A travel agent's role is to help people plan, choose and arrange their holiday.

They
will usually work to a budget set out by whoever is planning the holiday. They also
offer advice and opinions on where to go and local tourist attractions, events and
customs.

Typical duties include:

promoting and marketing the business

dealing with customer queries and complaints

providing advice about visas or passports

recruiting, training and supervising staff

managing budgets

maintaining statistical and financial records

planning

selling holidays and insurance

meeting profit or sales targets

preparing promotional materials and displays.

Typical employers of travel agents

Tour operators

Package holiday operators

Cruise lines

Independent travel agents

Most graduates enter the profession as junior counter staff (travel agency
clerk/consultant), moving into managerial positions after having gained several
years' experience.

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A small number of companies such as Thomas Cook and Thomson operate head
office-based graduate training schemes. Vacancies are advertised in local and
national newspapers and trade publications including Travel Trade Gazette and
Travel Weekly, as well as their online equivalents. Networking and speculative
applications are advisable.

Qualifications and training required

A degree in any subject is acceptable, although travel, tourism, languages, leisure,

business studies or management degree holders may be at an advantage.

A travel training company qualification or relevant travel agency, retail or sales

work experience can also be helpful.

Key skills for travel agents

Commercially aware

Good interpersonal skills

Numerical ability

Verbal communication skills

Fluency in foreign (particularly European) languages and personal travel

experience are also highly valued.