![Icon [object Object]](/_next/static/media/icon-copy-url.9b3e4dc0.svg?w=16&q=90){kind=icon}
![Icon [object Object]](/_next/static/media/icon-check.1bfe605d.svg?w=15&q=90){kind=icon}
Travel agent jobs: is there more than one type of travel agent (or as we prefer, travel advisor)? You bet. That said, it’s fair to say that most travel agents generally do the same thing — with the differences coming from their clientele and the type of travel being booked, be it leisure, business or somewhere in between.
Already know which travel agent job appeals to you? Sign up to become a Fora Advisor today.
First, what exactly does a travel agent (a.k.a. travel advisor) do?
If you’re completely new to jobs in the travel industry, here’s the short version of what travel agents — or, again, travel advisors — do.
Like any type of advisor or consultant — be it financial, legal, professional, etc. — travel advisors help clients plan and get more out of their trips than if they booked their trip through an online travel agency, like Expedia or Booking.com, or directly with a hotel. Moreover, travel advisors leverage insider connections to land their clients exclusive perks, better deals and perhaps most importantly, better experiences overall (think hidden gems or excellent dining recommendations).
Depending on the type of travel agent job, the nature of the work can look slightly different. For example, group travel advisors tend to be a little more hands-on with contacting hotel and property managers to reserve rooms because they’re booking for — you guessed it — larger groups of people, sometimes in the dozens. This requires a higher degree of logistical planning than, say, booking a single hotel room for a couple on a weekend getaway.
Still wondering “What does a travel agent do?” Our guide covers the long answer.
What are the duties of a travel agent?
Above all else, a travel agent’s job is to help their clients max out the value of a trip. This requires meticulous attention to detail and top-tier communication skills. It can be tough, we won’t lie. However, it’s an extremely rewarding career for people who are obsessed with travel (like us). If you join Fora, our travel agent training will teach you everything you need to know about how to build the best, most rewarding and successful travel business.
You might be wondering, is being a travel agent worth it? We certainly think so.
Can you make good money as a travel agent?
Absolutely, but how much travel agents make per booking varies widely from advisor to advisor, regardless of the type of travel agent jobs they choose.
Our guide to how much travel agents make covers this topic in greater detail, but generally, you get out what you put in. Some Fora travel advisor salaries are in the six figure range. It takes dedication to reach that point, but it’s very possible. And we're all about meeting you where you're at, whether you're looking for a travel side hustle, a full-time career or something in between.
So how do you become a travel agent?
Let's talk travel agent training. You might be surprised to learn that becoming a travel agent is fairly straightforward — and you don’t need experience to start.
The most direct path is to join a host agency (like Fora) and operate under their licenses. We offer all sorts of perks, from access to dozens of global partnerships to marketing resources and comprehensive training.
Want to know more? Learn how to become a travel agent.
(P.S. Wondering what kind of time commitment you need to make? Check out how long it takes to become a travel agent.)
Comparing different types of travel agent jobs by niche
Now for the main course: what travel agent jobs exist? We’re breaking it down into six different options, but it’s important to note that most travel advisors fall into one or more of these categories — and it’s entirely possible to take on all of these different travel agent jobs.
Ultimately, it depends on your bandwidth, experience and target clientele. For simplicity’s sake, though, we’re approaching each of the following like they’re one distinct path.
1. Leisure travel agent jobs: planning amazing vacations for clients
The most common travel agent job is planning leisure travel. This could be planning an exciting trip to the best places to visit in Spain for first-timers, finding the coolest hotels in Japan for a culturally immersive vacation, putting together a list of the best restaurants in New York City for a foodie tour…the list is almost endless.
Basically, your clients come to you because you know how to make their vacation an unforgettable experience, with awesome hotel perks, exciting itinerary suggestions and tailored assistance.
(BTW: there are actually many different types of bookings you can make as a Fora Advisor, not just hotels.)
2. Corporate travel agent jobs: providing travel solutions to corporate clients
Corporate travel agent jobs are a little different. While there may be leisure aspects to corporate travel — maybe your client wants to impress someone or treat their employees to a fun experience — most corporate travel revolves around business and efficiency.
For corporate clients, travel advisors usually need to find hotels near meeting places or conventions, organize transportation and help plan meals, among other things. It’s probably inaccurate to say the stakes are higher with corporate travel (because you don’t want to shortchange leisure travel clients), but there’s generally less room for error because people’s jobs could be on the line.
The trade-off is that corporate travel agent jobs can be very lucrative, especially at higher levels where entire venues or hotel blocs need to be reserved (and the commission for a hotel floor in a big city like Chicago or Los Angeles can be quite comfortable).
