Are there benefits to being a travel agent?
 

Do you get a lot of perks/discounts/inside info if you are a travel agent? Also, has anyone ever considered turning their love of travel into a career? I can't imagine working for a travel agency (personally I require more independence) but it seems like a lot of us love to plan trips. I know a lot of people who would like to travel but don't know where to start and worry things won't go right, so they stay home. Just curious. As my little ones get older and start school, I've been thinking about ways to invest my time that would be profitable and enjoyable.

snowrooster, from working with travel agents closely for years for work, I can tell you that it is an occupation that is now near impossible to make money doing.

Unless you are a corporate agent and work for a Virtuoso group, AmEx, or Helms Briscoe, you aren't going to make any money.

Even my clients that worked for corporate giants (Random House head of travel) were having to slash their budgets and staff.

There is a huge difference compared to planning your own trips and doing for others for a living.

Half the time you are very likely going to end up doing a lot of leg work for a client who never books.

Also, successful travel agents now have a specialization. Some are even so specialized for example, they will specialize in a particular type of cruise. I've had clients that do nothing but book safaris in Africa or cruises to the far east.

Anyway, that is my take.

Interesting. I'm not really interested in becoming an agent, but was wonderng if there are perks that come with it? Discounts, inside info, etc? I had toyed with the idea of doing some sort of high end travel consulting where you are paid for your time rather than making money off the booking. More along the lines of helping people choose destinations, creating a portfolio of hotel/restaurant options to meet their needs, etc. I've also considered travel writing for regional magazines. Anyone w/thoughts and/or experience, I'd love to hear it!

I left a very lucrative job in insurance to work for a travel agency. I've never looked back. I took a cut in salary to about 1/2 my old salary. The benefits are in cruises (almost free) and hotels. If you get hooked up with an agency that specializes ,that's good. We specialize in Africa and I've been there 2 times. Just awesome. Good luck!

I own two travel Agency's, would you like a job at one of them?

That would be "agencies" - funny that you didn't know that since you own two!! Hmmm . . . I sense a fibber in our mist!!

Sorry, that would be "midst." A spelling error, not a fib! :-)

Funny, a grammar police officer that can't spell.

Funny, but an innocent mistake. How do you explain not knowing how to spell "agencies" when you own two of them?

You're gullible.

snowrooster, please don't take offense to what I'm about to say, because I certainly don't mean it as an attack.

Are there benefits to being a travel agent? Yes, and to being in the travel industry in general. BUT: Too many people come into the travel business thinking primarily about the perks, discounts, etc that they think they're going to get. These people don't realize that working in the travel industry is a job, and as part of that, they usually get the standard two weeks off per year for their vacations. People have pipe dreams about being in the industry and thus traveling all the time, and that just doesn't happen. Or if they are traveling, it's certainly not pleasurable travel. You say you don't want to become an agent...but are "wondering if there are perks that come with it?" So you don't want the job, but are wondering how to get whatever freebies there are? Well, truthfully, sometimes there are some perks. BUT in this day and age, they are usually very few and very far between. The days of fabulous free travel are LONG gone. And incidentally, those perks are going to go to those people who earned them.

You talk about doing "high end travel consulting where you are paid for your time rather than making money off the booking. More along the lines of helping people choose destinations, creating a portfolio of hotel/restaurant options to meet their needs, etc". Your description IS a perfect (though partial) job description of a travel agent.

Some questions you should ask yourself re your "consulting job": What qualifications do I have that would make someone want to have me plan their trip? Why would someone hire me to do this, rather than go to someone who already has the expertise to do it? How many places have I visited? What do I know about the locations (history, etc)? While there, did I behave like a traditional tourist, or did I spend my days doing hotel inspections? Did I lay on the beach getting a tan or did I wander into places I had absolutely no desire to see, just so I could learn more about the location and be a better travel person? Question: Could you do 45 hotel inspections in 5 days, take copious notes, photos, be unbiased in your opinions, and remember which hotel was which after the trip was over? I can. It's my business to know these things.

You see, the love of travel, and loving being in the travel business are sometimes two very different things. I love both of them, I know the difference between them, and I also know that that I'm not always on vacation. If what you're looking for is the fun, the benefits and the freebies, then this probably isn't the business for you. If that's the case, get another good job (one that pays much more than the travel industry does), and buy yourself a great vacation.

Tinam - I guess I'm confused about what constitutes a travel agent - perhaps you can shed some light. Is a travel agenct only someone who works for a travel agency? Or, is it like a real estate agent where you have to get a special license to be an agent and can then start operating independently w/access to "agent only" info?

snowrooster.....I would NOT be a TA....I have had an agent for 15 years.I have seen him redefine the term "stress'.But here is a link you might find helpful.
http://www.hometravelagency.com/
I like my line of work!

Beachboi - Do you do this (have your own home-based travel business)? I'm not interested in working for an agency - I work part-time from home now and have a pretty good deal. However I've been thinking about starting my own business and as I love travel I thought it would be worth considering as an option. If you have any experience in this avenue, I'd love to hear your feedback!

snowrooster...No I do not...But here is how my TA is set up.He works out of an office(storefront).His Bossett is attached to a travel agency as an "outside agent".They network into the HQ computer.The Head Guy takes a cut of their earnings.This travel agency has about 50 "outside" agents all of whom except my TA work out of their homes.That sounds like something you might could work out.I dont know where you are, but you might look into the Sunday travel section of your newspaper.There might be some "help wanted" ads or something similar.You mighht also look around your city and spot a large agency and approach them about being an outside agent.I hope this helps.And Best of luck!

Beautiful post kamahinaohoku.
I was an agent for a long time and I would rather cut my own throat than do it again... and I was a corporate agent 99% of the time!
Leisure is 1000x harder!
However, I loved the travel industry and I was hooked on the travel so I moved into a pretty good area, travel technology.
I am a consultant who works with hotels and corporations to improve automation processes. These processes impact agencies and online booking tools and there is certainly a demand from both sides to understand all the layers.
I love it but it took years to attain the skills needed to be respected in the industry and successful.
Good luck!

kamahinaohoku - While I certainly understand your comments and appreciate them, I'm not looking for a job or for freebies. I'm just brainstorming ideas for what I might like to pursue once my kids are in school full time and I have more time on my hands (saving or making money isn't really the issue as dh does quite well and I don't really need to work). Personally, I see the traditional role of a travel agent being phased out in our society as from what I know it doesn't seem they offer much more than anyone could find out on their own through a little research. My questions about the benefits of a travel agent is to find out if you are privy to addtional information (like real estate agents have access to websites that non-agents do not) or discounts that would warrant getting a travel agents license. I still don't know if there is such a thing. Is a travel agent simply someone who works for a travel agency (like a waiter works at a restaurant) or is there some sort of special certification involved?

I'm considering starting my own business and travel is just one of the areas that has crossed my mind, so I'm just trying to gather info. I am certainly not looking to "travel all the time" with two young children in school! :-)

Sure, if you have no need for income form your "business".
M

Sorry, from your business.
M

Gee, how nice. I guess it's a crime to ask for information? Forgive me for wanting to do something productive w/my time. There is more to accomplishment than money alone. I'm not saying I wouldn't enjoy more money, I just don't need it to pay the bills. Again, does anyone know if being a travel agent is a licensed position (like a real estate agent)?