Opting to become a travel agent is a fabulous career path. But, it’s not a piece of cake either. To be successful and make enough money to support you, becoming a travel agent will require passion, commitment, investment and a lot of stepping outside the comfort zone. So if you are going to become a travel agent, then make sure you become a travel agent for the apt reasons. Visit:- www.multilinkworld.com/travel-agent.aspx

1. By Multilinkworld
Advantages & Disadvantages of a
Travel Agent's Career

2. Introduction
 Travel agents offer a variety of attractive
discounts, special rates, insider information and
special offers that help them provide the highest
levels of expert advice for their customers.
 On the other hand, travel agents often work on a
commission-based salary with no guarantees of
success and a high rate of failure.
 Travel agents earn a median annual salary of
$36,990, which is slightly lower that the average
of all occupations, as reported by the Bureau of
Labor Statistics in 2018.

3. Travel Benefits
 Travel agents receive heavily discounted or even
complimentary stays at hotels around the world.
 Hotels and hospitality chains are happy to extend
discounts to agents with the hope that they will
enjoy their stay and recommend it to their
customers.
 The rates are typically based on season and
availability and will require some flexibility in
travel plans.
 The chance to see the world leads many people
to choose a career as a travel agent.

4. FAM Trips
 FAM" or familiarization trips are offered to travel
agents in hopes of creating a personal relationship
with properties and destinations around the world.
 Governmental tourism boards, hotel companies, tour
operators and airlines provide a certain amount of all-
expenses paid trips to a select group of top selling
and large agency travel agents each year.
 The trips are meant to impress the agents so that they
are excited to sell the destination or product. The trips
are typically offered in the agent's areas of expertise
so that they are not wasted on someone who is
unlikely to sell the destination in the future.

5. Percentage Discounts
 Travel agent rates are available to anyone with an
IATA number. IATA numbers are identification
numbers issued by the International Air Transport
Association to travel agents granting discounted
rates and special access to deals and
promotional materials.
 While the rates are designed to provide agents
with a built-in commission on all they sell, they
can also be used as an automatic discounted rate
for travel agents booking for themselves.
 Discounts amount to a nice price break on any
and all travel expenses for the agent.

6. Uncertain Market
 When money is tight, security concerns arise or
currency fluctuations hit, travel is one of the first
industries to suffer.
 Travel agents must continually deal with the
unexpected as it relates to the number of people
traveling and the average cost of each trip
booked
 . Because agents work on commission, these
swings can affect income.
 Keeping up with the latest trends is an important
part of the job, as is being prepared to reinvent
yourself and the product you sell.

7. Mobility and Relocation
 Travel agents can apply their skills and
knowledge to nearly any destination, a factor that
makes them extremely mobile and able to
relocate.
 World travel experience and time spent abroad
are both assets which increase the value of a
travel agent in the eyes of travel companies and
customers alike.
 This wanderlust gives travel agents a freedom of
mobility unavailable in many other jobs.

8. Doing What You Love
 One of the driving forces behind many travel
agent careers is a passion for the job.
 Getting paid to work in a field that you love is a
priceless perk.
 Passionate agents can convey their love of a
destination better than those who are just doing it
for the money.
 This enthusiasm is often transferred to the client
who is then more likely to take the trip, enjoy the
experience and appreciate the agent's opinions
and input.
 Very few people get to do what they love on a
daily basis and make a living doing so.
 Travel agents value this aspect of the position.

9. Lack of Job Security
 Like most sales positions, the travel agent is
assessed on performance.
 When the numbers go down, your job security
might be affected.
 Online booking engines and discounted packages
entice travelers to plan and book their own trips
without the assistance of an agent.
 As a result, travel agents are forced to find niche
markets and offer services and specialties that
are not attainable any other way.
 The travel agent as a species is always dodging
extinction.

10. Thank You.