With so many people exploring the world through travel, there’s never been a better time to jumpstart a career as a travel agent. Before you get started, you’ll need to participate in travel agent training to equip yourself with the tools needed to build a thriving, fulfilling travel business.
Below we break down the types of training you can take and explain what training Fora has to offer for aspiring (and experienced) advisors.
What training does a travel agent need?
There’s no universal or standard travel agent education system—it’s not like law or medicine, where a governing body has set regulations. There’s no travel agent degree or license, nor is one even required to become a successful travel agent.
Travel agent certification should be the end-result of your travel agent training (and may be required depending on your state). While there’s no universally accepted license, some type of certification is widely respected and encouraged. It adds legitimacy to your business, demonstrating to potential clients that you are equipped with the knowledge you need to effectively book and expertly plan their trips. There are different requirements to become certified as a travel agent, depending on the program you choose.
What are the topics covered in travel agent training?
As a travel agent—or travel advisor—you’ll work in a role centered on planning and booking travel for clients. You’ll need to learn things like the logistics of booking travel (and how to earn money), as well as customer service skills. You’ll also want a training program designed to help you scale and grow your business. And you’ll need to make sure the training you choose fits your desired host agency (more on that below).
Exact training varies from course to course, but most programs cover a similar set of topics, like how to book hotels and other travel-related services, how the travel industry as a whole works, and basic marketing and customer service skills. You'll also learn about specific destinations and offerings from major travel brands, like hotels and tour operators.
Where can I get trained as a travel agent?
Historically, prospective agents could attend a travel agent course in school, either in person or online, prior to becoming a travel agent. At the very least, an agency may have chosen a candidate with hospitality education or training over someone without it. But today, many travel agents are independent, and there are several choices for those looking for the training they need:
Traditional colleges or university degrees: Some universities still offer degrees in travel or hospitality-related fields. A bachelor’s degree in a field such as hospitality, tourism, or business management can still give travel advisors a useful perspective.
Certification or certificate programs: Many vocational schools offer travel agent certification programs and colleges and universities may offer certificate programs that require a specific set of related courses but don’t require the commitment of a two or four-year degree.
Online: Some organizations that offer travel agent certifications also offer training programs that are fully online. Additionally, some niches, like Disney travel advising, also require specific online training programs.
Your host agency (like Fora): While some host agencies require prior education or travel agent training before you can sign, others, including Fora, offer their own training.
How Fora’s travel agent training works
Fora's advisor training is about empowering the modern travel entrepreneur. We take great care to ensure our training is up-to-date and in line with current trends and demand. You'll never find us replaying stale YouTube videos from 2017—we offer a mix of frequently updated existing and live interactive trainings.
I love that Fora considers all angles related to training—business planning, destination overviews, hotel spotlights, mentorship programs, partner overviews.
Caroline Weilert
joined May 2023
“If I had to describe Fora's training program in one word, it would be robust,” Fora Advisor Caroline Weilert said. “I love that Fora considers all angles related to training—business planning, destination overviews, hotel spotlights, mentorship programs, partner overviews—and that it provides webinars, live trainings, recordings and, best of all, access to the entire supplier community.”
Learn at your own pace and on your schedule
Fora's flexible approach to travel agent training allows you to take courses online at your own pace. Full-time job? School drop-off duty? Last-minute grocery run? Not to worry: This training program is designed to fit your schedule.
“Fora's self-paced training program was a game-changer,” Fora Advisor Timadge Berkhadley said. “Juggling other commitments, I could learn at my own speed, yet the content was rich and comprehensive. This empowered me to confidently navigate my client calls, feeling well equipped with the knowledge to succeed.”
Fora is accessible to anyone willing to put in the work. We welcome people changing careers, part-timers, seasoned travel advisors, and anyone wanting to combine their entrepreneurial spirit and love for travel.
Learn through different channels
At Fora, we offer a mix of self-directed and live courses, all online. Fora’s library of online travel agent training covers everything from the basics of booking hotels to more complex topics, such as how to find new clients and how to grow your business. Our training is dynamic, meaning we're always updating our offerings.
There are also Zoom-based interactive sessions led by members of Fora headquarters. These sessions include multiple partner trainings each week, where you can learn directly from leading industry brands, as well as weekly destination debriefs that offer a comprehensive overview on a specific destination. All of these training sessions are stored in a searchable training portal. And there are no hidden fees; your growing library of training content is included in the cost of your membership.
You can also access in-person learning opportunities through our annual conference, Live Forum, as well as through our local chapters.
Fora offers certification
Fora travel agent training puts you on the path toward certification. Our Essentials course is required to achieve the first level of certification. It lays the groundwork for building a successful travel business and effectively book trips for clients.
Our Advanced level helps you further develop your skills and covers more complicated topics, such as how to work with destination management companies to create amazing trips for your clients.
We also offer special statuses once our agents have surpassed certain booking thresholds and other milestones. Once these statuses have been achieved, these advisors have access to a suite of additional benefits, like consideration for familiarity (FAM) trips, conference invites, and more.
Fora provides a connected community
At Fora, everything comes back to community. When you join Fora, you join a group of like-minded individuals, all with a love of travel. We're constantly optimizing our training structure so that every advisor feels welcome, engaged, seen, and heard. You'll learn among your peers. Forum, our community app, is a treasure trove of advice, collaboration, support and positive vibes. We're all about celebrating one another and helping each other succeed.
“Everyone at Fora is a learner and a trainer because we all have different types of knowledge to share with each other,” Fora Advisor Caroline Weilert said.
Fora’s community extends beyond our advisors. We have partnered with 7,000+ hotels and counting (plus tour companies, cruises, villa rental services, yacht charters and more). Our vast network opens the door for even more relationships and fulfilling collaborations. In other words, there's lots of support and knowledge to go around.
Apply to become a Fora Advisor
Fora’s training program is designed to give you an in-depth understanding of how to run a successful travel advisor business. You can become a certified travel agent, and start your own business in the travel and tourism industry. Plus, you’ll get access to everything else you need to run your business, like tech, partnerships, commission tracking, and more. You’ll be welcomed into a global, thriving, collaborative community of passionate travel lovers.
