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What is a travel agent and how to become one
The job of a travel agent is to reserve transportation and accommodation for individuals and groups planning trips. He/She advises clients on travel destinations, plans itineraries, and receives payments. He/She may also visit hotels, resorts, destinations, and more, for informative experiences to make recommendations to clients or colleagues. Travel agents use the Global Distribution System (GDS) to get travel information and make necessary reservations.
The minimum educational requirement for this job is a high school diploma. However, a degree in tourism, hospitality, or related field is more beneficial. Certifications like Certified Travel Associate (CTA) and Certified Travel Counselor (CTC) would also increase chances of employment.
Travel agents must possess sales, interpersonal, communication, negotiation, customer service, organization, and problem-solving skills. Plus, you must have at least two years of experience in a similar role and must be familiar with the latest tourism trends. The average annual salary of a travel agent is $35,599. It varies from $23,000 to $54,000.
What general advice would you give to a Travel Agent?
Diane Petras
CTIE, president, The Travel Institute
Avg. Salary $33,128
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth Rate 20%
Growth Rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.11%
Asian 8.74%
Black or African American 7.17%
Hispanic or Latino 13.11%
Unknown 4.44%
White 66.43%
Genderfemale 78.13%
male 21.87%
Age - 52American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 52Stress level is high
7.1 - high
Complexity Level is challenging
7 - challenging
Work Life balance is good
6.4 - fair
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Travel Agent career paths
Key steps to become a travel agent
Explore travel agent education requirements
Start to develop specific travel agent skills
Skills 
Percentages Reservations 29.95% Booking 11.51% AAA 8.23% Credit Card 6.52% Travel Itineraries 3.52% Complete relevant travel agent training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New travel agents learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a travel agent based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real travel agent resumes.Gain additional travel agent certifications
More About CertificationsTravel agent certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific travel agent certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.
The most common certifications for travel agents include Travel and Tourism Professional (TTP) and Certified Travel Associate (CTA).
Research travel agent duties and responsibilities
- Manage corporate travel arrangements for business accounts, including passport and visa documents.
- Book hotel reservations; recommend and cross sell hotel rooms for availability within the Marriott brand of hotels and resorts.
- Service inbound calls using Sabre system by setting itineraries and booking new reservations, also including billing reversals or accommodations.
- Create PDFs prior to being send to print vendors and edit sell sheets for product introduction mailings.
Prepare your travel agent resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your travel agent resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a travel agent resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose From 10+ Customizable Travel Agent Resume templates
Build a professional Travel Agent resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Travel Agent resume.
Apply for travel agent jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a travel agent job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How Did You Land Your First Travel Agent Job
Are you a Travel Agent?
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Average travel agent salary
The average Travel Agent salary in the United States is $33,128 per year or $16 per hour. Travel agent salaries range between $26,000 and $41,000 per year.
What Am I Worth?
How do travel agents rate their job?
Travel Agent reviews
challenges in flight bookings; hotels; schedules; tours
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Updated January 8, 2025
