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Text File | 1995-10-24 | 9.6 KB | 201 lines

201
Travel Agents

(D.O.T.  252.152-010)

Nature of the Work

Constantly changing air fares and schedules, a proliferation of
vacation packages, and business/pleasure trip combinations make
travel planning frustrating and time consuming.  Many travelers,
therefore, turn to travel agents, who can make the best possible
travel arrangements for them.

   Depending on the needs of the client, travel agents give advice on
destinations, make arrangements for transportation, hotel
accommodations, car rentals, tours, and recreation, or plan the
right vacation package or business/pleasure trip combination.  They
may also advise on weather conditions, restaurants, and tourist
attractions and recreation.  For international travel, agents also
provide information on customs regulations, required papers
(passports, visas, and certificates of vaccination), and currency
exchange rates.  Travel agents may also plan conventions and other
meetings; they are usually referred to as meeting planners.

   Travel agents consult a variety of published and computer-based
sources for information on departure and arrival times, fares, and
hotel ratings and accommodations.  They often base recommendations
on their own travel experiences or those of colleagues or clients.
Travel agents may visit hotels, resorts, and restaurants to judge,
firsthand, their comfort, cleanliness, and quality of food and
service.

   Travel agents also promote their services.  They present slides or
movies to social and special interest groups, arrange advertising
displays, and suggest company-sponsored trips to business managers.

   More than 9 out of 10 salaried agents worked for travel agencies.

Working Conditions

Travel agents spend most of their time behind a desk conferring with
clients, completing paperwork, contacting airlines and hotels for
travel arrangements, and promoting group tours.  They may be under a
great deal of pressure during vacation seasons.  Many agents,
especially those who are self-employed, frequently work long hours.

Employment

Travel agents held about 115,000 jobs in 1992 and are found in every
part of the country.  More than 9 out of 10 salaries agents worked
for travel agencies; some worked for membership organizations.  Many
travel agents are self-employed.  Nearly one-half of the travel
agencies are in suburban areas; about 40 percent are in large
cities; and the rest, in small towns and rural areas.

Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement

Formal or specialized training is becoming increasingly important
for travel agents since few agencies are willing to train people on
the job.  Many vocational schools offer 3- to 12-week full-time
programs, as well as evening and Saturday programs.  Travel courses
are also offered in public adult education programs and in community
and 4-year colleges.  A few colleges offer a bachelor's and a
master's degree in travel and tourism.  Although few college courses
relate directly to the travel industry, a college education is
sometimes desired by employers.  Courses in computer science,
geography, foreign languages, and history are most useful.  Courses
in accounting and business management also are important, especially
for those who expect to manage or start their own travel agencies.
Several home-study courses provide a basic understanding of the
travel industry.  The American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) and
the Institute of Certified Travel Agents offer a travel
correspondence course.  Travel agencies also provide on-the-job
training for their employees a significant part of which consists of
computer instruction.  These computer skills are required by
employers to operate airline reservation systems.

   Travel experience is an asset since personal knowledge about a city
or foreign country often helps to influence clients' travel plans.
Experience as an airline reservation agent also is a good background
for a travel agent.  Travel agents need good selling skills they
must be pleasant and patient and able to gain the confidence of
clients.

   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.

   Experienced travel agents can take an advanced course, leading to
the designation of Certified Travel Counselor, offered by the
Institute of Certified Travel Agents.  The institute awards a
certificate to those completing an 18-month part-time course.  It
also offers certification, called designation of competence, in
North American, Western European, Carribbean, or South Pacific
tours.  Those who plan meetings also may be designated as Certified
Meeting Professional (CMP).  The CMP exam is administered by the
Convention Liaison Council.  To qualify to take the exam, a
candidate must be employed in a meeting management position and have
at least three years of meeting planning experience.

   Those who start their own agencies generally have experience in an
established agency.  They must generally gain formal supplier or
corporation approval before they can receive commissions.  Suppliers
or corporations are organizations of airlines, shiplines, or rail
lines.  The Airlines Reporting Corporation, for example, is the
approving body for airlines.  To gain approval, an agency must be in
operation, be financially sound, and employ at least one experienced
manager/travel agent.

   There are no Federal licensing requirements for travel agents.
However, Rhode Island requires licensing, and Ohio, Hawaii, and
California require registration.  In California, travel agents not
approved by a corporation are required to have a license.

Job Outlook

Employment of travel agents is expected to grow much faster than the
average for all occupations through the year 2005.  Many job
openings will arise as new agencies open and existing agencies
expand, but most will occur as experienced agents transfer to other
occupations or leave the labor force.

   Spending on travel is expected to increase significantly through the
year 2005.  As business activity expands, so will business-related
travel.  Employment of managerial, professional specialty, and sales
representative occupations those who do most business travel is
projected to grow rapidly.  Also, with rising incomes, more people
are expected to travel on vacation and to do so more frequently than
in the past.  In fact, many people take more than one vacation a
year.

   Charter flights and larger, more efficient planes have brought air
transportation within the budgets of more people.  So has the easing
of Government regulation of air fares and routes, by fostering
greater competition among airlines to offer better and more
affordable service.  In addition, American travel agents organize
tours for the growing number of foreign visitors.  Although most
travel agencies now have automated reservation systems, this has not
weakened demand for travel agents.

   The travel industry generally is sensitive to economic downturns and
political crises, when travel plans are likely to be deferred.
Therefore, the number of job opportunities fluctuates.

Earnings

Experience, sales ability, and the size and location of the agency
determine the salary of a travel agent.  According to a Louis Harris
survey, conducted for the

   Travel Weekly Magazine, the 1992 annual earnings of travel agents
with less than 1 year experience were $12,428, from 1 to 3 years,
$15,610; from 3 to 5 years, $17,975; from 5 to 10 years, $20,775;
and more than 10 years, $25,007.  Salaried agents usually have
standard benefits, such as insurance coverage and paid vacations,
that self-employed agents must provide for themselves.

   Earnings of travel agents who own their agencies depend mainly on
commissions from airlines and other carriers, cruise lines, tour
operators, and lodging places.  Commissions for domestic travel
arrangements, cruises, hotels, sightseeing tours, and car rentals
are about 10 percent of the total sale; and for international
travel, about 11 percent.  They may also 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 generally have low earnings.
Their income is generally limited to commissions from hotels,
cruises, and tour operators and to nominal fees for making
complicated arrangements.  Even established agents have lower
profits during economic downturns.

   When they travel, agents usually get substantially reduced rates for
transportation and accommodations.

Related Occupations

Travel agents organize and schedule business, educational, or
recreational travel or activities.  Other workers with similar
responsibilities include secretaries, tour guides, airline
reservation agents, rental car agents, and travel counselors.

Sources of Additional Information

   For further information on training opportunities, contact:

   American Society of Travel Agents, Education Department, 1101 King
St.  Alexandria, VA 22314.

   For certification information, contact:

   The Institute of Certified Travel Agents, 148 Lindon St., P.O.  Box
82-56, Wellesley, MA 02181-0012, or phone toll free 1-800-542-4282.

   For information on Certified Meeting Professionals (CMP's), contact:

   The Convention Liaison Council, 1575 Eye St.  NW., Suite 1190,
Washington, DC 20005.