What are the pros and cons of being a travel agent?

Weigh all the pros and cons of being a travel agent before jumping in as a franchise owner.
  • Pro: You Can Work Anywhere & Set Your Own Hours. ...
  • Con: You Can Work Anywhere & Set Your Own Hours. ...
  • Pro: You Can Travel the World. ...
  • Con: You Might Get Calls at All Hours. ...
  • Pro: No College Degree Required. ...
  • Con: You Are in Control.




People Also Ask

It can be a demanding job. Clients having issues on their trip will call a travel agent immediately, which might be in the middle of the night back in the United States. Some clients can also be overly-needy, but this is just a facet of the job.

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10 Reasons Becoming A Travel Agent May Be Right For You
  • You Get To Work From Home. Some people like an office, but most of us prefer our homes. ...
  • The Perks Are Great. ...
  • Own Your Business. ...
  • Low Start Up Cost. ...
  • Flexible Work Hours. ...
  • You Can Start Part Time. ...
  • Training Is Easy. ...
  • Expand Your Network.


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Approach it as a side hustle with the potential for growth. Being a travel agent can be a great way to make extra cash, especially if you already have other businesses or entrepreneurial ventures. If you're a serial entrepreneur, juggling multiple ventures might come naturally to you.

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Travel agents sometimes feel as if they're working “blind.” They don't have access to their clients' personal information, such as vacation dates and preferences. You can't plan a strategy, segment your client base, or know what to offer them without these details.

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How much money do travel agents make? This comes down to certain factors such as the type of clients, level of expertise and the ability to offer specialized services. According to Indeed, the average salary of a travel agent in the US is $49,608 but there are many making up to six-figure incomes.

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As of 2023, there are over 400,000 people employed in the Travel Agencies industry in the US. The industry is forecast to grow by 7.1% throughout 2023, clearly demonstrating that demand for travel agents remains strong.

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A 2023 consumer research survey from ASTA (the American Society of Travel Advisors) found that 50% of travelers are more likely to use a travel advisor post-pandemic. (This is a 7-point increase from 2022.) Here are the crib notes: There's no better time to become a travel agent.

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Do travel agents get discounts on flights? Generally not, and especially not for short distances. For the most part, any discount you'd get from using a travel agent would be for a combined package. Still, it never hurts to ask if your travel agent can get you a deal on your flight.

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– but with the right mindset, hard work and an entrepreneurial spirit, you can begin your journey to becoming a successful travel agent. It's not easy, but there are few barriers, and the industry is so big you'll be sure to find a niche to fit into.

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Most travel agents work full time, although part-time work is common. Some work additional hours during peak travel times or when they must accommodate clients' schedule changes and last-minute needs.

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10 Keys to Success for New Travel Agents
  1. Be Confident. If you want to become a successful travel agent, you need the confidence to do so. ...
  2. Have Passion. ...
  3. Find Your Niche. ...
  4. Build Your Network. ...
  5. Get Educated. ...
  6. Embrace Marketing. ...
  7. Be Service Oriented. ...
  8. Become an Authority.


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A significant reduction in the number of travel agents. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, full-time agents declined from a peak of 124,000 in 2000 to 82,000 in 2019. From 1997 to 2013, retail travel agency headcount fell by 59 percent—from 22,938 to 9,387, said Skift, a travel media and events company.

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In addition to the basic salary, travel agents enjoy numerous perks like discounts on holiday packages and bonuses for meeting targets. Some companies pay travel agents on a commission basis depending on the destination, flight or accommodation type clients book.

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Good communication and computer skills are essential for travel agents. A high school diploma typically is required to become a travel agent. However, employers may prefer to hire candidates who have sales experience or relevant certification or education. Communication and customer service skills are essential.

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Travel agents earn commissions from travel vendors that we book for our clients. This is the entire portion of our revenue. We make a small percentage from some airlines, but most of our revenue comes from commission paid to us by tour operators, cruises and hotels.

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If you want this to be a six-figure income career for you, then you need to invest in yourself. This may include things like education, FAM trips, marketing, websites, associated costs to branding, a CRM or a travel agent portal to manage your business. Many host agencies will even provide some of these tools for you.

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The average salary for Independent Travel Agent is £27,456 per year in the United Kingdom. The average additional cash compensation for a Independent Travel Agent in the United Kingdom is £3,612, with a range from £1,530 - £8,525.

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Travel agent demographics research summary. There are over 29,992 travel agents currently employed in the United States. 78.1% of all travel agents are women, while 21.9% are men. The average travel agent age is 50 years old.

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Questions a Travel Agent Should Ask
  • Where are you planning on traveling? When?
  • What kind of research have you done?
  • How old will the passengers be (for senior discounts)?
  • Does anyone have military service (for military discounts)?
  • What is your goal for this vacation?


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If you think you have excellent communication skills and enjoy getting to know people, these traits will definitely come in handy when it comes to understanding what your clients need. As a travel agent, you'll interact with people from diverse backgrounds and cater to their unique travel preferences.

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