What is a Travel Agent?
Travel Agent Definition Plan and sell transportation and accommodations for travel agency customers. Determine destination, modes of transportation, travel dates, costs, and accommodations required. May also describe, plan, and arrange itineraries and sell tour packages. May assist in resolving clients’ travel problems.
List of Travel Agent Job Duties
- Print or request transportation carrier tickets, using computer printer system or system link to travel carrier.
- Converse with customer to determine destination, mode of transportation, travel dates, financial considerations, and accommodations required.
- Book transportation and hotel reservations, using computer terminal or telephone.
- Provide customer with brochures and publications containing travel information, such as local customs, points of interest, or foreign country regulations.
- Plan, describe, arrange, and sell itinerary tour packages and promotional travel incentives offered by various travel carriers.
- Collect payment for transportation and accommodations from customer.
What Skills Do You Need to Work as a Travel Agent?
Travel Agents state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Other Travel Agent Job Titles
- Certified Travel Counselor
- Corporate Travel Expert
- Auto Travel Counselor
- Travel Consultant
- Tour Agent
Are There Job Opportunities for Travel Agents?
In the United States, there were 81,700 jobs for Travel Agents in 2016.
Travel Agent jobs are decreasing by a rate of -11.7%. This means the total job opportunities are shrinking. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a loss of -9,500 jobs for Travel Agents by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 7,800 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for Travel Agents are Washington, Florida, and Maryland.
Watch out if you plan on working in California, Wisconsin, or Pennsylvania. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Average Travel Agent Salary
Travel Agents Make between $22,370 and $66,080 a year. The median salary for this occupation is $38,700.
How much do Travel Agents make in different U.S. states?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
|
District of Columbia |
$56,790 |
|
Nevada |
$56,590 |
|
Washington |
$52,790 |
|
Massachusetts |
$49,920 |
|
New Jersey |
$49,330 |
|
Arizona |
$48,980 |
|
Connecticut |
$48,780 |
|
California |
$47,460 |
|
Wyoming |
$47,440 |
|
Kansas |
$45,940 |
|
Montana |
$45,810 |
|
Minnesota |
$45,530 |
|
Alabama |
$45,070 |
|
Virginia |
$44,970 |
|
Colorado |
$44,750 |
|
New Hampshire |
$44,420 |
|
Vermont |
$44,000 |
|
Utah |
$43,590 |
|
Pennsylvania |
$42,700 |
|
Tennessee |
$42,600 |
|
Michigan |
$42,530 |
|
Hawaii |
$42,170 |
|
Alaska |
$42,060 |
|
Delaware |
$41,800 |
|
Nebraska |
$41,650 |
|
Florida |
$41,630 |
|
Kentucky |
$41,470 |
|
Iowa |
$41,330 |
|
Illinois |
$41,100 |
|
New Mexico |
$40,970 |
|
North Carolina |
$40,690 |
|
Indiana |
$40,640 |
|
Missouri |
$40,100 |
|
New York |
$40,000 |
|
Texas |
$39,670 |
|
Oregon |
$38,520 |
|
Idaho |
$38,280 |
|
Louisiana |
$38,060 |
|
Arkansas |
$37,580 |
|
Wisconsin |
$37,350 |
|
Rhode Island |
$37,280 |
|
Oklahoma |
$36,940 |
|
Maryland |
$36,300 |
|
Ohio |
$36,250 |
|
South Dakota |
$36,140 |
|
West Virginia |
$35,420 |
|
Georgia |
$35,190 |
|
Maine |
$34,510 |
|
Mississippi |
$34,120 |
|
North Dakota |
$33,600 |
|
South Carolina |
$33,150 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Travel Agents
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Travel Agents may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Sabre Central Command
- Microsoft Excel
- Intuit QuickBooks
- Microsoft Access
- Data entry software
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Outlook
How do I Become a Travel Agent?
What kind of Travel Agent requirements are there?
How many years of work experience do I need?
Where do Travel Agents Work?
Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those interested in being a Travel Agent may also be interested in:
- Bill and Account Collectors
- Interpreters and Translators
References
Image Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons
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