How to Become aHow to Become aHow to Become a How to Become a Travel AgentTravel AgentTravel AgentTravel AgentASTA’s Young Professionals SocietyASTA’s Young Professionals SocietyASTA s Young Professionals SocietyASTA s Young Professionals Society

YPS Webinar WednesdaysYPS Webinar Wednesdays

March 3 2010March 3 2010March 3, 2010March 3, 2010

Moderated by Jason Coleman CTC, ECCS, CLS, LCS, DSy

• Entered industry 1998 as a meeting plannery g p

• Switched to leisure sales in 2003

• Graduate of West L.A. College and George Washington Univ.

• Specialize in theme cruise groups• Specialize in theme cruise groups

• Chair of ASTA’s YPS and Vice President of SoCalASTA

Welcome Samira Platter

• Interned at Travel Agency and graduated from travel schoolg y g

• Started as a leisure travel agent–4 agencies and 1 Caribbean tour operator

• Job function is travel agency managerJob function is travel agency manager

• Favorite destination is Europe

Welcome Robbi Hamida CTA, DS

• Director of Agent Development at Nexiong p

• Got hooked on travel at the age of 16

• Also worked with an airline, leisure agency, corporate agency and agency owneragency and agency owner

Travel Careers

• The idea that the travel• The idea that the travel industry is glamorous is just hype.j yp

—MYTH or REALITY?

Job Satisfaction

88% f t l t88% of travel agents th hsay they are happy

in their currentin their current positionspositions.

Source: The Travel Institute’s 2006 Salary and Compensation Survey.

Travel Careers

• A career in travel means• A career in travel means a life working at low pay.

—MYTH or REALITY?

How Much Do Travel Agents Earn?g

• The average travel agent salary is $30 458• The average travel agent salary is $30,458— 44.3% of agents are compensated by salary

alone

— 26.7% are compensated by a combination of salary and commission

29% id b i i— 29% are paid by commission

• The average starting salary is $20,912Th i l l i $37 944• The average managerial salary is $37,944

Source: ASTA’s 2008 Labor and Compensation Study

Travel Careers

• You can’t get a job in• You can t get a job in travel without experience.

—MYTH or REALITY?

Travel Careers

• People in the travel• People in the travel industry don’t get to travel.

—MYTH or REALITY?

Why Become a Travel Agent?y g

• Passion for travel• Passion for travel

• Personally rewarding — fulfilling dreams

• Exciting and evolving business environment

• Lots of room for creative and analytical typesyp

• Room for advancement within travel industryindustry

Want to be Your Own Boss?

• There’s a ton of money to be made in• There s a ton of money to be made in travel!

St ti t l• Starting your own travel agency

• Becoming an independent contractor

What Does a Travel Agent Do?g

• Advise clients and provide• Advise clients and provide recommendations and information

R h d ti ti d li• Research destinations and supplier products

• Assist and find alternatives

• You’re the consumer advocate

What About Niches?

• Types of travel: corporate leisure• Types of travel: corporate, leisure, cruise, air, tours, space, luxury

D ti ti t i i• Destinations: countries, regions

• Consumer Groups: students, professionals, seniors, GLBT, families

• Interests/Themes: weddings/honeymoons, safari, social clubs, religious, adventureg

What are the Essential Skills?

• Interpersonal relationships• Interpersonal relationships— Understand their client’s needs and

communicate that understandingcommunicate that understanding

— Empathy, enthusiasm, patience, positive outlookoutlook

• LanguageAbility to speak and write clearly— Ability to speak and write clearly

— Additional languages are a huge advantage!advantage!

What are the Essential Skills?

• Basic mathBasic math— Calculating basic fares and rates,

currencies/measurements time zonescurrencies/measurements, time zones

• TechnologyComfort with office technology— Comfort with office technology

— Frequent use of internet and email to communicate and researchcommunicate and research

• Ability to learnR i d d h i— Routines and procedures, changing facts and skills

Aren’t Travel Agents All Gone?g

• Heck no we’re evolving!• Heck no — we re evolving!

• But can’t you do it all online yourself?

Where Do You Start?

• Travel Schools• Travel Schools— www.asta.org

th t li tit t— www.thetravelinstitute.com

— Local community colleges

• Travel and Tourism Scholarships— www.tourismcares.org

• Local Travel Agencies

• Associations like ASTA, NACTA, CLIAAssociations like ASTA, NACTA, CLIA

• Other Innovative Ways

Beware of the Quick Fixes

• Professional travel agents invest in• Professional travel agents invest in product and sales training, ongoing educationeducation

• Buying a website is not becoming a t l ttravel agent.

• An ID card does not a travel agent make!

A Great Place to Start

• American Society of Travel Agents• American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA)

“How to Become a Travel Agent” e-book— How to Become a Travel Agent e-book

• Future Travel Professionals Club

ASTA’ Y P f i l S i• ASTA’s Young Professionals Society— www.facebook.com/astayps

— www.asta.org/yps

Upcoming YPS Webinar Wednesdaysp g y

• Today's GDS It's Not• Today s GDS -- It s Not Your Grandma's CRS (April 7)(April 7)

• The In's and Out's of H t A i (M 5)Host Agencies (May 5)

• Making Cruising Work for You (June 9)