Travel Agent, Hospitality Management, and Tour Guide

The Travel Industry Association of America says that in 2004, the U.S. travel industry received more than $600 billion from domestic and international travelers, and that's not counting international passenger fares. These expenditures directly resulted in 7.3 million jobs and over $162 billion in payroll income for Americans, as well as $100 billion in federal, state, and local tax revenue.

Travel Agent

Design business or pleasure tripsWork out of home or for an agency or

company

General Steps for Future Travel Agents 1) Larger travel agencies may require an

agent to have a liberal arts or business degree

2) Learn to speak a second language 3) 6-12 week travel agent course online or at

a community college (though not required) 4) Consider lower level position such as ticket

agent to gain experience

Travel Agent (cont.)

5) Work on computer literacy 6) Check with state’s department of

commerce for requirements 7) Always be reading about the industry 8) Gain certification as a Certified Travel

Counselor (CTC) (See “Institute of Certified Travel Agents” at icta.com

Education- Penn Foster

Salary: Travel Agent

30,000-40,000 per year generally, but varies based on experience, location, and largely on how much you want to work.

Hospitality

The hotel, hospitality and casino industry is not only the third largest business in the nation, it also employs the second largest number of people

Hospitality (cont.)

There’s a lot to do in this industry!! Make sure everyone has what they need Make reservations Organize outings for guests Organize dinners and other activities within

the hotel itself Become a single hotel manager or a general

manager

Steps Toward a Career in Hospitality

1) Make sure you have excellent communication skills (hint hint wink wink)

2) Degree in hotel or restaurant management 3) Look for work study programs at certain

colleges to gain experience while training 4) This is an industry where most start at the

bottom and work their way up

Hospitality (cont.)

5) Possibly start off as a manager with specific duties

6) Promotions but sometimes with a change of venue

Salary: Hospitality

Front Desk Management 34,000-50,000 generally, but some up to 60,000

Hotel Management- 40,000-80,000 depending on location and experience

Tour Guides

Great for those who grew up in a historical area. Don’t necessarily have to work abroad.

Not many formal education requirements because most training is on the job

“Tour guides must interact with groups of people, keeping them focused, entertained, and informed. Successful travel guides will also have a great deal of leadership ability. Above all, they must be able to plan and organize trips and outings so that they happen seamlessly.”

Steps for becoming a Tour Guide

1) Hone in on your people skills!! 2) Get certified as a tour guide at places like

the International Tour Management Institute (itmitourtraining.com) (not required)

3) Get hired by the largest tour company you can find

4) If you want to go abroad, sign up for a company that’s based in the US

Tour Guide (cont.)

6) Constant research of the area 7) Make sure your organized and a good

planner 8) Keep a level head, ‘cuz things can get ugly 9) Although you’ll possibly be traveling, don’t

expect a whole lot of free time to explore and do your own thing

10) Don’t forget that you set the tone!!

Salary: Tour Guide

$22,000 - $31,000 a year, not including extra income from tips or gratuities

Conclusion: Things to consider

1) Possibly return to school for specialized skills, some of which can be picked up online

2) Keep in mind that salary is relative to experience and location

3) Work loads can very depending largely on yourself!

Good Sites for more info

http://www.pennfoster.edu/travel/index.html?semkey=Q087823

www.ehow.com www.w3education.org/career itmitourtraining.com icta.com