Becoming an Independent Travel Agent

By Bonnie Burgess. Tourism Expert

Becoming an independent travel agent can still be a very profitable business to consider. According to a study by ASTA (American Society of Travel Agents), and NACTA ((National Association of Career Travel Agents), 57 percent of independent travel agents saw an increase in sales in 2010, even with the downturned economy.

The study from ASTA and NACTA also concludes that:

Developing a niche specialty of travel, such as cruise sales, can be one of the most important factors in developing a travel business. A successful agent needs to develop knowledge and experience about some aspect of travel. The study also shows that most independent agents do not use a GDS, which is important to have in order to sell airline tickets. An inexperienced agent can sell a cruise with some basic training and cruise vacation experiences. But to sell airline tickets efficiently requires experience and more training.

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Needless to say agents with more experience, knowledge, and salesmanship should have an easier time of developing a profitable home based travel business.

Some essential characteristics to look for in a host agency:

• Does the company offer agent support, including accounting, technical, marketing and commission tracking?
• Look for high vendor commissions. Host travel agencies earn commissions from vendors based upon the number of annual sales and other negotiated factors.
• High agent/host agency commission ratio. Host agencies divide commissions with agents, but some also charge monthly fees or other agent charges.
• Check to see what training programs are offered by the host agency.
• What GDS booking systems does the host agency use? Is it a system the agent is already familiar with, or is GDS training provided as well?
• Are marketing opportunities offered?
• Does the host agency offer internet sales, or a web site ?
• Check which travel companies the agency is partnered with. Many agencies have preferred vendors that have higher negotiated commissions that also have an above average reputation.
• Does the agency belong to ASTA, CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association ), IATA (International Air Transport Association), NACTA ?
• Does the agency give agents referrals to potential clients?
• Who keeps track of sales and commissions? Does the agency give an agent a sales report?
• How often does the host agency pay the agents?
• What type of invoicing and record keeping is the agent required to do?
• Is the agent required to pay for error and omission insurance or bonding?
• What office equipment is required by the host agency?

Advantages and benefits as an independent travel agent:

• Earn travel discounts for hotel stay, car rentals. cruises, and tours.
• Be your own boss and work at your own schedule. Although this sounds pretty dreamy, many clients think that if an agent works from home, that makes them available any day at any hour. Hours should be set and adhered to as much as possible, unless unrestricted work hours are offered as an extra benefit the agent presents to their clients.
• Learn more about world geography and cultures.
• Home based agents are often eligible for some travel expense and home tax deductions .
• Possibility to make a profitable career doing a job you enjoy.
• Ability to network with others in the travel workforce.

Since individuals do not require travel agency experience to be an independent travel agent, there are hundreds of companies that offer to be host agencies for beginners. Before signing on with a company who presents an enticing website or tries to sell a package to become a travel agent, ask a lot of questions and see in writing what benefits will be received as an agent, and what expenses the agent will be responsible for. Check with reputable local travel agencies to see what they require to begin as an independent travel agent.