Essential Skills For Success: The Key Traits And Abilities Every Travel Agent Should Possess

So you have been thinking about becoming a travel agent. Maybe you want to go work for an existing agency, or maybe you want to start your own business. You know, be your own boss. It’s true that this profession offers a lot of benefits, and you already love traveling and helping people. Are there other things that need to be considered?

Quite a few things, as it turns out.  People use travel agents because of the service and support provided that makes planning and booking trips easier (and often cheaper). Being able to provide the required level of service takes a certain mental attitude and skill set.  

Acquiring Aptitudes and Abilities

So, how to become a travel agent? The most obvious ability needed by a travel agent is in the area of customer service. Travel agents need to be patient and professional when dealing with both potential and existing customers. The motto “The customer is always right” can be difficult to uphold when the customer is demanding that you book them a train trip from London to Iceland. 

A travel agent’s strong customer service skills will often need to be combined with the ability to solve problems quickly and under pressure. Problems like canceled flights, hotel issues, accidents and disasters will require the travel agent to be able to act quickly and decisively to resolve them. 

As with many jobs, the travel industry has its own computer and software knowledge set needed to perform the job of travel agent. If you are starting out on your own, you will have to choose from a huge number of software packages designed for travel agents. If you are hired directly by an existing travel agency, you will need to learn whatever system they use. 

The final skill you will need is applicable throughout many industries and aspects of living in modern society, and that is negotiation skills. Some people are born with them, and some are not. As a travel agent, there will arise special cases where the list prices or features need to be adjusted. In these situations, you will have to negotiate directly with suppliers like hotels, tour providers, and of course airlines.  

Niche Knowledge – Finding your Place in the Industry

There is an advantage for a travel agent to have areas in which they specialize. For example, a travel agent may be certified to work with certain amusement parks or resorts, and focus their sales and marketing efforts in these areas. The decision to focus on a certain area should be inspired and influenced by your current interests. Some examples of personal interests that can easily dovetail with travel packages are architecture, history, outdoor sports, and fine dining. There are even destinations and retreats that cater to those who have strong religious or spiritual convictions that they wish to explore further. Specializing in niche markets often allows agents to position themselves as experts and even win industry trophies for excellence in their field.

Ready to Take the Travel Agent Leap?

Many of the above qualities needed to work in the travel industry have significant crossover with other jobs and fields. No profession has a monopoly on requirements like attention to detail and good relationships with suppliers. For the skills and expertise that are industry-specific, there are a host of training and certification options. With training and some experience, you will be ready to find your niche market based on your personal loves and areas of expertise.

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