Pros and Cons of Becoming a Travel Professional
 

I'm at a stage in my life where I'm looking for a second career. In reviewing my interests, I find that my love of travel is way at the top of the list. So, what do you fellow travelers think about a job in the travel industry? I know many of us do not use a travel professional, preferring to plan our trips on our own. But how many of you do use a travel professional, and in what capacity? Also, do you have any suggestions on finding a good program for travel and tourism courses? I am interested in your opinions so bring 'em on! Thanks.

In the past - 10 or so years ago I used a travel agent all the time. It was a great situation because she was actually very well traveled (increasingly rare in travel agents) and we had fairly similar tastes about things. When she changed careers I gave up on travel agents because the ones I encountered were more trouble than they were worth.

When I asked her about why she was changing careers she gave me a short course on compensation for agents - and explained tht much as she loved the job and the perqs she needed to find a career that would allow her to be self-supporting long-term. I don;t know the details but apparently the compensation if you are an employee is very poor - it's sort of like starting as a cub writer on the New York Times - they pay 1/3 of what you could earn elsewhere because of the perqs: prestige and training.

I think it would be a good idea if you really enjoy it. I know you can make decent money if you get at the top with a business or wealthy clientele, but probably not doing piddly stuff for budget or casual travelers, and agents can't assume a certain revenue anymore from just cutting tickets, etc.

Coincidentally, I get the Frommers newsletter and they had an excellent post highlighted this morning on their Forums which lists a lot of schools in the US where you can get training for either that or being a tour director. I don't recall which of their forums it was on, but I"m sure you can find it over there in "community". I think this kind of career might be better for someone like you, looking to change careers later and maybe not expecting to earn as much, or not needing to.

I don't use a travel professional in any capacity, except online large internet agencies like Travelocity.

In my opinion, your love of travel is not the most important thing in determining if you should or should not be a travel professional. The number one thing you need is a true love of working with people -- particularly indecisive and often overly critical people. Are you excited about working day after day with people who very well may never buy your product but go elsewhere? How do you feel about working with people who no matter what you do, they will criticize or not listen to you? Your people skills is the most important thing. And your number one job will be sales. Do you enjoy selling? You won't really be working with travel, you'll be working with people! Of course, it is nice if this "people person" also likes travel, but in my opinion that is far secondary.

2 threads you might like to read.


Becoming a TA (on the side)
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34435601

The perfect travel career
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...&tid=79204

Thank you for your replies, all raising excellent points.

I am neither the exclusive nor major breadwinner in my household. While I do not wish to work for peanuts, for me, its not about the money.

I do consider myself a "people person" and MANY years ago I was in sales and did quite well. I was told I could sell ice in the wintertime! But, admittedly, I fall short of patience with people when I perceive ignorance (please don't attack - note I said "I perceive")or that someone is trying to take advantage of me.

An added question - how would I go about researching some type of travel writing job? Any thoughts?

I have a neighbor that's a music critic and also does travel writing on the side (goes to the Mozart festival for the music paper and also does a piece on Salzburg for one of the travel monthlies), and I asked him that very question. He said that the major travel magazines routinely commission articles but are occassionally also open to specific ideas or submissions from recognized writers. The way to become recognized is to be published in some of the less well-known magazines or even newspaper travel sections - whcih is usually the esiest place to start. If your local paper travel section publishes original pieces - as opposed to just picking up releases or syndicated columns - they will often look at unsolicited manuscripts. Another good starting point is to simply submit extended letters to the editor of the travel section of one of the major dailies - if published they at least demonstrate your style to potential publishers.

Iregeo:

Do a search for "travel writing" here on Fodors and you will find an interesting thread from not too long ago with some good tips.

And you're quite right about being a good people person and salesperson. I'm not in the travel profession, but I do some travel consulting from time to time, and unlike on Fodors or the internet, if a client asks a question and is paying you, you can't just "choose not to post a reply."

If there is a particular country you are interested in specializing in, you might want to contact that country's government tourist office if they have one. The French Gov't Tourist Office, for example, has a course you can take (at home) to become a "certified France specialist." I just got the course materials and plan to take the test. Whether it will be of much use to me, I can't say, but if I want to retire in a decade or so and go into full- or part-time travel work, I imagine it might come in handy. Perhaps there are some options like that available to you.

Great information. Thank you both.

