Travel agent
Also known as: reservations agent, sales agent, travel booking agent, travel sales agent
About this occupation
Travel agents design and market travel programme itineraries for potential travellers or visitors.
Essential skills and knowledge
- ensure the privacy of guests
- geographical areas relevant to tourism
- identify customer's needs
- present reports
- implement sales strategies
- upsell products
- implement marketing strategies
- produce content for tourism brochures
- apply foreign languages in tourism
- quote prices
- handle customer complaints
- maintain customer records
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Travel Guides (O*NET 39-7012.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Arrange for tour or expedition details such as accommodations, transportation, equipment, and the availability of medical personnel.
- Plan tour itineraries, applying knowledge of travel routes and destination sites.
- Resolve any problems with itineraries, service, or accommodations.
- Attend to special needs of tour participants.
- Sell travel packages.
- Evaluate services received on the tour, and report findings to tour organizers.
- Typical education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Preparation
- Job Zone 2 of 5
- Interests
- Social, Enterprising, Conventional
Top skills: Service Orientation, Speaking, Active Listening, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Persuasion
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageImportant (3.3)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Tour Guides and Escorts
- Travel Agents
- Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks
- Concierges
- Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers
- Lodging Managers
- Flight Attendants
- Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners
- Counter and Rental Clerks
- Customer Service Representatives
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.