I don't really know anything about travel agents, but is anyone on here licensed or certified? I assume there is some sort of education or qualification that is needed. I am looking for one as well as interested in finding out what it takes to be one to ad to my practice. I know someone who wants to book a cruise.

I know a few travel agents, I can get that information for you, if you'd like.

However, I wonder how profitable being a travel agent is during this time, since the invention of booking buddy, travelocity, bing, and expedia.

__________________
www.lloydbusinesssolutions.com
"Getting you back to what you do best"

I would think so too. However the person that wanted to find a travel agent seemed to think that someone she had used one time before had given her a better deal than she could have gotten otherwise. If you can get the information that would be great. If there isn't much investment, it would be a nice trick to have in the bag.

Funny you bring this up. This spring we're traveling to Disney. There are actually Authorised Disney Planners that WAH. One has accepted to be on a podcast discussing how the company works. Let me know if you would like information about the one I'm working with to plan our trip.

Out of curiosity I tried a few independent online travel agents to see if they could get me a better deal than I could get by simply using Travelocity, Kayak or the airlines own web sites for my trip to UK.

Out of 5 replies I got 4 were more expensive and one was exactly the same so there was no financial incentive to use a third party.

Having said that, we (Business Cornerstone Services) do offer in-bound travel assistance as we have the local knowledge that other web sites may not. We realize that there are any number of "rate this hotel" type web sites but if you had to visit Mobile, Alabama who would you trust to guide you to the best hotels, car rentals, local restaurants etc?

I believe anyone can get a good deal on the big ticket items like air fares and chain hotels but the niche market (read as profit to entrepreneurs) is in local deals. Become a member of your local Chamber of Commerce to get the best rates from local businesses that you can then upsell to visitors to your home town.

I chime right in there with Business Cornerstone re local knowledge etc. ALSO - don't forget a very valuable service the VA provides - TIME & EFFORT -- just because a person CAN find these things doesn't mean they want to expend those 2 commodities. Doctors/lawyers/CEOs CAN use computer but should not have to be their own transcriptionists.

or duh... should I have said transcribers? -- you get the drift -- Providing travel arrangements is a very important service. If it is something you would enjoy doing - go for it! Have a blessed day! - Deb

Even in this economy an agent is good to have. I can find you unpublished deals and I have relationship with hotels and tour companies. And when your bags are lost or your hotel puts you in a craptastic room, you can call me up and I can take care of those issues for you.

Great Point DebW241! Many times, in any service-based business, people pay others to do things that they can but otherwise don't really want to do! Because I have many years of corporate travel experience, that is definitely a service I plan to offer for my clients. Because really, unless you have hours to spend checking this site and that site for the best deal, who wouldn't want to pay someone else a reasonable fee and move on to more productive things?

I love this idea, but I don't know if I would offer it as a seperate service as a travel agent, or a virtual conceirge my a bonus service for current clients. Either way would love to be able to find more deals for myself lol