Was the last ‘podcast’ you listened to airline hold music? Is your main form of sustenance the doughnuts brought in from sales reps? Ever wish you could go back in time and tell the young you the truth about being a travel agent? We’ve got you.
Forward this to a non-industry friend the next time they talk about how exciting your job must be while they’re also complaining that you never come out anymore.
You’ll be everyone’s favourite scapegoat
Flight delays, missed connections, and lost luggage? It’s obviously all your fault. Even that dodgy Airbnb they booked themselves is on you. So get ready to take one for the team, because clients will blame you for everything that goes wrong.
Negotiator will be your middle name
From airline seats to hotel rooms, your clients will want the best of everything at the cheapest of prices. Remember, they’ve seen it online for less.
You’ll need to be a mind reader
Get ready to play psychic. “I want something luxurious, but not too expensive, and somewhere with a view, but not too high. Oh, and it has to be exotic, but not too exotic and near the beach, but I don’t like sand.” Thanks for the detailed brief, Karen. We’ll get right on that.
You’ll need to be an encyclopaedia of travel knowledge
While your clients might not know what they want or when they want it, you’ll be expected to know it all. Being a travel agent means being a travel expert. Your clients will think you know everything about every destination in the world.
You’ll need to be available 24/7
If you don’t set boundaries, your clients will call you at all hours of the day and night, demanding your attention for everything from lost passports to hotel reservations. So, stock up on coffee and say goodbye to sleep, because you’re in for a wild ride.
You’ll be a magician, a wizard, a fairy godparent and a bloody amazing dream weaver
As a travel agent, you’ll have the power to turn your client’s travel dreams into reality. From finding the perfect hotel to securing the best flight deals, you’ll be weaving your magic to make it all happen. And if something goes wrong during their trip, you’ll be there to fix it with a flick of your wand. You’ll be like a travel version of Harry Potter, using your powers to make your clients’ wishes come true.
You’ll meet the best people
The travel industry attracts adventurers and extroverts. People with the biggest hearts and the warmest hugs. You will travel with them, you will work with them. You will meet them at events and they’ll save you an hors d’oeuvre when you’re in the loo.
You’ll be doing what you love
So many people in other industries claim to love their job so much they’d do it for free. Travel agents spent most of the pandemic doing just that. Now, that’s love.
