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How to Become aHow to Become aHow to Become a How to Become a Travel AgentTravel AgentTravel AgentTravel AgentASTA’s Young Professionals SocietyASTA’s Young Professionals SocietyASTA s Young Professionals SocietyASTA s Young Professionals Society
YPS Webinar WednesdaysYPS Webinar Wednesdays
March 3 2010March 3 2010March 3, 2010March 3, 2010
Moderated by Jason Coleman CTC, ECCS, CLS, LCS, DSy
• Entered industry 1998 as a meeting plannery g p
• Switched to leisure sales in 2003
• Graduate of West L.A. College and George Washington Univ.
• Specialize in theme cruise groups• Specialize in theme cruise groups
• Chair of ASTA’s YPS and Vice President of SoCalASTA
Welcome Samira Platter
• Interned at Travel Agency and graduated from travel schoolg y g
• Started as a leisure travel agent–4 agencies and 1 Caribbean tour operator
• Job function is travel agency managerJob function is travel agency manager
• Favorite destination is Europe
Welcome Robbi Hamida CTA, DS
• Director of Agent Development at Nexiong p
• Got hooked on travel at the age of 16
• Also worked with an airline, leisure agency, corporate agency and agency owneragency and agency owner
Travel Careers
• The idea that the travel• The idea that the travel industry is glamorous is just hype.j yp
—MYTH or REALITY?
Job Satisfaction
88% f t l t88% of travel agents th hsay they are happy
in their currentin their current positionspositions.
Source: The Travel Institute’s 2006 Salary and Compensation Survey.
Travel Careers
• A career in travel means• A career in travel means a life working at low pay.
—MYTH or REALITY?
How Much Do Travel Agents Earn?g
• The average travel agent salary is $30 458• The average travel agent salary is $30,458— 44.3% of agents are compensated by salary
alone
— 26.7% are compensated by a combination of salary and commission
29% id b i i— 29% are paid by commission
• The average starting salary is $20,912Th i l l i $37 944• The average managerial salary is $37,944
Source: ASTA’s 2008 Labor and Compensation Study
Travel Careers
• You can’t get a job in• You can t get a job in travel without experience.
—MYTH or REALITY?
Travel Careers
• People in the travel• People in the travel industry don’t get to travel.
—MYTH or REALITY?
Why Become a Travel Agent?y g
• Passion for travel• Passion for travel
• Personally rewarding — fulfilling dreams
• Exciting and evolving business environment
• Lots of room for creative and analytical typesyp
• Room for advancement within travel industryindustry
Want to be Your Own Boss?
• There’s a ton of money to be made in• There s a ton of money to be made in travel!
St ti t l• Starting your own travel agency
• Becoming an independent contractor
What Does a Travel Agent Do?g
• Advise clients and provide• Advise clients and provide recommendations and information
R h d ti ti d li• Research destinations and supplier products
• Assist and find alternatives
• You’re the consumer advocate
What About Niches?
• Types of travel: corporate leisure• Types of travel: corporate, leisure, cruise, air, tours, space, luxury
D ti ti t i i• Destinations: countries, regions
• Consumer Groups: students, professionals, seniors, GLBT, families
• Interests/Themes: weddings/honeymoons, safari, social clubs, religious, adventureg
What are the Essential Skills?
• Interpersonal relationships• Interpersonal relationships— Understand their client’s needs and
communicate that understandingcommunicate that understanding
— Empathy, enthusiasm, patience, positive outlookoutlook
• LanguageAbility to speak and write clearly— Ability to speak and write clearly
— Additional languages are a huge advantage!advantage!
What are the Essential Skills?
• Basic mathBasic math— Calculating basic fares and rates,
currencies/measurements time zonescurrencies/measurements, time zones
• TechnologyComfort with office technology— Comfort with office technology
— Frequent use of internet and email to communicate and researchcommunicate and research
• Ability to learnR i d d h i— Routines and procedures, changing facts and skills
Aren’t Travel Agents All Gone?g
• Heck no we’re evolving!• Heck no — we re evolving!
• But can’t you do it all online yourself?
Where Do You Start?
• Travel Schools• Travel Schools— www.asta.org
th t li tit t— www.thetravelinstitute.com
— Local community colleges
• Travel and Tourism Scholarships— www.tourismcares.org
• Local Travel Agencies
• Associations like ASTA, NACTA, CLIAAssociations like ASTA, NACTA, CLIA
• Other Innovative Ways
Beware of the Quick Fixes
• Professional travel agents invest in• Professional travel agents invest in product and sales training, ongoing educationeducation
• Buying a website is not becoming a t l ttravel agent.
• An ID card does not a travel agent make!
A Great Place to Start
• American Society of Travel Agents• American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA)
“How to Become a Travel Agent” e-book— How to Become a Travel Agent e-book
• Future Travel Professionals Club
ASTA’ Y P f i l S i• ASTA’s Young Professionals Society— www.facebook.com/astayps
— www.asta.org/yps
Upcoming YPS Webinar Wednesdaysp g y
• Today's GDS It's Not• Today s GDS -- It s Not Your Grandma's CRS (April 7)(April 7)
• The In's and Out's of H t A i (M 5)Host Agencies (May 5)
• Making Cruising Work for You (June 9)
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