Travel Agents : Occupational Outlook Handbook : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Summary

Travel agents sell transportation, lodging, and admission to activities to those planning trips.

Quick Facts: Travel Agents
2010 Median Pay	$31,870 per year $15.32 per hour
Entry-Level Education	High school diploma or equivalent
Work Experience in a Related Occupation	None
On-the-job Training	Moderate-term on-the-job training
Number of Jobs, 2010	82,800
Job Outlook, 2010-20	10% (About as fast as average)
Employment Change, 2010-20	8,300

What Travel Agents Do

Travel agents sell transportation, lodging, and admission to entertainment activities to individuals and groups who are planning trips. They offer advice on destinations, plan trip itineraries, and make travel arrangements for clients.

Work Environment

Travel agents work in offices, where they spend much of their time on the phone and on the computer. Most travel agents work for travel agencies, although about 14 percent were self-employed in 2010.

How to Become a Travel Agent

A high school diploma is typically required for entry. However, many employers prefer formal training. Good communication and computer skills are essential for travel agents.

Pay

The median annual wage of travel agents was $31,870 in May 2010.

Job Outlook

Employment of travel agents is projected to increase by 10 percent from 2010 to 2020, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Job prospects should be best for travel agents who specialize in specific destinations or particular types of travelers, such as groups with a special interest or corporate travelers.

Similar Occupations

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of travel agents with similar occupations.

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What Travel Agents Do About this section

Travel agents offer advice on destinations, plan trip itineraries, and make travel arrangements for clients.

Duties

Travel agents typically do the following:

Arrange travel for business and vacation customers
Determine customers’ needs and preferences, such as schedules and costs
Plan and arrange tour packages, excursions, and day trips
Find fare and schedule information
Calculate total travel costs
Book reservations for travel, hotels, rental cars, and special events, such as tours and excursions
Tell clients about their trip, including details on required documents, such as passports or visas
Give advice about local weather conditions, customs, and attractions
Make alternate booking arrangements if changes arise before or during the trip

Travel agents help travelers by sorting through vast amounts of information to find the best possible travel arrangements. In addition, resorts and specialty travel groups use travel agents to promote travel packages to their clients.

Travel agents may also visit destinations to get first-hand experience so they can make recommendations to clients or colleagues. They may visit hotels, resorts, and restaurants to evaluate the comfort, cleanliness, and quality of the establishment. However, most of their time is spent talking with clients, promoting tours, and contacting airlines and hotels to make travel arrangements.

A growing number of travel agents focus on a specific type of travel, such as adventure tours. Some may cater to a specific group of people, such as senior citizens or single people. Other travel agents primarily make corporate travel arrangements for employee business travel. Some work for tour operators and are responsible for selling the company’s tours and services.

Work Environment About this section

Travel agents work in an office environment where they spend much of their time on the phone.

Travel agents held about 82,800 jobs in 2010. Travel agents work in offices, where they spend much of their time on the phone and on the computer. In some cases, busy offices or call centers may be noisy and crowded. Agents may face stress during travel emergencies or unanticipated schedule changes.

In 2010, 79 percent of all travel agents worked for the travel arrangement and reservation services industry, this includes those who worked for travel agencies. Additionally, 14 percent of travel agents were self-employed.

Work Schedules

Most travel agents work full time. Some work longer hours during peak travel times or when they must accommodate customers’ schedule changes and last-minute needs.

How to Become a Travel Agent About this section

Good communication and computer skills are essential for travel agents.

A high school diploma is typically required for entry. However, many employers prefer formal training. Good communication and computer skills are essential for travel agents.

Education

Employers may prefer candidates who have taken classes related to the travel industry. Many community colleges, vocational schools, and industry associations offer technical training or continuing education classes in professional travel planning. Classes usually focus on reservations systems, regulations regarding international travel, and marketing. In addition, a few colleges offer degrees in travel and tourism. In all cases, employers will provide some on-the-job training on the computer systems used in the travel industry. For example, a travel agent could be trained to use a reservation system used by several airlines.

Certification

Some associations offer certification that may help travel agents once they are on the job. The Travel Institute and the International Airline Transport Association’s Training and Development Institute, for example, provide training and professional development opportunities for experienced travel agents. Examinations for different levels of certification are offered depending on a travel agent’s experience.

Licenses

Some states require agents to have a business license to sell travel services. Requirements among states vary greatly. Contact individual state licensing agencies for more information.

Important Qualities

Adventurousness. Travel agencies that specialize in exotic destinations or particular types of travel, such as adventure travel or ecotourism, may prefer to hire travel agents who share these interests.

Communication skills. Travel agents must listen to customers, understand their travel needs, and offer appropriate travel advice and information.

Detail oriented. Travel agents must pay attention to details to ensure that the reservations they make match travelers’ needs. They must make reservations at the correct dates, times, and locations to meet travelers’ schedules.

Organizational skills. Travel agents should have strong organizational skills because they often work on itineraries for many customers at once. Keeping client information in order and ensuring that bills and receipts are processed in a timely manner is essential.

Sales skills. Travel agents must be able to persuade clients to buy transportation, lodging, or tours. Sometimes they might need to persuade tour operators, airline staff, or others to take care of their clients’ special needs. Earnings for many travel agents depend on commissions and service fees.

Pay About this section

Travel Agents

Median annual wages, May 2010

Total, All Occupations: $33,840
Travel Agents: $31,870
Sales and Related Occupations: $24,370

The median annual wage of travel agents was $31,870 in May 2010. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $19,610, and the top 10 percent earned more than $50,620. These wage data include money earned from commissions.

Most travel agents work full time. Some work longer hours during peak travel times or when they must accommodate customers’ schedule changes and last-minute needs.

Job Outlook About this section

Travel Agents

Percent change in employment, projected 2010-20

Total, All Occupations: 14%
Sales and Related Occupations: 13%
Travel Agents: 10%

Employment of travel agents is projected to grow by 10 percent from 2010 to 2020, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

Clients who want customized travel experiences, such as adventure tours, will continue to require the expertise of agents. However, the ability of travelers to research vacations and book their own trips using the Internet is expected to continue to suppress demand for travel agents.

Job prospects

Job prospects should be best for travel agents who specialize in specific destinations or particular types of travelers, such as groups with a special interest or corporate travelers.

Employment projections data for travel agents, 2010-20
Occupational Title	SOC Code	Employment, 2010	Projected Employment, 2020	Change, 2010-20		Employment by Industry
Occupational Title	SOC Code	Employment, 2010	Projected Employment, 2020	Percent	Numeric	Employment by Industry
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
Travel Agents	41-3041	82,800	91,100	10	8,300	[XLS]

Similar Occupations About this section

This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of travel agents.

Occupation	Job Duties	ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION	2010 MEDIAN PAY
Information Clerks	Information clerks provide administrative and clerical support in a variety of settings. They help maintain records, collect data and information, and respond to customers’ questions or concerns.	See How to Become One	$29,990
Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners	Meeting, convention, and event planners coordinate all aspects of professional meetings and events. They choose meeting locations, arrange transportation, and coordinate other details.	Bachelor’s degree	$45,260
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants	Secretaries and administrative assistants perform routine clerical and organizational tasks. They organize files, draft messages, schedule appointments, and support other staff.	High school diploma or equivalent	$34,660