A travel consultant or agent is a person who assists others with booking flights, tours, and hotel reservations. The primary responsibility of the consultant is to ensure that all aspects of the client’s travel are organized smoothly. Consultants are frequently asked for recommendations on travel vendors and tourist attractions, and they are also the first people to be contacted in the event of a crisis. Missed flights must be rescheduled, resort issues must be resolved, and scheduling conflicts must be resolved.
Arrangements
Travel consultants come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some work primarily with businesses, planning business trips and conferences in far-flung locales. Others specialize in working with families and individuals. Group travel is also popular, especially for organized tours, corporate retreats, and large events such as destination weddings and family reunions.
Reservations, logistics, and negotiating
The majority of the work entails making and booking travel arrangements. Consultants frequently have access to networks and connections that allow them to obtain lower prices than individuals could obtain on their own. Professionals may also be able to negotiate lower-than-advertised rates directly with hotels, airlines, and other service providers, and they usually have inside information on tours and other perks. Travel agents almost always charge for their services, but clients can often save money, as well as time and effort.
Knowledge of the area and research
Many people choose to hire a travel consultant for a variety of reasons. A traveler who is looking for recommendations on where to go or what to do in a specific location is usually a good candidate for tailored services. A travel agent will work directly with clients to determine the type of trip they want to take and will make personalized recommendations based on their previous experience and knowledge. Although almost anyone can book travel online, it can be difficult to distinguish real value from marketing fluff without some experience.
Advising is frequently a large part of the job. Local customs in a travel destination, as well as passport, visa, and other legal requirements, are all things that consultants must be aware of. The job description also includes necessary vaccinations and currency exchange rates. The coordinator is often as much a travel coach and question-answerer as he or she is an itinerary builder on more involved or international trips.
Advantages
Travel consultants typically gain their expertise through experience in the field — they receive feedback from other clients who have visited specific locations, and they may also have greater access to inside information about what certain venues actually offer. First-hand experience can also provide specialized knowledge. Familiarization trips, or FAM trips, are one of the most valuable benefits of working in the travel industry.
FAM trips are paid vacations offered to travel consultants hotels, airlines, cruise lines, and others in the hopes that they will later recommend the same locations and services to paying clients. Consultants must take careful notes and make assessments while on the road, so the trips usually include some work. They do get to bring their families most of the time, and they are usually invited to receive free meals and activities. Travel consultants who are extremely competitive are frequently offered multiple free trips each year.
Working from a Remote Location
With the advancement of Internet technology, doing travel-related work from home has become increasingly possible. An at-home travel consultant may be employed a travel company, but an increasing number are self-employed — that is, professionals who work for themselves with some supervision from a larger company, but not always. Almost anyone with an Internet connection and a desire to travel can work as a travel consultant, though establishing a client base and network can take time.
Training is required.
Most travel companies require at least a high school diploma, but college degrees or associate’s degrees are always advantageous. Those who work for themselves are usually exempt from educational requirements. However, all consultants must be computer literate and capable of using reservation systems and online databases. An outgoing personality can also make the job easier, especially for consultants who are just getting started and need to build a client base.