New developments in Internet technology, allowing people to access travel information from their personal computers and make their own travel arrangements, there will be limit for travel agents in the future. Travel benefits, such as reduced rates for around the world air tickets, hotel accommodations provided by the airlines. Constantly changing airfares and schedules, thousands of available vacation packages, and a vast amount of travel information on the Internet can make travel planning frustrating and time-consuming.
To sort out the many travel options, tourists and business people often turn to travel agents, who assess their needs and help them make the best possible travel arrangements. In general, travel agents give advice on destinations and make arrangements for flight schedule, Travel agents provide information on economy class, business class and first class on World Perks, Skyteam Star Alliance Around the World tickets. Travel agents consult a variety of published sources for information on departure and arrival times and air fares. Travel agents also promote their services, using telemarketing, direct mail, and the Internet. Depending on the size of the travel agency.
An agent may specialize by type of travel, such as airline tickets on First, Business, or Economy Class to destinations such as Europe, Africa or Asia. Travel agents spend most of the time behind a desk conferring with clients, completing paperwork, contacting airlines and hotels for travel arrangements. During vacation seasons and holiday periods, travel agents may be under a great deal of pressure. Many agents, especially those who are self-employed, frequently work long hours. With advanced computer systems and telecommunication networks, some travel agents are able to work at home.
Experienced travel agents can provide you with itinerary for any sort of around the world air tickets with in 24 hours of regions such as North America, Western Europe, the Caribbean, and the Pacific part.
Travel agents must be well-organized, accurate, and meticulous to compile information from various sources and plan and organize client’s travel itineraries. Some employees start as reservation clerks or receptionists in travel agencies. With experience and some formal training, they can take on greater responsibilities and eventually assume travel agent duties.
In agencies with many offices, travel agents may advance to office manager or to other managerial positions. Those who start their own agencies generally have had experience in an established agency. Before they can receive commissions, these agents usually must gain formal approval from suppliers or corporations, such as airlines, ship lines, or rail lines. The Airlines Reporting Corporation and the International Airlines Travel Agency Network, for example, are the approving bodies for airlines. To gain approval, an agency must be financially sound and employ at least one experienced manager or travel agent.
There are no federal licensing requirements for travel agents. The Internet increasingly allows people to access travel information from their personal computers, enabling them to research and plan their own trips, make their own reservations and travel arrangements, and purchase their own tickets. Further, suppliers of travel services now are able to make their services available through other means, such as electronic ticketing machines and remote e-tickets. Also, airline companies have put a limit on the amount of commissions they will pay to travel agencies, reducing revenues.
However, many consumers still will prefer to use a professional travel agent to ensure reliability, to save time, and, in some cases, money. Projected employment growth stems from increased spending on tourism and business travel over the next decade. With rising household incomes, smaller families, and an increasing number of older people who are more likely to travel, more people are expected to travel on vacation - and to do so more frequently - than in the past. Business travel also should grow as business activity expands. Further, professional and related workers, who are projected to be the fastest growing occupational group, do a significant amount of business travel.
Several other factors also will lead to more business for travel agents. In addition, Asia travel agents now organize more tours for the growing number of foreign visitors. Also, travel agents often are able to offer various travel packages at a substantial discount. The travel business is sensitive to economic downturns and international political crises, when travel plans are likely to be deferred. Therefore, the number of job opportunities for travel agents fluctuates. Among agencies, those focusing on corporate sales pay higher salaries and provide more extensive benefits, on average, than those who focus on leisure sales.
When they travel for personal reasons, agents usually get reduced rates for transportation and hotel accommodations.
Earnings of travel agents who own their agencies depend mainly on commissions from airlines. Commissions for domestic travel arrangements are about 2 percent of the total sale, and for international travel, about 3 percent. Travel agents also may charge clients a service fee for the time and expense involved in planning a trip.
During the first year of business or while awaiting corporation approval, self-employed travel agents often have low earnings. Their income usually is limited to commissions from hotels, cruises, and tour operators and to nominal fees for making complicated arrangements. Established agents may have lower earnings during economic downturns.
However, many consumers still will prefer to use a professional travel agent to ensure reliability, to save time, and, in some cases, money. Projected employment growth stems from increased spending on tourism and business travel over the next decade. With rising household incomes, smaller families, and an increasing number of older people who are more likely to travel, more people are expected to travel on vacation - and to do so more frequently - than in the past. Business travel also should grow as business activity expands. Further, professional and related workers, who are projected to be the fastest growing occupational group, do a significant amount of business travel.
Several other factors also will lead to more business for travel agents. In addition, Asia travel agents now organize more tours for the growing number of foreign visitors. Also, travel agents often are able to offer various travel packages at a substantial discount. The travel business is sensitive to economic downturns and international political crises, when travel plans are likely to be deferred. Therefore, the number of job opportunities for travel agents fluctuates. Among agencies, those focusing on corporate sales pay higher salaries and provide more extensive benefits, on average, than those who focus on leisure sales.
When they travel for personal reasons, agents usually get reduced rates for transportation and hotel accommodations. Earnings of travel agents who own their agencies depend mainly on commissions from airlines. Commissions for domestic travel arrangements are about 2 percent of the total sale, and for international travel, about 3 percent. Travel agents also may charge clients a service fee for the time and expense involved in planning a trip. During the first year of business or while awaiting corporation approval, self-employed travel agents often have low earnings. Their income usually is limited to commissions from hotels, cruises, and tour operators and to nominal fees for making complicated arrangements. Established agents may have lower earnings during economic downturns.
