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The Travel Industry Association of America says that in 2004, the U.S. travel industry received more than $600 billion from domestic and international travelers, and that's not counting international passenger fares. These expenditures directly resulted in 7.3 million jobs and over $162 billion in payroll income for Americans, as well as $100 billion in federal, state, and local tax revenue. Travel Agent, Hospitality Management, and Tour Guide
Travel Agent • Design business or pleasure trips • Work out of home or for an agency or company
General Steps for Future Travel Agents • 1) Larger travel agencies may require an agent to have a liberal arts or business degree • 2) Learn to speak a second language • 3) 6-12 week travel agent course online or at a community college (though not required) • 4) Consider lower level position such as ticket agent to gain experience
Travel Agent (cont.) • 5) Work on computer literacy • 6) Check with state’s department of commerce for requirements • 7) Always be reading about the industry • 8) Gain certification as a Certified Travel Counselor (CTC) (See “Institute of Certified Travel Agents” at icta.com • Education- Penn Foster
Salary: Travel Agent • 30,000-40,000 per year generally, but varies based on experience, location, and largely on how much you want to work.
Hospitality • The hotel, hospitality and casino industry is not only the third largest business in the nation, it also employs the second largest number of people
Hospitality (cont.) • There’s a lot to do in this industry!! • Make sure everyone has what they need • Make reservations • Organize outings for guests • Organize dinners and other activities within the hotel itself • Become a single hotel manager or a general manager
Steps Toward a Career in Hospitality • 1) Make sure you have excellent communication skills (hint hint wink wink) • 2) Degree in hotel or restaurant management • 3) Look for work study programs at certain colleges to gain experience while training • 4) This is an industry where most start at the bottom and work their way up
Hospitality (cont.) • 5) Possibly start off as a manager with specific duties • 6) Promotions but sometimes with a change of venue
Salary: Hospitality • Front Desk Management 34,000-50,000 generally, but some up to 60,000 • Hotel Management- 40,000-80,000 depending on location and experience
Tour Guides • Great for those who grew up in a historical area. Don’t necessarily have to work abroad. • Not many formal education requirements because most training is on the job • “Tour guides must interact with groups of people, keeping them focused, entertained, and informed. Successful travel guides will also have a great deal of leadership ability. Above all, they must be able to plan and organize trips and outings so that they happen seamlessly.”
Steps for becoming a Tour Guide • 1) Hone in on your people skills!! • 2) Get certified as a tour guide at places like the International Tour Management Institute (itmitourtraining.com) (not required) • 3) Get hired by the largest tour company you can find • 4) If you want to go abroad, sign up for a company that’s based in the US
Tour Guide (cont.) • 6) Constant research of the area • 7) Make sure your organized and a good planner • 8) Keep a level head, ‘cuz things can get ugly • 9) Although you’ll possibly be traveling, don’t expect a whole lot of free time to explore and do your own thing • 10) Don’t forget that you set the tone!!
Salary: Tour Guide • $22,000 - $31,000 a year, not including extra income from tips or gratuities
Conclusion: Things to consider • 1) Possibly return to school for specialized skills, some of which can be picked up online • 2) Keep in mind that salary is relative to experience and location • 3) Work loads can very depending largely on yourself!
Good Sites for more info • http://www.pennfoster.edu/travel/index.html?semkey=Q087823 • www.ehow.com • www.w3education.org/career • itmitourtraining.com • icta.com