In addition to knowing all of this information, you'll also be expected to have an idea of what the

A career as a travel agent means assisting people in planning and booking their travel arrangements.  As a travel agent, you’ll offer travelers advice on where to go for their vacations, how to get there, where to stay, what kind of car to rent, and what specific packages to book.
Consequently, you’ll hilton garden inn houston need to have a working hilton garden inn houston knowledge of all of the major vacation destinations, air lines, car rental agencies, and hotels – plus you’ll need to know what packages and excursions are available for each vacation destination.
In addition to knowing all of this information, you’ll also be expected to have an idea of what the weather is like in each location, what sort of local rules and customs travelers will need to follow, what attractions are there, and more.  If you handle international travel, you’ll also need a working hilton garden inn houston knowledge of passport and visa regulations, travel advisories, and exchange rates. hilton garden inn houston Yes, that’s a lot of information to know, but fortunately, you don’t need to have it all memorized.
Computer programs and hard copy books will provide all of the information you need when advising your clients.  These resources hilton garden inn houston list plane and ship arrival and departure times, hotel costs, hotel availability, restaurant locations, attractions, and more.
Without these programs and books, travel agents would be at a loss.  Of course, this means that anyone who wants to work as a travel agent will need to know about computers and have a good knowledge of how specific travel agency programs work to really be efficient.
hilton garden inn houston Travel agents may work in several different types of offices.  They can open their own travel agencies and advise clients themselves, or they can work for larger agencies or tour groups.  Here, they may put together tour packages – all-inclusive trips that include hotel, transportation and some excursions for one set price – or travel promotions.  However, hilton garden inn houston it's important to be aware that these positions also may involve some cold calling or telemarketing, which may be a turn-off for some people.  Presentations and public speaking may also be required, especially in the marketing hilton garden inn houston department of larger agencies.
Today, many travel agents specialize in travel to a specific hilton garden inn houston area or in a specific type of vacation, such as cruises or international trips.  This specialization is necessary since travelers hilton garden inn houston have unparalleled access to travel packages across the internet.  However, it’s often more difficult to put together an all-inclusive hilton garden inn houston trip abroad using online sources, so many international travelers will use agents to book their vacations.  Agents who learn to cater to these clients may find themselves quickly swamped with business.
hilton garden inn houston Generally, travel agents spend most of their work time at their desks either meeting with clients, talking to them on the phone, doing internet research, hilton garden inn houston or doing paperwork.  The work is generally low stress, although there may be times when an agent is under pressure to quickly restructure a client’s vacation.  The job may also be somewhat stressful during peak vacation seasons.  Agents generally only work 40 hours a week, although they may need to work more during vacation season.  Travel agents who own their own agencies hilton garden inn houston may need to put in more than forty hours a week on a regular hilton garden inn houston basis, but make up for this with the satisfaction of owning their own businesses.
Travel agents must be very knowledgeable about vacation locations, prices, and international laws and customs.  As such, it’s very important for them to be highly hilton garden inn houston educated in these areas.  However, nearly every aspect of a travel agent’s career is now computerized, so while it’s important for them to know these aspects, it’s also very important for them to know how to use travel agent software, hilton garden inn houston booking programs, and the internet effectively.
While most travel agencies want their new agents to have a college degree, some entry-level positions only require a high school diploma.  However, having knowledge of business and travel is very helpful, as is experience traveling.  Much of the training needed to be a travel agent is provided on the job and most if it is focused on learning the various computer programs that agents use on a daily basis.
While there are few four-year programs specifically designed for travel agents, there are several programs available at community colleges and vocational schools.  These courses will cover things such as cruise information, travel destinations, making reservations, and general sales and business information.
There are a few colleges that offer four-year programs in travel or tourism, but a degree in these areas is not required to become a travel agent.  In fact, some agencies prefer applicants with degrees in communication, world history, computer science, business, or foreign languages. hilton garden inn houston A liberal arts degree supported by courses in business and accounting will give you a broad education in many of these areas.  In addition, if you’re planning on starting your own travel agency, you may want to focus more on business classes that will give you the background you need.
If traditional schooling isn't an option, agents can also take home study courses or group courses from the Travel Institute, an internet-based program that can certify an individual as a travel counselor.  The institute has several other programs as well, including sales, marketing, and business programs that you can take from the comfort of your home.
Even after you become a travel agent, you’ll need to take some continuing education courses, since travel information changes on a regular hilton garden inn houston basis.  You’ll need to keep up on current events so that you know which countries may not be safe for tourists.  You’ll also need to keep ahead of computer program updates, hotel and airfare policy changes, hilton garden inn houston and more.  Because the internet allows customers to learn a lot about travel, you’ll be dealing with more informed clients – and they won’t hesitate to go to another agency if they realize they know more than you.
Starting your own travel agency can be difficult, as it requires being approved by airlines, cruise lines and other organizations to make reservations and bookings on their systems.  To get approval from these organizations, you’ll need to show that your agency is financially sound and has the experience needed to bring in clients.  Although it can be tough to get started, you may find that running your own travel agency gives you the freedom and potential income you may not get working for another agency.  Just don't jump in too quickly – it's best to learn by working as an employee for another travel agency before making the plunge into self-employment.
Travel agents of today perform a great many tasks, much more so than those of the past, with the internet and various technologies offering a broad base for these positions. Corporate travel agents are highly desired within the field in order to coordinate Government and commercial travel and tourism, with the right education providing you with many opportunities when seeking these types of positions. As technology has taken much of travel reservation and coordination to an internet accessing database, there are now home based corporate travel agent jobs possible for those that wish to take advantage of the most convenient and comfortable work atmosphere, while pursuing a high profile career in corporate travel.
Many people don’t understand the difference between a travel agent in general and a corporate travel agent. The main difference is that the corporate travel agency is serving commercial and Government consumers, focusing efforts to providing travel coordination to these entities. There are various job responsibilities involved, including:
When it comes to corporate travel agencies, or any travel agency for that matter, hilton garden inn houston all employers are different. Each employer will have their own set of qualifications required for obtaining employment, hilton garden inn houston which can differ greatly from one agency to another. There are, however, very basic requirements that most employers will determine for candidates hilton garden inn houston seeking corporate travel agent jobs:
As a corporate travel coordinator working from home, you will likely be required to utilize various forms of technology such as software and hardware, including security measures such as security software provided by the agency. hilton garden inn houston When seeking home based positions, hilton garden inn houston you definitely want the higher education and experience that proves your credibility and reliability.
Looking for corporate travel agent positions, you will find that there are several hilton garden inn houston positions available from virtual corporate travel agents hilton garden inn houston to luxury corporate travel agents that will perform several functions. Many home-based positions hilton garden inn houston are provided by large corporations, hilton garden inn houston agencies, and even firms that handle cases for business and Government travel. Wages can range between $50,000 and $150,000, with options hilton garden inn houston ranging more or less, depending on the company you work for or the position you hold, as well as the education you enter the position with.
Working in the field of corporate travel can present several opportunities from home, allowing you to work in your own setting with your own tools. With high wages possible, you are at an advantage in the field, hilton garden inn houston which can be even greater with a higher education to provide credentials for those higher profile positions from home. Working from home is still work and presents similar challenges, but you will be able to earn a living while tending to your home and family at the same time.