Do You Want to Be a Travel Agent?

I know. Things are pretty tough in this economy right now. One day we hear news that things are going further south, the next day we hear that "all indicators point towards a recovery." Regardless, there is one nearly universal truth among entrepreneurs: now is an excellent time to grab opportunities as they come your way.

If you have found yourself unemployed or know that you might be laid off soon, you may consider becoming a successful travel agent. Or, you may even think of ways that you can be your own boss and start your own travel agency. Wouldn't that be incredible?

Without a doubt, the world of travel can be a pretty competitive world. With Internet sites on the rise and airlines talking about bankruptcy nearly every year, it seems like a difficult industry. However, there are so many more aspects to travel and leisure than airfare. The question is, do you have what it takes to become a successful travel agent?

Part of this success is found squarely in the individuals ability to sell. As I mentioned before, there are a trillion websites that promise the "lowest deals" around on flights and hotels. However, a travel agent can still succeed financially. Why? Because, at the end of the day, a living breathing human being wants the security of knowing that another living breathing human being is helping coordinate his (hopefully) expensive vacation.

So, do you have the skills? If you are inherently personable and have the innate ability to make someone feel comfortable in your presence and excited about future plans, then you will make an excellent travel agent. Unlike the websites, which only show images of rooms and two dimensional maps of various locations, you will have the ability to highlight all the wonderful features that your customers will receive. You will be able to tell them about "quaint little restaurants" nearby. As your network grows, you will even be able to hook your clients up with special features. Can you see where the personality comes into play?

Fear not! You do not need to go back to school. You do not need to re-enroll in college. You just need to be trained enough to be able to receive your license. With that license, you may even be able to open your own agency some day.