Travel agents


Constantly changing airfares and schedules, thousands of available vacation packages, and a vast amount of travel information on the Internet can make travel planning frustrating and time-consuming. To sort out the many travel options, tourists and business people often turn to travel agents, who assess their needs and help them make the best possible travel arrangements. Also, many major cruise lines, resorts, and specialty travel groups use travel agents to promote travel packages to millions of people every year.

In general, travel agents give advice on destinations and make arrangements for transportation, hotel accommodations, car rentals, tours, and recreation. They also may advise on weather conditions, restaurants, tourist attractions, and recreation. For international travel, agents also provide information on customs regulations, required papers (passports, visas, and certificates of vaccination), and currency exchange rates.

Travel agents consult a variety of published and computer-based sources for information on departure and arrival times, fares, and hotel ratings and accommodations. They may visit hotels, resorts, and restaurants to evaluate comfort, cleanliness, and quality of food and service so that they can base recommendations on their own travel experiences or those of colleagues or clients.

Travel agents also promote their services, using telemarketing, direct mail, and the Internet. They make presentations to social and special-interest groups, arrange advertising displays, and suggest company-sponsored trips to business managers. Depending on the size of the travel agency, an agent may specialize by type of travel, such as leisure or business, or destination, such as Europe or Africa.

Related news articles
Forget fall with a last-minute cruise - 16 Oct 2006
The News Journal,Back home, I call travel agent Maxwell and ask what type of cruise she would have recommended for me, had I taken a few minutes to call her in advance. ...

Do Your Research Before Traveling - Travel Agents vs the Internet - 16 Oct 2006
Market-Day.net,...by Sue Taylor. When planning to take a trip, it is advisable to spend some time doing research even if you are booking through a Travel Agent. ...

Joystar CEO to Speak on Travel Expert Panel - 16 Oct 2006
Market Wire (press release)Editor-In-Chief, Modern Agent Magazine and Agent@ Home, will discuss the criteria for selecting a host agency that will most exactly suit a travel agent's needs ...

Asia-Pacific travel agents should track consumers' behaviour - 16 Oct 2006
The Edge Daily,In the Travelport Asia’s and TTG Asia Media Pte Ltd’s Asia Retail Travel Agent Benchmarking Survey conducted among 445 retail travel agencies across the ...

'Travel agent for the computer age' - Oct 15, 2006
The Spokesman Review,Corrigan, who has been both a travel agent and a globetrotter-on-a-budget, earns a living now by prowling for the lowest-priced airline tickets around. ...

Travel agent begins jail sentence - Oct 13, 2006
New Philadelphia Times Reporter,By RENEE BROWN. Former New Philadelphia travel agent Drusilla “Dee�? Ritenour has taken a trip to the Tuscarawas County jail. ...

ZUJI again best Asia Pacific online travel agent - Oct 15, 2006
e-Travel Blackboard (press release),For the second consecutive year ZUJI has been voted by the TTG Travel Awards as the ‘Best Online Travel Agent in the Asia Pacific’ at their 17th annual ...

Need help? Five cases where a travel agent could save the day - Oct 9, 2006
San Jose Mercury News,By Judy Wiley. In these days of DIY travel planning online, why bother with an agent? Here are five instances where it probably would ...

Travel agent's joy at award - Oct 11, 2006
The Wymondham and Attleborough Mercury,...agent Paul Movel is celebrating after his employer, Travel Counsellors, was named the UK's Best Travel Agent at the 20th annual Guardian, Observer and Guardian ...

Zuji Voted Best Asia Pacific Online Travel Agent - Oct 12, 2006
Scoop.co.nz (press release),13 October 2006 SINGAPORE: Online travel agent ZUJI (www.zuji.com) has been acknowledged for the second consecutive year as ‘the best online travel agent in ...

Condoleezza Rice's 'travel agent' speaks - Oct 11, 2006
Lynchburg News and Advance,...“I’ve already gotten a couple of messages, a phone call and an e-mail,�? he said after addressing a noontime senior symposium class at Lynchburg College. ...

What a Travel Agent Can Do for You - Oct 7, 2006
Washington Post,Phone numbers and Web sites once you're ready to book. A good travel agent will answer those questions and even pose some you might not consider on your own. ...

Bogus cabbie killed travel agent - Oct 5, 2006
BBC News,A Greek man posing as a cab driver was responsible for the kidnap and manslaughter of travel agent Stephanie Hammill in Wakefield, a jury has found. ...

Skating body pair, travel agent held in fund scam - Oct 3, 2006
The Japan Times,Police arrested former Japan Skating Federation head Katsuichiro Hisanaga and two others Tuesday on suspicion that they embezzled 5.8 million yen from the body ...

Planning a special trip? Travel agent is key - Oct 8, 2006
Indianapolis Star,Planning a special trip? Look for a travel agent who knows the places you'll go. Visit us today! 96th and Keystone Ave. or Online at www.tomwoodford.com. ...

Zuji voted best online agent in Asia - Oct 13, 2006
Internet Travel News (press release),Online travel agent ZUJI has been acknowledged for the second consecutive year as 'the best online travel agent in Asia Pacific' by representatives of the ...

Travel agent plans trips of a lifetime for clients - Oct 2, 2006
Fergus Falls Daily Journal,...who helps get them there. She’s been a travel agent for 26 years, and has sent people all over the world. “We’re a full service ...






More information on Travel agents from The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook
Overview of Travel agents occupation
Number of Travel agents in the U.S.
Salary and earnings for Travel agents
Working conditions for Travel agents
Significant points for Travel agents
Training requirements for Travel agents




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