Travel

Course Details

The Travel Agent Online Training Program is a proven, successful method for motivated people to begin a travel career. This program will also help you prepare for The Travel Institute (formerly ICTA) TAP Certification, based on the textbooks Travel Career Development and Exploring the World, Geography for the Travel Professional. You will also learn the basic skills needed to operate a computer reservation system for airlines, travel agencies, cruise lines, hotels, or as a home-based agent.

The Travel Agent Online Training Program will teach you all you need to know to start a travel career. You will learn about the airline industry, ground transportation, hotels and resorts, cruises, tours, international and domestic travel, reservations and pricing, specialty travel, and more.

This online program consists of three modules. You will first participate in a travel career development program, which will teach you the basics of the travel industry, followed by a second module in which you will study geography for travel professionals, focusing on destinations all over the world that you are most likely to recommend and sell to your clients. In the final module you will choose the GDS computer reservation system you wish to study.  Your facilitator will help you to select the proper GDS system to best achieve your career goals.

By completing this program, you will learn:

• How to identify the various types of travelers and match them to the correct travel products
• The various types of tours, from escorted to independent
• How airline computer reservation systems operate
• What documentation is needed to travel internationally and how to obtain it
• How domestic and international airfares are determined
• The ground transportation system, including rail, cars, and bus tours
• All about cruises, including how to read and understand brochures, match the client to the proper ship, and explain the value of cruising
• How hotels are rated and priced and the differences between a hotel and a resort
• The basic formats used by the airlines to book flights, price tickets, and build the passenger name record (PNR)
• The basics of marketing
• How to guide a client to a destination based on their interests (such as sun and relaxation, food, gambling, culture, religion or history), travel seasons, and even geographically (for sports such as hiking, skiing, mountain climbing, etc.)
• How to book, change, or cancel records in the GDS system

• Exploring the World of Travel
• The Travel Product
• Marketing Travel
• The Travel Workplace
• Destination Geography
• The Eastern United States
• The Midwest
• The Western States, Alaska, and Hawaii
• Canada
• Bermuda and the West Indies
• Mexico and Central America
• South America and Antarctica
• The British Isles
• Northern Europe
• Eastern Europe
• Southern Europe
• Africa and the Middle East
• Asia
• The Pacific
• Computer Reservation Systems

MATERIALS INCLUDED

• Travel Career Development  and accompanying workbook
• Exploring the World, Geography for the Travel Professional  and accompanying workbook
• Airline Reservations and Automated Fares and Ticketing in Sabre
• Sabre or Apollo Format Guide
• Introduction to Apollo

COMPUTER REQUIREMENTS

This program is compatible with the Windows XP and later operating systems and IE 7 and later browsers.  This course can be taken on either a Mac or a PC. Students will need to have an Internet connection and email capabilities.

Upon registering, you will receive an initial six months to complete the program. Should you need more time, you may request a six month extension at no additional charge. Students using VA benefits should refer to the Military page of our site to review the differences between online program access and VA rates of pursuit.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR(S)

Patricia Flores has been working in the travel industry over 14 years. She attended International Travel and Aviation Academy in 1991 in Arlington, TX. She has excellent qualities, strengths and outstanding customer service skills. Her career started at Cendent Travel where she specialized in booking leisure destination packages. She went on to work for World Travel BTI preparing corporate reservations for Pepsi Cola Account and other various corporate accounts. Patricia has been fortunate to work for wonderful companies such as Carlson Wagonlit Travel and Travelocity. Preparing domestic and international air, car, hotel, train and tour reservations, Patricia presently works as a home agent for American Express Platinum Travel preparing luxury travel. Patricia has a lot of knowledge in Native Sabre and Turbo Sabre Systems. She is proficient and has a lot of experience in the travel industry. Please feel free to ask her questions regarding formats, and industry related questions.