sales, and problem-solving. You’ll need to stay on top of your organization and have a system in place for managing clients through every stage of the funnel, from initial consultation to post-trip follow-ups. 

3. Gain training and industry education

You don’t need a degree to become a travel agent. Industry knowledge matters more. Here are some training programs that may benefit your career long-term:

• Tourism board certifications
• Destination specialist programs
• Supplier training programs 

4. Decide how to start your travel career

There are several options for how to start your career, including: 

• Joining an established agency: Offers advantage of mentoring and training, although your commissions will initially be lower. Agents who work directly for these established agencies are regular employees with a set salary (or base pay plus commission) and regular working hours.
• Launching an independent travel business: You’ll have higher earning potential and full control, but with the initial challenge of client acquisition, marketing, and establishing your operations. 
• Applying for a position at a host agency: A host agency can be good in-between for those who want collaborative resources with the flexibility of being self-employed. Host agencies partner with independent agents to provide access to supplier networks, but typically take a 20% to 40% commission cut from the agent. 

A host agency can be good in-between for those who want collaborative resources with the flexibility of being self-employed.
Photo by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash

5. Build relationships with travel suppliers

Suppliers provide access to exclusive rates, faster support, and better service. Key supplier relationships include hotels, airlines, tour operators, cruise lines, and ground transport providers. 

6. Choose a travel niche

Most agents specialize in a niche. This allows them to become experts in their field and market their services more efficiently. 

Here are some of the most popular travel niches:

• Adventure travel
• Cruises, including expedition cruises
• Family travel, including multi-generational groups
• Destination weddings, including group travel
• Corporate travel
• Sustainable and eco-friendly travel
• Sports and event travel, such as F1 and international football
• Luxury travel, including for high-net-worth individuals 

7. Find your first travel clients

The final step to becoming a travel agent is to find your first clients. Here’s how to start:

• Use your professional networks and reach out to friends and family. 
• Create a website and social media pages to kickstart your marketing strategy.
• Make sure to have a contact form on your website.
• Start establishing yourself as an expert in your niche.

The final step to becoming a travel agent is to find your first clients.
Photo by Vlada Karpovich

FAQs about becoming a travel agent

Grow your travel agency with RateHawk

Travel agents are more valuable than ever as demand increases for hyper-customized itineraries and curated packages. Customers choose to work with a travel agent for their expertise and insights, rather than booking independently. 

RateHawk gives you access to 2.9M+ accommodation options around the world and 330+ worldwide suppliers with exclusive rates and the ability to book accommodation, airline tickets, airport transfers, and car rentals all on one platform. Get started with RateHawk today and chase your dream of becoming a travel agent.

Join RateHawk now

Cover image: Photo by Atstock Productions / Shutterstock.com