What Is A Referral Travel Agent?A Referral Travel Agent sometimes known as RTA is anyone who refers people to a travel site or host agency and receives a fee or commission.
I have seen some articles on the web that knocks the referral travel agent stating that they are not professional. Check my do you need a license page? Anyone can become a travel agent. Some of these web articles are trying to sell their own products such as a home study course to become a travel agent.
Do you need training or education to become a travel agent? The answer is no. Do you have to pass a state test to be license? Except for Rhode Island the answer is no! Would you benefit by taking travel courses and training? Yes! The more knowledge you have can bring more business to you.
Today more people are booking online through Travel Websites instead of using the traditional travel agent. Last year it was estimated that 80% of travel was purchased online. The travel consumer is wiser and wants to save money on their travel which they can book themselves online 24/7. They can locate the best places, times and deals themselves. The search engines do the work? This has left the traditional travel agent out of the process. So a referral travel agent refers people to their travel site and lets them search and book their own travel. It's a wonder why the traditional travel agents are screaming fowl play because they are losing business.
I say if you want to stay in the travel business, you need to jump on the market shift that has occurred and become an RTA. The other so called online travel agents may not have a travel site that allows you to book your own travel. I just had a friend ask me about taking a cruise. I gave him my web site information and told him to have fun checking the prices and let me know if he has any questions. I check my web site a few days later and found he had booked his cruise. It's that simple.
Oh! by the way, I also read their articles that said you get an ID card from your host agencies saying you are a Referral Travel Agent and get laughed at when you show it to hotels, car rentals and airlines, who will not honor your ID"S because they do not say travel agent. Well I have not been laughed at yet. I have received discounts and most recently phone messages from Super Clubs thanking me for some recent Jamaica business.
Their article also claims you don't get paid on airfares. I hate to break it to them, but I do.
People like to buy and do not like to be sold. That is why I like referring people to my site and not another travel agent who will work hard at selling them. People want to search for bargains and feel good about their purchase and not have buyer's remorse. YTB does offer First Class Training online. This will help you learn how to book groups and deal with vendors directly if you know people that need assistance in booking If you are seeking to have the Tittle: Certified Travel Agent. You will receive a higher commission rate and learn more ways to assist and book travel. This can be done at the comfort of your own home online through e-campus learning
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