The travel industry has grown at a steady pace in recent years and is highly desirable to many people because of relaxed working conditions and excellent travel discounts. If you do not have a college degree with a specialization in travel and tourism, you will need to complete a training certification course. Courses are offered through many universities as well as online. Once you have your certification, you can get started.
1
Establish a place of business. The office location needs to be in a high-traffic area of town to help establish a strong presence. It also needs to be large enough for another agent in case your business expands. Make sure the property is wired for high-speed Internet and multi-line telephones; both are business essentials.
2
Acquire office equipment (computers, printers, fax, and scanner) and a payment processing equipment. Many customers today prefer to pay for travel expenses with credit or debit cards. You will need a card merchant account to accept these payments.
3
Have a custom sign made for your place of business that displays the name of your agency and telephone number. Most of your customers will be walk-ins, so an attractive sign is important.
4
Contact your local licensing agency to acquire any type of business license you may need to operate within the jurisdiction. Most states do not have specific licenses for travel agents, but you will need a general license to do business in your municipality.
5
Obtain errors and omissions insurance coverage. This coverage is important because it protects you from liability in case a booking doesn't go as planned. Most insurance agents offer errors and omissions, so contact a local agent to set it up.
6
Contact airlines, hotels and cruise lines to obtain contracts to offer their services. You will need to present your travel and tourism certificate or degree to obtain these contracts.
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