Patrick has a great answer. I would add one caveat. It makes a great " hobby" and is fun but do not expect to make much money. It buys me one trip to Europe each year.

A few years back the same question was asked and here's the reply of a fifteen year travel profession veteran (me!):

As an ex Pan Am employee and an ex-travel agent, please believe me that these jobs aren't near the ideal situations some may think. Back in the
70's and early 80's working for Pan Am allowed me to fly free on a standby basis throughout the world. But the advent of frequent flyer programs meant that those otherwise unoccupied seats (usually First and Clipper Class) were now being taken by the frequent flyers cashing in their mileage. It soon became nearly impossible to get anywhere on a stanby basis. That combined with low pay, an increasingly nasty class of customers and the uncertainty of Pan Am's future made me change careers.

Things were even worse as a travel agent. Most agencies don't offer health insurance, pay poorly and have few fringe benefits. I found that the agency owner usually gobbled up all the nice freebies like weekend jaunts, hotel or airline fam trips and even invitations to elegant parties for themselves despite the fact that the employees did all the work in the first place and needed to learn more about selling the product. Air travel has become more accesible to the general public over the years but has become a much tougher way to make a living. The percentage of commissions has dropped substantially while the agent has to search more and more fares in order to get his customer a "bargain". In the "Good Old Days" the customer had a choice of maybe three or four fares and the commissions were between 7 and 10%. Best of all, the Elite that could afford to travel was a helluva lot nicer than the great unwashed flying today. Needless to say, I left the business a few years back and am now taking my dose of abuse with the postal service.

And really, who needs a travel agent anymore when you have the internet? I can find cheaper air, hotels and cars on my own than if I used a TA.

Once again, thanks for the replies.

Thankfully, we're doing ok so in my case, its not about the money or health benefits.

But Zeus articulated a point of great concern - in today's day and age, who uses a TA? That's in large part what I'm trying to determine here. So please, keep the dialogue going.

Bobthenavigator, you were such an amazing help to me when planning my Italy trip last year. Once again, thank you! I can't seem to locate your website. Could you (or someone in the know) please post it here for me to visit once again? Thanks!

oops! Geuss I didn't try hard enough! I just found Bob's website. Nevermind!

I too am a reformed travel agent, and agree with pretty much everything that's been written here.

To answer your question, Iregeo, my perception today is that travel agencies are used mostly by businesses, and/or travelers with lots of $$ to spend (those people are usually the most difficult to deal with too). So, successful agencies either do lots of volume to not necessarily interesting places, or specialize in a specific travel mode or destination.

I guess I'd reverse the question. Given the feedback you've gotten, why would you want to be in the industry?

beachbum - fair question. I quit my law job many years ago to care for my special needs child. He's doing so well now that I feel like its time to do something again, but not as all consuming as law. I'm detailed oriented, I write well, I like people, I love travel, and my husband makes plenty of money to support the family. In short, I'm deciding what I want to be when I grow up, and looking at my options. Probably more info than you were looking for, but true nonetheless.

Iregeo:

I'd venture that the majority of savvy travelers don't use travel agents, just as you'd find if you polled people on this board. That's not to belittle travel agents - I know some who are incredibly well informed about their busienss. BUT, I do find that people are interested in what, for lack of a better term, I'd call "travel consultants."

To me, it's kind of like hiring a personal shopper. Busy people want to get the best experiences they can and make the most of their time and get the best value from their vacations, but they literally do not have the time - or in some cases, the skills - to arrange a European trip, especially if they don't speak any foreign languages. There is quite a pool of people out there who will hire someone to put together a specialized itinerary, make hotel reservations, call the hotel and ask for room measurements, find out what types of insects are typical in the neighborhood, locate the nearest supermarket, find out which gas stations nearby the hotel are open on Sundays, get sample menus from restaurants - I'm just listing a few of the things I've been asked to do for clients.
As BobTheNavigator says, you don't do this, at least at the beginning, to make money, but it can certainly be rewarding, and even entertaining sometimes.
There are, of course, lots of other ways to get into the travel business. Giving tours is another - having done that, too, I'd just say for that you need to be able to work incredibly long days, deal at a moment's notice with the unexpected, and always have a backup plan.

I try not to think of the cost-benefit ratio of doing many, many hours of investigation and research before booking anything, rather than taking the first likely alternative you happen to see. This activity certainly would not pay for itself at professional billable rates, although of course the savings are substantial.

