Career Summary

The travel and hospitality industry is one of the few industries that constantly needs new qualified employees who are willing to stay current with travel news and policies. It’s not an easy job as security laws and policies have too often become vague. Which means a passenger may take up to three hours just to board a plane or cruise line boat. A travel agent consultant can reduce the time by informing her / his clients of all the necessary dos and don’ts prior to the travel date.

Once upon a time the majority of travel agents responsibilities were ensuring a client had a variety of fun options available at their destination along with their transportation schedules and tickets. However with the evolving world of internet information any traveler can research where to go and what to do. What is much more frustrating and needed by travelers is what they can pack in their suitcase for check in luggage and what items can go inside their carry on purse or backpack for air flights.

Airport security is very strict -- how many stories has surfaced where would be passengers had to throw away gifts of wine bottles, shaving creaming and perfume? Some airlines are even restricting what a passenger can wear on the flight. Unless a would be passenger knows this before the day of travel they could be refused entry onto the plan or withheld for airport security for up to three hours – thus missing the flight.

A travel agent consultant who thoroughly knows and understands airline, airport and Homeland Security travel policies and laws can help passengers pack appropriately. In addition, they can advise their clients on what will and will not be allowed to enter back into the US. Some foreign purchased items are not allowed entrance into the US. These items can include ceramic tableware, some prepared foods as well as fruits and vegetables.

A unknowledgeable traveler may not know that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration restricts and or advises that some tableware may contain high levels of dangerous lead which could harm the purchaser.

The Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 requires all travelers who wish to resell prepared food items to properly report to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) prior to arrival. These are the type of policies and laws that can immensely help travelers prepare for and avoid several hours or even days of security clearance.

In addition to security policies and laws a travel agent has to know about the hotel travelers will be staying at. A travel agent consultant can be sued if a client was not informed that a hotel is going through renovations. They also need to thoroughly know the entertainment that a traveler will be involved in.

Travel agent consultants are human computers with a wealth of knowledge and resources. This is a career for people who love to know everything about tourist’s designations and have superior research skills and destination resources. Travel agents review and appraise individual and business professional’s traveling needs to help them make the best possible travel arrangements. An agent may specialize by type of travel, such as leisure or business, or destination, such as Europe or Africa.

Due to the internet clients who employ a travel agent consultant will be looking for expert advice, travel security policies and law and the little details that cannot be easily found online by a consumer.