Travel is a universal language. Almost every person you meet enjoys talking about travelling and the different experiences they get to enjoy being somewhere new. So your decision to pursuit a career as a travel specialist guarantees that you will be participating in an industry with unlimited market potential. With more than 7 Trillion dollars in gross annual revenue, Travel is one of the largest consumer industries in the world, directly and indirectly creating almost 300 million jobs, making ...

There are an overwhelming number of options and market segments to the travel industry that you can participate in. Before you conclude that being a travel agent is the right career move for you, it is important that you understand the different market segments, know who the key players are in each segment, and identify where you will fit in. Let’s look at the key areas that will directly affect your career as a travel agent, and evaluate the roles they play. Regulatory Bodies Every indu...

The Importance Of Picking A Niche A niche is a defined segment of a market. The travel market is made up of dozens of product types, with each product type sub-divided into individual categories, covering thousands of destinations all over the world. When a client calls on the service of a travel specialist, they will expect their agent to have expert knowledge and insight to help them create the best travel experience possible. It is impossible for any one agent to be an expert in every area o...

 One of the most important pieces of information you need to know before you choose any career path is what are the income potentials. For travel agents, that number varies. In an industry that generates over 7 trillion dollars annually, the income potential is limitless. However, to give you a realistic perspective on what the average full-time travel agent makes, that amount will fall anywhere between 30 – 45 thousand US dollars annually. Travel agents who are top sellers make anywh...

Certification is necessary and sometimes mandatory depending on the geographic details of where you plan to conduct business. While there is no formal university program or degree required for you to start your career as a travel agent, some jurisdictions will have a standard training guide and a formal exam that you must complete before you can start selling travel. Even though we all hate doing exams and taking courses, having a formal certification can prove to be very beneficial to the succe...

After you have completed your certification, you are now ready to start selling travel. However, before you can legally trade travel products and services, you must be associated with an IATA registered entity. Travel Agents sell travel through travel agencies or host agencies. When you join a host agency, they will give you access to the use of their IATA registration number. This number will ensure that you are paid commissions by vendors when you sell their product. However, that is not the o...

Once you have successfully completed your due diligence, and you are fully set up as a travel specialist, it is time for you to start selling. This is the most exciting part of the process as you now get to truly have fun, sending your message to potential clients and building your brand. Do not waste time letting everyone you know on your contact list about your new venture and that you are now a travel specialist and they should call you the next time they or anyone they know plan on taking a ...