But as an enjoyable hobby, a sort of game, it's worth it. Spending several hours over a period of weeks to save $100 on airfare is sort of like a blackjack game or something (and I don't go to casinos).

StCirq, now you're talking! Frankly, that sounds more interesting to me anyway. I imagine that travel experience would be more important than any kind of formal travel education. But how do you get your name "out
there"? What are some interesting and affordable marketing ideas?

Bobthenavigator, please feel free to chime in!

By the way, StCirq, could you elaborate on other travel related jobs? Thanks.

Iregeo - I really am no expert. It just hit me one day that I have all these years of experience in traveling to France, I speak the language, I know my way around, I've been to wonderful places a lot of people would never find in a guidebook, I'd like to have something travel- and France-related to do in my retirement - maybe people would pay for my expertise. This is NOT my day job, and I'm new at it, so I don't really have any great tips to offer other than what I've already given.
And pretty soon, someone's going to accuse me of advertising on this board. So maybe we should continue this discussion off line - I'm at [email protected]

All of the above have given good advice. I studied abroad and teach a foreign language at the University. I was first asked by a friend to take a job as the translator with a group she put together. I traveled and helped make arrangments (hotels, airfare, meals, sightseeing) for that group for a number of years. I also put together and led tours for small groups at my University, and helped with arrangements and guiding for our local High School Bands on European trips. The pay is not good, but the work is usually enjoyable, and one does get to travel a lot. The days are extremely long, and sometimes one has to work out details while the group is enjoying a fine meal or a sightseeing day. Occasionally one gets a ?sorehead? who complains about everything.
Students who plan to travel often ask my advice. They don?t pay for that, but I do enjoy working with them.
I found that the pay is poor, but the satisfaction is usually great.

It seems that now that we have the Internet and more specifically, Fodors, most people don't turn to travel agents.
But corporations do.
Tracking down hotels rooms and the best fare on the Internet is time consuming for the average vacationer but it gives us something to do while we wait for the date on the calendar.
None of that comes into play when a large business wants to send their staff about. Of course, no one cares what the "In Restuarant" in Des Moines is but what the heck it probably pays better then dealing with John Q.
Since money isn't really an issue, have you considered being a tour guide in your home city or state? I don't know what it would pay but it might be fun.

Sorry about those question marks. They were meant to be double and single quotation marks. Boots

mcgeezer - thanks for the tour guide suggestion. I'll definately look into it.

Iregeo -
There is a good book you should read called "Inside Secrets to Finding a Career In Travel" by Karen Rubin.

It is not as hokey as it sounds. It is actually a very good book talking about the reality of the travel industry, and giving detailed information on job opportunities other than that of travel agent or tour guide.

I, like you, would love a job in the travel business, but I cannot afford the pay of a travel agent. The opened my eyes to the many, many other opportunities that would let me be a part of the industry.

It's also got lots of resources listed at the back - web sites and other for further information.

Good luck!

Iregeo, Pick a very very narrow niche.
You cannot be a generalist. Then, find the best web site for that niche and buy an ad--in my case it was at www.initaly.com--but that was 7 years ago. Most of my clients now are by word-of mouth or repeats. No one will find you unless you are visually prominent on a site that they will find on their own. I also feel that my handle was an asset--people tend to remember it. I did not have my own web page until about 3 years ago, and no one would find it without being directed there. Hope that helps.

wanderer and bobthenavigator, thank you both for the information and advice. I will check out the book you suggested. I am in the very early stages of my investigation. I'll share with you my final decision. Thanks again.

May be too late to be of use but I just wanted to point out that there are other ways to work in the travel industry than becoming a TA.

Large tour operators are business like any other and have HR departments, IT departments, Finance departments etc.

I worked for 4.5 years as an IT Trainer (a job I'd already been doing for IT Training companies for some years). Whilst the daily job wasn't all about travel it did give me an insight into the workings of the industry. I designed and delivered training for a number of bespoke software applications dealing in flight sales, customer compensation and other aspects of the business. I also did some training in our overseas offices. Even though the job didn't have me planning trips for people, it was great to work in an industry where loving travel and loving to talk about it was the norm not the exception.

Do you have any skills that would allow you to find a second career in the industry without giving up on your experience and strengths?