How Would I Become a Travel Agent?

[BrerSchultzy]

Howdy Fellow Intercotees!

Now, don't get me wrong. I love my job. I really really do. If I didn't have a baby on the way, and a mountain of bad credit in my past, I'm sure I could handle having this job for the rest of my life.

But....

I'm not getting paid as much as I should, and I'm pretty sure that's not going to change much for QUITE a while.

So, I was chit-chatting with my parents the other day, and started to wonder why I never became a travel agent. I have always thought about it, but never knew how to do it...what classes do I take, where are they offered, how in the world do I even get started?

So...I KNOW there are real good travel agents on Intercot (and at Magical Journeys)...so tell me...how would I get started if I wanted to?

[disneydeb]

I would like to know too! I plan to retire from teaching in a couple of years and I think that becoming a travel agent would be GREAT!

[Tynkerbelle]

Well, I decided that given my love of Disney that I wanted to be a Disney vacation specialist on the side (don't really care about the commissions - I really love planning Disney vacations!)....

I contacted a travel agency that specializes in Disney (& cruises) - they were kind enough to sponsor my going through the College of Disney Knowledge (I was able to complete in about a week or so) and now I'm an outside agent that works on commission only. I book through a special Disney travel area using the travel agency's number - they get credit for the sale and I get a commission.

I have business cards that I've given out and have booked trips for family, friends, co-workers and often get referrals! In addition to Disney trips, I can book any other vacation destination (though not as much fun!)...

I love helping other people plan their Disney magic!!!!! :mickey:

Maybe someday when I've had enough of banking I'll give this a shot full-time!

Good luck!

[1goofyfamily]

Well my wife went to a travel agency school after high school which was only a few months long and then they help you with placement etc. Learned the actual reservation systems, city codes and other things that have become obsolete. But this was before the days of travelocity and expedia and before the airlines had their own reservation systems online. My aunt was also a travel agent and ended up buying the agency from its owner and had to shut it down as all the hotels, airlines & cruise lines all cut their booking commissions in half and kept cutting them. The travel perks started stopping about 10 years ago too. My wife went from personal travel to corporate travel which was definately more stable as many of the people she worked with 8 years ago are still work there but that is even changing as more admins for companys book their travel themselves online. My wife was also the director of the old Disney Club for the largest mortgage company in the US before Disney changed the program and brought it all in house a little 8 yrs ago. Not to sound all doom and gloom but the industry has changed and the govt doesn't have a great outlook on the long term career outlook for travel agents.

[Tynkerbelle]

Yeah - I've heard all the predictions about the travel industry and believe there's some truth to it....
But, the majority of people I've booked vacations for are either Disney first timers that come to me because I know it so well and can help them in their planning or they are busy people that don't have the time to plan their vacation down to the details (staying on top of the promos, changes, etc.).
I don't really worry too much about the predictions - there will always be people like these that I can help. They're not paying anymore going through me than they would if they went through Disney directly plus they get personalized attention.

[VAdizneefan]

Tynkerbelle, I sent you a PM on this earlier this afternoon.

:)

[January-2007]

Count me in. I think being a Disney travel agent would be great. My family was joking that I should do something having to do with Disney as a career and I said I should start writing a guide book so I could write off "business trips" during all the different seasons and of course at all the top resorts. Being a travel agent is a lot more realistic and could actually happen though! I would hate to think planning your own vacation would start to feel like work though! The extra cash might soften that blow a little though...

[Tynkerbelle]

Tynkerbelle, I sent you a PM on this earlier this afternoon.

:)

I just saw it this morning and sent you a PM.