Decide To Become A Travel Agent
Becoming a Travel Agent is EASY. Most people do not understand the travel industry. The lack of knowledge about the travel industry causes people think that becoming a Travel Agent is a difficult, time consuming, and expensive. This is not the case at all! The only thing it takes to become a Travel Agent is a decision, it is as easy as that.
Partner With An Existing Agency
The reason you want to partner with an existing travel agency is because "a lot of work is done for you." Some of this work includes but is not limited to years of accreditation work, contract negotiations with service providers, marketing tools, and other business set-up such as EINs, bi-laws, registration, and other standard business essentials. There are a lot of existing travel agencies out there. Some of them are giant companies like Expedia and Priceline, others mid-sized that are often only known in travel industry circles, and some are one-person mom & pop agencies.
Choose The Right Travel Agency
You want to partner with a legitimate travel agency. There are 3 major accrediting organizations for the travel industry. These are CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association), ARC (Airlines Reporting Commission), and IATA (International Air Transport Association). If an agency does not have accreditation by one or several of these organizations service providers such as hotel chains, cruise lines, and airlines "will not even work with you." Mega travel agencies such as Expedia will not partner with any agency that is not already accredited by CLIA, ARC, or IATA.
You need to partner with an agency based on the following 6 criteria
1. ACCREDITATION: In order to receive travel agent benefits and commissions the agency you partner with MUST be accredited by CLIA, ARC, or IATA.
2. FIT IN: You need to fit in where you can get in. Find an agency that will accept you, work with you, and roll you in under their umbrella.
3. EASY: Select a travel agency that is "easy to work with".
4. COMMISSIONS: Analyze commission shares & benefits. Some agencies will give as high as 80% commissions and others lower than 40%.
5. TOOLS: If you can get in with an agency that provides you with tools such as gift incentives, on-line bookings engines, commission tracking data base, personalized website, business cards, and the alike that is great!
6. TRAINING: Partner with an agency that is willing to invest in it's agents to train them. This is especially true for brand new agents. Knowledge is power, money, and great vacations.
You need to partner with an agency based on the following 6 criteria
1. ACCREDITATION: In order to receive travel agent benefits and commissions the agency you partner with MUST be accredited by CLIA, ARC, or IATA.
2. FIT IN: You need to fit in where you can get in. Find an agency that will accept you, work with you, and roll you in under their umbrella.
3. EASY: Select a travel agency that is "easy to work with".
4. COMMISSIONS: Analyze commission shares & benefits. Some agencies will give as high as 80% commissions and others lower than 40%.
5. TOOLS: If you can get in with an agency that provides you with tools such as gift incentives, on-line bookings engines, commission tracking data base, personalized website, business cards, and the alike that is great!
6. TRAINING: Partner with an agency that is willing to invest in it's agents to train them. This is especially true for brand new agents. Knowledge is power, money, and great vacations.
Educate Yourself On The Benefits
Travel industry knowledge is power to save, power to enjoy, and power to earn. You have to take time to "learn" the industry. You have to learn "general" travel agent benefits that are universal to all accredited agencies. This includes but is not limited discounts at all-inclusive resorts, cruise lines, general hotel stays, car rentals, parking, and more. You may have to "dig" and "work" to find the best discounts available for your time of travel. This means calling several places to price check agent rates for your dates. In addition to your general benefits, you have to educate yourself with the travel agency that you choose to partner with to discover who they have strategic alliances with to also give you significant travel funds and discounts.
Talk About Your Big Discounts!
Often travel agents can expect to pay 50% to 80% less than what is advertised online by resorts, theme parks, hotels, and cruise lines. There are also 99.9% off trip incentives and free trips that travel agents have access to as well. These discounts and trip incentives are usually extended to family and friends that are traveling with the agent. When you experience such benefits talk about it with friends and family to generate travel interest and open the door so they too can experience the same benefits.
Book Travel For You & Others
When you become a travel agent with us and our partners you will get your own personalized website, online booking engine, and access to the CLIA and ARC numbers. You can also book direct with the providers over on their website, phone, e-mail, or in person at their desk. The online tools and agency numbers makes it easy for you to book travel for yourself and your friends while receiving commissions and discounts. It is a WIN WIN for everyone!
Receive Generous Travel Commissions
No matter what, a travel commission is always built into a booking. Whether you book online through a search engine like Expedia or Priceline or direct with the hotel, resort, or cruise line there is a commission built into the rate. If the travel is booked "direct" with the provider, they get to keep the commission that would otherwise have been to paid to the agent. So, it makes sense to make commissions on your own bookings, friends' bookings, family bookings, or utilize your travel agent clout to get a discount or agent only rate. It is "just smarter" and "more profitable" to be an agent and do it yourself.
