Diane Petras, CTIE
president of The Travel Institute
“I think I want to be a travel agent.”
Because we educate so many new travel agents each year, we hear this a lot! Whether they come to us from colleges teaching our curriculum or from another industry and are seeking a new career path, potential new agents know there is much to learn about our vibrant industry and the role of the travel professional.
First, they should understand the industry is constantly changing. This includes technology, suppliers, traveler issues and destination information, but also terminology…even the term “travel agent.” Over the years, as commissions fluctuated and service fees were introduced, the need to add value to the travel-planning process evolved. Today we are much more than travel agents. We are counselors, consultants, advisors, designers, curators and specialists. These terms better convey the true value of a travel professional and the reality that continued learning is key to long-term success.
Also, to become a professional, it takes more than a love for travel. Having a passion for helping people see the world is a great place to start, but there are other important considerations. You need a baseline understanding of the industry as it relates to travel products and booking processes, geography, technology, marketing and specialization. Starting out, you also need to know how to find employment at an agency or structure a home-based business. And of course, knowing how to make money is a must.
Cheers to your TRIP of a lifetime,
We trained more than 2,000 new travel agents last year alone, and we’ve trained hundreds of thousands more since 1980.
But don’t just take our word for it! Here’s what others have to say about TRIPKit:
TRIPKit has been invaluable for our Travel Agency Operations Certificate program. Becoming a successful travel agent takes time, effort and ongoing education. Written by industry insiders, TRIPKit gives students the start they need, enabling practical application of travel booking concepts and teaching students exactly what they need to know wherever their travel career might take them.
We believe investing in learning creates quality agents with a much greater opportunity to be successful for themselves and for their travelers. We are delighted to partner with The Travel Institute ongoing for the educational tools that enable that success.
Completing TRIPKit helped me enter the travel industry with confidence. I’m still learning new things all the time but I have a strong foundation and know I am adding value to my clients’ itineraries.
The Personality of a Travel Pro: Is it Yours?
Hopefully, these traits resonate well with you. Perhaps you need to strengthen a few to guarantee success, but now you know what it takes!
The TRIPKit curriculum is designed to provide you with the expertise in critical areas that all travel professionals must have to be successful in this rapidly changing industry. The learning experience is in-depth, self-paced and delivers an engaging blended-learning online and print format trusted by more than 2,000 Graduates in 2017 alone.
TRIPKit is built around two college-level textbooks and related workbooks, plus an extensive online learning component focused on real-world, real-work experiences. An exam is available upon completion to measure the knowledge and skills gained. During the limited-time offer, also receive the home-based agency overview along with the All NEW online Launching a Travel Business: The Entrepreneur’s Checklist, including advice and a printable workbook to navigate the initial business launch considerations including tax structure options, technology requirements, and marketing opportunities as well as advice critical to businesses longer term.
What’s Included in the trip of a lifetime?
Exploring the World Textbook
Exploring the World opens the world to you like no other geography course you have experienced. You will see the world as travel folks see it … as a kaleidoscope of places, people and experiences just waiting to be sampled.
Travel Career Development Textbook
Hundreds of thousands of students have used Travel Career Development textbook as a key to unlocking a career in the travel industry. In its pages, you will learn the art of selling travel, they keys to servicing customers, the variety of experiences you may be selling, as well as the myriad directions your career in travel can take you.
Home Based Travel Agency Textbook
Learn how to start your home-based travel business with minimum outlay and maximum return on your investment of time and money. Nothing is left to the imagination as every detail of the start-up process is disclosed in great detail.
TRIPKIT ONLINE
TRIPKit’s interactive online component tackles the practical, real-world scenarios you’ll face as a travel agent each day. The online learning provides recommended study timelines, videos from industry experts, quizzes, industry resources, and much more.
Travel Business Checklist
This online course is a step-by-step comprehensive checklist of actions you should take to jump-start your successful journey of launching your travel business. It includes advice and a printable workbook that becomes your personal roadmap to success.
Enroll today for the next “Preparing for a Travel Career” session to learn more about the TRIPKIT program and learn how to become a travel agent.
Join Our Next Free Session
Let us help you! Whether you are new to the industry, responsible for training agents, a manager who wants to be recharged, or an executive facing challenges that come with leadership, we have a training solution.
Give us a call at 800-542-4282 or email info@thetravelinstitute.com
