Get Rich Benefits Learning Travel Agent Secrets

Posted by admin on Feb 22, 2011 in Travel Agent | Comments Off

Tour agents have several secrets up their sleeves which they will never be willing to explain you. The fact of the matter is that the tour agents most of the times pay less than 50% of what you would pay for an entire trip. The tour companies provide their services to travel agents at very low costs, the very same travel services for which you have to pay through the nose.

The tour business is a huge business today, with stakes of about 4.7 trillion universal each year. However, most of the business is Effectuating not through promotions, but through direct hard-selling by the tour agents. Travel agents are very great for the success of any travel business; and companies who do not make good relations with their travel agents will definitely flounder. This is the reason why travel companies take almost regal care of their travel agents.

Tour agents get several concessions during every part of their vacation which ordinary people cannot even think of. The following are just some of the perks given to them:

(i) More than half rate concession on accommodation in hotels

(ii) More than half rate concession on airfare

(iii) Free upgrades to first class

(iv) Complimentary meals and drinks

(v) Huge discounts on rental transport

(vi) Free tickets for movies and other places of entertainment

(vii) Cruises at as low as per day

(viii) Half rate concessions on entry to theme parks

Hence, becoming a travel agent can save whopping sums on each holiday. That is the reason why several people are becoming travel agents and taking tour agent cards which are availing them of these huge benefits, which could come to about 000 for a person who has at least two foreign vacations per year.

Today the travel agent secrets are brought to the common public. Which are also making it possible for people to become travel agents and get the benefits of it. You can get a travel agent card in as less as fifteen minutes on this site, and with the minimum amount of documentation. Almost everyone is eligible to become a travel agent and one of the best travel agent secrets here is that one does not have to actually be into the travel agent business to get the benefits of the card. You can just sit at home with a card, and get all the concessions that are given to the travel agents.

On an aggregate, travel agents get concessions of about 50 to 75% on each travel. Today this is no longer a travel agent secret. Everybody can become a travel agent and get these premium benefits.

Travel Agents are Still in Demand

Posted by admin on Feb 18, 2011 in Travel Agent | Comments Off

Although their are numerous online travel services a traditional Travel agent is as much an important part of the trip as comfort is to traveling! The role of a travel agent has been increasing with the times and today most people are dependent on them for executing most of their travel plans so that they can rest easy and just enjoy their trip.

It is the responsibility of the travel agent to help and guide the travelers about the constantly changing schedules and airfares, availability of packages for vacation, and a lot of travel information that the traveler may not know about.

Choosing a reliable travel agent can be an important decision, since how you travel and your comfort will be largely decided by the travel agents. You should verify the information given by the travel agents, to be on the safer side and minimize your travel hassles. Incase of International travel, choosing a proper agent becomes more important.

The right agent should be able to foresee your problems and guide you about them. They should provide information related to customs regulations, important documents like visas, passports, currency exchange rates and certificates of vaccination.

Many hotels, cruise liners, resorts, and special travel groups make use of travel agents to market their travel packages to the ever increasing rate of people choosing to travel both inland and overseas. Most agents advice you on destinations and make arrangements for hotel stays, transportation, tours, car rentals, etc.

Information on weather conditions, restaurants, tourist attractions, and other such necessary information are also provided. A good travel agent could also take the trouble of checking out hotel services to gauge their quality of service in order that they can base references on a first hand report.

With the changing times, the travel industry has seen a big development in terms of Internet bookings and travel related information made available on the net. The number of people using online services is growing. This has resulted in a change in the view of the convenience of traditional agencies.

A poll result of American tourists revealed that over 92 percent of them generally buy their travel related necessities online. According to these consumers, online travel agencies have cheaper rates, are the easiest to use and offer all the relevant information. A word of caution is necessary for those using the Internet for their travel bookings. Be sure to navigate the site, verify that the agent has a good back-up system.

Also ensure that there are no added costs that are credited to your credit bills.

Till a few years ago, travel agents provided free services to their customers. Travel agents worked as agents for airlines, hotels, rental car companies, etc. The agencies worked on a commission basis from these suppliers.