Love the idea of booking corporate travel and want the resources to help you do it? Become a Fora Advisor.
3. Cruise travel agent jobs: book ocean- & river-borne vacations for clients who love the water
Cruise travel agent jobs aren’t that different from ordinary travel agent jobs, except the focus is obviously on selling river- or ocean-borne vacations instead of hotels. Most cruise lines offer a ton of excursion, entertainment and dining options, and you can help your clients sift through the choices they’re most likely to enjoy while also offering cool perks.
For instance, a Virgin Voyages travel agent can unlock early boarding, onboard credits and more for their clients.
Need more intel? Learn how to become a cruise travel agent (a.k.a. Fora Advisor).
4. Luxury travel agent jobs: planning & booking getaways for clients with a taste for the high life
There’s no secret meaning to luxury travel agent jobs: these jobs are for advisors with highly discerning clients. Luxury travel can take many forms, from exclusive VIP experiences to reservations at the world’s best hotels (such as an elite hotel in Dubai or luxury hotels in Lisbon, Portugal).
Hotel buyouts, specialty cruises, chauffeur services and other high-end experiences are all on the table, as well.
The potential earnings can be exponentially larger than ordinary leisure travel — with commissions numbering in the tens of thousands of dollars — but like corporate travel, the margins for error can also be tight. Some luxury travel clients expect white-glove service, but if you're keen on starting this travel agent job, we've got you. We'll teach you everything you need to know about how to become a luxury travel agent.
5. Group travel agent jobs: booking hotel floors, event venues & more
As we’ve hinted at before, group travel agent jobs can be much more hands-on because there are simply more people to account for. More often than not, group travel bookings relate to some sort of event — this could be a corporate conference, sports tourney (e.g. booking travel for a youth hockey league), family reunions… you get the idea.
It’s important to note that industry-wide, group travel doesn’t mean a single family or friends group (as counterintuitive as that may sound). Instead, group travel tends to refer to planning travel for at least eight to 12 people, and generally many more.
If that sounds intimidating (we get it), you can check out why group bookings are great. But the simple answer is that the commissions for group bookings are among the most lucrative in the business.
(What’s the secret to group travel agent jobs? Check out our guide to mastering the art of group bookings.)
6. Niche travel agent jobs: travel to specific destinations, attractions & more
There’s really no limit to how specialized travel agent jobs can be.
Some travel advisors only book travel to specific locations, some only book trips to theme parks (learn how to become a Disney travel agent) and others only plan niche getaways, like honeymoons, destination weddings or LGTBQ+ travel.
Isolating a niche is an excellent way to hone your brand and improve your knowledge base. Instead of being a generalist on all kinds of travel agent jobs, you can be an expert on one or two specific types of travel (and always work your way up, if you choose).
Comparing different types of travel agent jobs by setting
There’s one more way to look at the different types of travel agent jobs, and it has more to do with how you conduct your advisor business than the type of travel you're booking.
Remote vs. in-person travel agent jobs
Old-school travel agent jobs required brick-and-mortar establishments, but nowadays you can easily become a travel agent online. Remote travel agent jobs are far more common and, coincidentally, much more in line with jobs where you can travel (since you’re not stuck at that brick-and-mortar office).
That’s not to say that in-person travel agent jobs aren’t still valuable. In big cities where the potential pool of clients is massive, in-person consultations can give you an edge with clients who prefer that sort of interaction.
That said, remote travel agent jobs (like being a Fora Advisor) allow you to work with anyone who has an internet connection (just about everyone), anywhere. The flexibility isn’t even comparable and you don’t necessarily have to worry about overhead for things like rent, office insurance and so on.
Independent vs. employed travel agent jobs
Independent travel agent jobs — such as a Fora Advisor — are a more modern approach to the travel agent occupation. While employed travel agents still exist, independent advisors set their own rules, hours and, well, just about everything.
By contrast, employed travel agent jobs typically follow house rules, like meeting bookings quotas while working a rigid, regular schedule. For some, this is great, but the ability to work as much or as little as you want as an independent travel advisor (like you would at Fora) has led to a massive shakeup in the travel industry.
Curious to learn more about the differences between these two types of travel agent jobs? Here’s how to become an independent travel agent.
Want the best travel agent job? Become a Fora Advisor today
We’re biased, but if you want the best travel agent job: become a Fora Advisor. We offer exceptional support, insider intel that gives you an edge, high-tech marketing resources, access to a global network of awesome partnerships (allowing you to provide your clients with A+ perks) and much, much more.
Curious about other aspects of becoming a travel advisor? Check out these guides, too:
