Saturday 21 September 2013

How to Start a Virtual Travel Agency

In the past decade, the vast majority of travel booking has moved online. Travel agents with virtual travel agencies are well-positioned to take advantage of that shift in business. Furthermore, a virtual travel agency has far lower overhead costs than a traditional storefront. Starting a virtual travel agency can be a great way to break into the business while keeping your start-up costs low. Here's how to get started.

Instructions

    1

    Many successful travel agents have business or liberal arts degrees. Even if you don't have a bachelor's degree, it's a good idea to take some business courses that will help you when you start your own venture. Many community colleges offer low-cost classes in how to become a travel agent.

    2

    Most home-based or virtual travel agents, especially those who are just starting out, are affiliated with a host travel agency. Affiliating with an agency is the easiest way to get your virtual travel agency off the ground. Most agencies will charge a fee (usually several hundred dollars) and take a percentage of your commissions. In return, they will provide you with training, access to booking engines, a Web site for your virtual travel agency, credit card processing and support.

    3

    Affiliating with an agency gives new travel agents access to professional accreditation with industry groups such as the International Airlines Travel Agent Network (IATAN), the Cruise Lines Industry Association (CLIA) and the National Association of Career Travel Agents. To qualify for these certifications on your own, you must have several years of experience. Affiliation gives you credibility with your clients and access to discounted travel for yourself and your family.

    4

    Host agencies provide travel agent training to their affiliates. This is particularly beneficial for newcomers to the industry. For example, you will need to learn how to use global distribution systems (GDS) to book travel. Host agencies can also help you find customers and improve your selling technique.

    5

    Not all host travel agencies are created equal. Some aim to help their affiliates become career travel agents; others essentially charge would-be agents fees and take a larger cut of their commissions for giving them access to travel discounts. The latter sometimes operate more like multi-level marketing organizations or "card mills." If you are mostly interested in travel discounts, this may be a good option for you, but you should research the costs and benefits offered by several different agencies before selecting one.

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