But free travel agent services began changing as a result of certain changes in the rate of commissions. For example, in 1995 Delta Airlines imposed a limit on domestic airline commission rates.

The role of the travel agent is thus not only diversified but one that necessitates trust and responsibility.

Important Questions to Ask Your Travel Agent

Posted by admin on Feb 17, 2011 in Travel Agent | Comments Off

Using a travel agent can make your vacation easier in many ways. However, if the right questions are asked, a travel agent can become even more valuable. In order to gain an understanding of what to expect on a trip, it is a good idea to have some questions prepared. Try not to assume that the travel agent will take care of everything and inform you of all the particulars you are interested in. Even if you have an agent who you trust completely to take care of your trip with no unexpected charges or difficulties, there are still things that you need to be involved in, and details which need to be clarified.

The first thing to do is shop around. Go to different travel agencies in your area and ask lots of questions. One of the first things that you find out should be how and when you can get a hold of your agent. If something goes wrong on your trip you will need to know that there is some kind of system in place to get in contact with your travel agent. Many agencies use an 800 number and/or an automated system to determine your need, and then take care of you from there. Some smaller agencies may not have that system in place. Very small agencies may have nothing at all. Be sure to find out if your agent is willing to be available after business hours to take care of you. You will not want to be stuck in a foreign airport at four in the morning with nobody to call. A second question to ask your agent is in the area of his/her company and personal travel history. Be sure that your agent either has some experience travelling to your eventual destination, or has a willingness to put extra effort into your account to ensure that you get the best services available where you are going. Many agents have planned vacations for countless regions. They also will be experienced in visiting many places. But if you want to go to a specific region of Italy and one agent has been there once before him or herself and worked with the area a few times, but a comparable agent has been there a few times him/herself and worked extensively for clients going to that area; your choice should be easy. It is not rude to ask your agents these questions; it is being a smart shopper.

Another question to ask your travel agent before making your decision involves money. Of course you want to check on prices, fees, taxes and other usual travel costs to find out what is included and what is not. However, you should also find out how your agent defines the phrase “transaction fee.” Some companies will determine that buying your entire package puts everything into one transaction, and therefore will only charge you one transaction fee. Other companies will make every ticket purchase, every hotel booking, every restaurant reservation and every price of admission a separate fee. This can still work well because the fees may be small enough to even out with paying one bulk fee. Some agencies will actually count every change in plans as a transaction fee. For example, if you need to switch or cancel a flight, that would be a transaction fee. If you decide on a different hotel, even well in advance of your trip, that would be a transaction fee. This system can work, if prices are right. But if prices do not add up in your favor the transactions can add up. Ask questions about transaction fees and be sure to know the policies that your agent puts into place when it comes to transaction fees in order to avoid being caught off-guard.

Once you have chosen an agent, there are other questions which should be asked. Many travellers feel that it is the agent’s responsibility to do everything in his or her power to plan a perfect vacation for you. However, this becomes more difficult if you do not communicate your desires and needs. If the vacationer does not ask questions, the travel agent will not be able to know all of the vacationer’s preferences. Ask your travel agent what destinations work well for people with your particular interests. Tell the agent specific activities you want to do, or ask for some suggestions. Find out about the weather, hotels, restaurants, local culture and transportation. When all is said and done, with the right questions asked, you can know as much about your vacation as your agent does.

Often when travellers arrive at their destination, they have many questions about their accommodations and places of interest in the area in which they are staying. These questions can be asked ahead of time to the travel agent, and this will allow the vacationers to take advantage of all the time spent at the chosen destination. Don’t waste time looking at a map or waiting to speak with the hotel attendants to find out a nice place for lunch. Ask these questions ahead of time, map out your trip, and you will get to see and experience everything the particular destination has to offer.

Plan your Vacation with a Travel Agent

Posted by admin on Feb 16, 2011 in Travel Agent | Comments Off

Now that you have decided to plan your next vacation using a travel agent, the first step is to actually sit down with an agent and begin the exciting planning process. While you can show up at the agency and jump right into the process, it is usually a good idea to consider a few basic factors in advance. The following are some tips on getting ready to talk with your travel agent, as well as how to work with the agent to plan the ideal vacation for you and your family.

