“You have to remember that as a travel agent, you will be a guide for people during their happiest moments—family reunions, weddings, baptisms, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences that people have dreamt of,” says Kapoor-Miller. “It has been one of the most rewarding aspects of being a travel agent. You navigate people, inform them, and help them choose.”
So, how do you become a travel agent?
There are many ways to become a travel agent, from joining an existing travel agency, to starting an independent business from the ground up. Others are opting for one of the buzziest start-ups in the travel industry, Fora. When it launched in 2021, the software company, which trains and provides search engine-optimized profile pages to advisors—at one point had a waitlist of over 30,000 people eager to begin a part-time gig. Travel photographer and Condé Nast Traveler contributor Amanda Villarosa is currently in the process of joining.
“I’m the person that friends and family come to for travel recommendations, tips and tricks, and general travel advice,” says Villarosa. “After discovering Fora and looking into it, I realized that it could be the perfect side-hustle, considering I’m already so involved in the industry.”
With additional flexibility, Villarosa was able to move from New York City to splitting her time between Denver and Los Angeles. She says that the sign-up was quite straightforward. “You’re given a dedicated Fora email and have access to advising tools and fellow Fora advisors,” she says. “The training is in the form of Zoom meetings and videos, which you have the option to watch at your own pace. Once completed, you take a certification quiz and you’re on your way to advising.”
The other ways in are slightly more involved. To begin an independent practice, you go about it like many other businesses. You will have to create an LLC, establish a business name, cultivate marketing materials, build a website, find clientele, and more.
Ellis found something in the middle, choosing to connect with an established travel agency. “Don’t be afraid to reach out to an agency looking to take on new advisors and is willing to mentor,” says Ellis. “I was fortunate to learn so much from Annie Chambers, the owner of Crafted Escapes, who has seven years in the business.” He now knows the ropes on everything from using itinerary-building software to destination-specific training, to the sales and marketing aspects of the trade.
Is there required education or qualifications?
Ellis says that there’s no certification, per se, required to become a travel advisor, but there are countless training courses available like Departure Lounge’s classes on navigating the industry through hotels and tour operators. He said it’s also important to stay on top of travel trends. Ellis recently completed travel agent training programs provided by premier cruise lines such as Virgin Voyages, Ritz-Carlton Yachts, and Cunard to help agents sell their products more accurately.
How much does a travel agent make?
What a travel agent earns depends on how many trips they successfully book for their clients. The entire model is commission-based, meaning agents earn a percentage of the total cost of the vacation they orchestrate. Many travel advisors choose to charge a flat-rate planning fee in addition to their commission, but balance is key—if you charge a high planning fee, it could lead to potential clients going elsewhere.
