Benefits of being a travel agent
Posted: Fri Sep 03, 2010 6:46 pm
Hi
First, let's talk about what kind of benefits you can expect, whether you go the traditional route or use my suggestions.
For one, cruise operators give what are termed "travel industry rates" to legitimate travel agents. If you have a travel agent job and can verify it, you'll get a great discount on any of the ships rooms. You can even bring somebody along with you, and they'll enjoy the same discounted rate.
Also, hotels throw crazy discounts at travel professionals as well. This may be because they are hoping you tell your clients about their establishment. Ditto for car rental companies... even the big ones like Hertz and Enterprise. Discounts can range, although over 35% off is not uncommon.
When you do arrive at your destination, organized tour operators are also willing to hop on the "crazy discount" bandwagon. Just like with hotels and car rentals, discounts ranging from 20 to 40% are not unheard of.
You also may or may not have heard of something called a familiarization trip. This is, hands down, one of the best perks the travel agent can get. A familiarization trip (or FAM trip for short), are special trips aimed at "familiarizing" travel professionals to new offerings from hotels, cruise companies, tour operators and hotel chains.
Think time share meetings for Disney tickets... anywhere in the world..... without the annoying sales pitch at the end.
The discounts you get on FAM trips are ridiculous, and the minute you become a travel agent you're eligible. It's not unheard of for travel professionals to book family vacations around familiarization trips... saving boatloads of money in the process.
Last benefit is probably the best: the money you can make. The take home pay of some agents is staggering. When you are making 70% on bookings, getting performance bonuses, and still enjoying the mountains of auxiliary benefits it’s easy to see why so many are clamoring to join a travel agency
Thanks
First, let's talk about what kind of benefits you can expect, whether you go the traditional route or use my suggestions.
For one, cruise operators give what are termed "travel industry rates" to legitimate travel agents. If you have a travel agent job and can verify it, you'll get a great discount on any of the ships rooms. You can even bring somebody along with you, and they'll enjoy the same discounted rate.
Also, hotels throw crazy discounts at travel professionals as well. This may be because they are hoping you tell your clients about their establishment. Ditto for car rental companies... even the big ones like Hertz and Enterprise. Discounts can range, although over 35% off is not uncommon.
When you do arrive at your destination, organized tour operators are also willing to hop on the "crazy discount" bandwagon. Just like with hotels and car rentals, discounts ranging from 20 to 40% are not unheard of.
You also may or may not have heard of something called a familiarization trip. This is, hands down, one of the best perks the travel agent can get. A familiarization trip (or FAM trip for short), are special trips aimed at "familiarizing" travel professionals to new offerings from hotels, cruise companies, tour operators and hotel chains.
Think time share meetings for Disney tickets... anywhere in the world..... without the annoying sales pitch at the end.
The discounts you get on FAM trips are ridiculous, and the minute you become a travel agent you're eligible. It's not unheard of for travel professionals to book family vacations around familiarization trips... saving boatloads of money in the process.
Last benefit is probably the best: the money you can make. The take home pay of some agents is staggering. When you are making 70% on bookings, getting performance bonuses, and still enjoying the mountains of auxiliary benefits it’s easy to see why so many are clamoring to join a travel agency
Thanks