There are a few issues you need to address before you see the agent and begin the actual planning process. First, you should have some idea of what type of trip you want to take. Knowing that you want to vacation at the beach as opposed to taking a cruise to Alaska or a skiing vacation, will save a lot of time on the front end and allow the agent to zero in on the destinations that are most likely to be appealing to you. Just in case, make sure your passport is up to date. This will also speed things up if you find that the beach vacation you settle on is located outside your home country. Also, take along your personal identification, a means of paying for the trip, and your general contact information, including an email address.

Make sure the travel agent understands who will be going along on the trip and what type of activities and atmosphere would be most appropriate. If this is a family vacation, the agent will think in terms of destinations that offer fun activities for the children as well as the parents. Should you and a friend be going away to meet new people, the agent will focus on accommodations and travel plans that will allow you to mingle with other singles. Many agencies can also prepare vacation itineraries and select destinations that cater to niche customers, such as adult theme travel packages. Keep in mind your agent will be discreet and your travel plans will be held in the strictest confidence.

With all relevant documents in hand and a general idea of what type of vacation is desired, you and your agent can get down to the basics of setting up the arrangements. In most cases, the agent is likely to have several travel packages that will appeal to you. While some packages are rigid in structure, others are somewhat more flexible and can be customized to suit your personal needs and taste. Your agent may also show you travel packages that are being offered at a discount if you can be flexible with the dates for your getaway. However, if your time is limited to a specific set of dates, the agent will work to find discounts that would meet your needs.

You may be surprised at how much the agent can arrange in advance. For example, if the vacation is actually a second honeymoon, there is a good chance that your travel agent can work with the hotel staff to make sure there is chilled champagne, soft music, and candles set up in your suite or room when you arrive. Should someone in the travel party have a birthday during the vacation, the agent may be able to arrange something special, such as a clown showing up with balloons and a cake to celebrate the event. Many agents will take the information you provide and offer some creative and interesting extra services above and beyond simply booking the flights and reserving a room.

Never be timid about asking specific questions regarding some aspect of the vacation plans. In general, agents are more than happy to supply any type of information the client requests in regard to hotels, amenities, travel options, local sights to visit and anything else that comes to mind. While a good travel agent will anticipate many of your questions, it never hurts to ask about anything that is not addressed initially. This can include matters like local customs you should know about, general etiquette in social situations at the hotel and surrounding community and other details that will make the trip fun and safe.

Keep in mind that as the client, the final decision about the arrangements is up to you. This means that before the travel agent actually puts anything in motion, you will need to approve the arrangements. In many instances, the agent may verify the availability of accommodations, flight reservations, and other details as you go through the planning stages. This helps to minimize the amount of changes that may be required once the actual booking process begins. By going over each detail and being comfortable with the overall plan, you make the job of creating the plan easier for the agent while also increasing your chances of having a fun and restful vacation.

Home-Based Travel Agent: Is the Term Obsolete?

Posted by admin on Feb 10, 2011 in Travel Agent | Comments Off

The term “home-based travel agent” has been around for nearly 20 years now. But some people in the industry say it’s time to toss it onto the dustbin of history. But does that really make sense? Or is this a tempest in a teapot?

When the phrase “home-based travel agent” first came into wide usage, in the early 1990s, it was use to refer to people who sold travel but who were not employees of accredited travel agencies.

Instead, they were outside sales reps for accredited travel agencies and they operated as independent contractors not employees, an important distinction. And, yes, almost all of them worked from home offices.

Today, many people using the same tactics are operating out of commercial premises. In fact, since it has become possible for so-called “home-based” agents to get their own IATA numbers (or the functional equivalent), many of these agents are now full-fledged agencies with their own string of sub-agents working as independent contractors.

Most of these operations have clerical employees and are too large to run from a spare room. The only major difference between this new breed of agency and the old fashioned kind is that they do not sell airline tickets, so they don’t have to follow the burdensome rules the airlines impose.

Of course, many “home-based” agents, indeed the majority, are just that — single individuals or couples who sell travel products like cruises and tours and operate from their homes.

So why ditch the term “home-based travel agent”?

Those who advocate that move suggest that the term is demeaning and undervalues the professionalism and in-depth knowledge of these agents. They suggest using terms like “independent agent” instead. Well, whatever floats your boat, I suppose.

Now in fairness, this conversation is taking place within the industry. This is about the egos of people who sell travel and has nothing to do with how travel agents, home-based, independent, or what have you present themselves to the public.

I have been teaching people to succeed as home-based travel agents for over 15 years now and I have never suggested that anyone refer to themself as a “home-based travel agent.”

Smart home-basers have always been using other terms on their business cards, their marketing materials, and in their sales presentations. Some popular ones are travel consultant, cruise specialist, or vacation expert. Others are more creative. “I make dream trips come true,” says one (home-based) travel agent.

So as far as the public is concerned, this is a non-issue.

And who cares how we’re labeled in the industry? There are home-based agents who earn more than 0,000 a year. Do you think the bank refuses to deposit their checks because they’re “home-based”?

I like the term home-based and I think it has grown in respect over the years. I remember the days when you could buy a clever little machine to hook up to your phone that made people think you had a receptionist. I don’t see that anymore.

Most home-based travel agents will tell you that people are envious to discover that they work from home and have the freedom to dictate their own schedule.

And it is precisely that freedom that is at the heart of the home-based travel agent phenomenon.

Whether you want to work full or part time, at home as a solo entrepreneur or in an office with a support staff running your own team of sub agents, it’s entirely up to you.

Once people understand the many options that are available to them as “home-based” agents, they don’t waste time concerning themselves with how the industry categorizes them.

They simply get out there, start selling travel, and make money.

Become A Travel Agent From Home

Posted by admin on Feb 6, 2011 in Travel Agent | Comments Off

It is easy to become a travel agent from home in one of the largest industries on the planet. Travel is a Trillion industry, no other industry comes close!  Ask anyone what they would want to do more of, given time and money of course, I bet they would say, “Travel”.

Travel agents are one of the most highly respected, but easily forgotten professions that have taken a back seat.  Brick-and-mortar agencies have now become click-and-order.  Technology and the internet has made it easy for travel agents to set-up shop and work from home as home-based agents.

To become a travel agent from home, there are 3 things you can do:

1.       Understand what being a home-based travel agent is about

First, you must understand what being a travel agent from home will entail.  As a home-based agent you will not only point people to your website so they can book their own travel themselves, but you will be called upon to assist customers with their travel research, recommend places to see and things to do.

One of the best perks of being in the travel industry is getting really cheap deals and going on FAM trips or Familiarization trips, which are steeply discounted trips that will allow you to virtually go free!  The purpose of these trips is to get you familiar with the property or hotel so you can recommend to your clients.

2.       Decide what niche you want to specialize in

It’s easy to get caught up in all the beautiful, exotic destinations. As a home-based agent, it will be better for your business if you specialize in a specific niche.  For example: become a cruise, all-inclusive resorts or Disney specialist.  This doesn’t mean that you cannot sell other travel products or destinations; it just helps you to concentrate your focus in a particular area where you can have authority as an expert in.  It will be impossible to know everything about the entire world! Specializing will help you gain a solid customer base.

3.       Become an online travel agent: Get a website and get started

Why spend the time and money to go through a degree program to become a travel agent.  Thanks to the internet and online businesses, that is not necessary today.  There are companies, like the one I work with, that allow you to purchase a full service an online travel agency for a one-time fee and small monthly maintenance fee. 

I can only speak for what I have and I can tell you that the monthly fee I pay covers site maintenance, sales & commission tracking, home office support, online travel training, webinars, travel vendor information and much more.  It’s like having your own virtual secretary right at your fingertips! 

So if you are not knowledgeable about travel when you start (like I was when I started) don’t worry, training is available. The best part is, you can do the training right from the comfort of your own home!

Click here to take a test drive of my travel website and see how easy it is to become a travel agent form home!

Becoming a Travel Agent from home is nothing hard, it is a simple business that can be easily started part-time from home.  Home-based business are the wave of the future, why not tap into the ability to earn commissions when you or others travel, also learn how to earn multiple streams of income with your online travel business. when you visit www.1stStateTravel.biz