Guess what! I'm a travel agent now!

[CrystalS]

I just wanted to share my wonderful news with my fellow Dis'ers!
I still have some training to finish, but I'm on my way to making Disney Dreams come true for others!

I've always loved planning our family trips and have looking into being a travel agent many times, and I'm so happy to have found my opportunity to do it now.

I just had to share my excitement :):banana:

[twokids0204]

Congrats...

[My 2 princesses]

Awesome! Congrats.

[new2disx3]

Thats great...WTG!!

[CrystalS]

Thanks you guys :)

[tone.def]

Cool! where did you go to school? I went to Humber College and thought the program was great. But I did it just on the cusp of the internet explosion.... so I imagine a lot of what is taught now in Travel and Tourism courses is much different and more web based...

[CrystalS]

I'm doing web based training and support through Dugans Travel.
I've heard great things about them, and they are very helpful in getting started :)

[minnie56]

Are they not a U.S based agency?:confused3

[tone.def]

I'm doing web based training and support through Dugans Travel.
I've heard great things about them, and they are very helpful in getting started :)

Be careful - you can't just set up shop and call yourself a travel agent. It's like someone buying a Mac computer and calling yourself a film maker or because you made a DVD of your home movies with iMovie, you're not a film editor.

British Columbia has the same thing as the Ontario equivalent as TICO. It's called TAF and travel agents in BC must be licensed. Go check out Consumer Protection B.C. before you do any advertising at all. There are fines to be paid and prosecution can be had if you get caught.

In Ontario, you must have a storefront or go under a hosting agency like Travel Only or TPI. You cannot open your own travel agency and advertise without paying thousands of dollars into the Travel Industry Compensation Fund.

Good luck, make sure you research this inside and out!!!

[minnie56]

That's right..I don't profess to know anything about Dugans..but I don't see that they are TICO registered and the travelling public are pretty savvy these days and all too often will buy only from a TICO registered agency.

Just be careful....there are a lot of fly by nighters out there and I would hate to see you burned...;)

[CrystalS]

I'm not opening my own agency. I am working as an agent UNDER Dugan's Travels

They take agents from US and Canada, and there are other agents with them from Canada as well.

I thought all I'd need is a home business licence.
I have E&O insurance through Dugan's as well.


Is this not enough?

[tone.def]

I'm not opening my own agency. I am working as an agent UNDER Dugan's Travels

They take agents from US and Canada, and there are other agents with them from Canada as well.

I thought all I'd need is a home business licence.
I have E&O insurance through Dugan's as well.


Is this not enough?

No. Again to be a travel agent in British Columbia, you must be licensed. Same with Ontario. You can't just sign up with an agency in the States, that is ILLEGAL. Sorry to burst your bubble ;o(

Info here on how to get a license:
http://www.consumerprotectionbc.ca/index.php/businesses-travel-services-home/do-i-need-a-licence

[CrystalS]

Well it looks like I was a little misguided in my search to be an agent :(
You'd think that if the agency allows Canadians to work under them, they'd at least provide the proper information on what needs to be done as far as licensing.

Wow, that licensing is expensive too.
Maybe I'm better off cutting my loses on the agency's sign up costs, I'm not sure if I'd be making enough off commisions to pay for the licensing to begin with.

Ah man, why didn't I know this sooner :(
Looks like I have a lot of thinking to do. Good thing I haven't started taking any clients yet!

[tone.def]

Cutting the $150 lose is a lot of better than being fined $$$$$$$$$$ by the province.

Why doesn't Duggan's tell you this info? Because they probably don't know or they know, don't care and just want your money. There are 3 provinces in Canada where this consumer protections exists - B.C., Ontario and Quebec. So if you want to move to Alberta, you're in the clear.

If it was this easy, we'd all sign up for "home based businesses with no experience or education required".


Well it looks like I was a little misguided in my search to be an agent :(
You'd think that if the agency allows Canadians to work under them, they'd at least provide the proper information on what needs to be done as far as licensing.

Wow, that licensing is expensive too.
Maybe I'm better off cutting my loses on the agency's sign up costs, I'm not sure if I'd be making enough off commisions to pay for the licensing to begin with.

Ah man, why didn't I know this sooner :(
Looks like I have a lot of thinking to do. Good thing I haven't started taking any clients yet!

[fivebyfive]

or they know, don't care and just want your money.

That would be my guess. Reason being if the TA were to be fined by TICO, Dugan's Travel wouldn't be facing fines/jail time; the TA would as they are the Canadian resident breaking the law. There is no risk to Dugan's because they are US based and therefore our laws don't affect them.

The the OP - in addition to licensing - you also have to take (and pass) the TICO Education Standards exam.

Ah man, why didn't I know this sooner

My aunt works for TICO, I've TRIED in the past to post to people on these boards who say they want to be a travel agent here in Canada about TICO laws, but for some unknown reason to me the 'powers that be' like to delete said posts. :sad2:

If it was this easy, we'd all sign up for "home based businesses with no experience or education required".


SOOOO true! I mean if the profession were that easy, wouldn't everyone right here on the DIS book their own vacation as a TA oppose to other means?

[CrystalS]

The the OP - in addition to licensing - you also have to take (and pass) the TICO Education Standards exam.


I thought Tico was for Ontario... hence why its called Travel Industry Council of Ontario

[minnie56]

TICO is an Ontario governing body to the travel industry. There is an equivalent in BC though...TAF (??) or something like that?

I imagine it works the same, that everyone that sells travel must take the course and pass it to be able to sell travel, as in Ontario.

I know nothing as mentioned previously about Dugan's, but were I you, I would stick with a known company based in Canada. I am sure if you asked them why they didn't tell you your requirements here? They would tell you that it's "your responsibility" to know what you need in order to sell travel in your home Country/Province. It's all about money!! Theirs..:confused3

[fivebyfive]

I thought Tico was for Ontario... hence why its called Travel Industry Council of Ontario

Yes, however TICO is in place to represent the Travel Industry Act. Ontario, BC and Quebec all follow the Travel Industry Act, so BC will have it's own 'TICO' in place.

I imagine it works the same, that everyone that sells travel must take the course and pass it to be able to sell travel, as in Ontario.

EXACTLY.

Edited to add: a quick Google search brought me here: http://www.citc.ca/tico/en/train-bci-exam-e.asp So no question, BC residents have to pass an exam no different than Ontario residents.

[CrystalS]

I just wanted to be clear that this company wasn't advertising "no experience/training".

They do provide training and you have to complete some "fake" reservations etc before your permitted to book for the general public.

Thank you everyone for your great knowledge on this subject. I will be sure to get all my "ducks in a row" before selling any travel products.

[minnie56]

I am sure they didn't advertise that at all. Please, don't feel badly. You are just safest to get onboard with a Canadian based company. We do it very different here in Canada than the U.S.

Good Luck! You'll get there and the right way next time too!:thumbsup2

[CrystalS]

Does anyone know of any reputable travel companies that are registered/licensed in BC?

[minnie56]

Sent you a PM:)

[monkey30]

see this is something I wanted to look into, what do u need to take?

I have alot of research to do, so i guess i better get on it. with a broken foot cant do much else!!

[fivebyfive]

We do it very different here in Canada than the U.S.

That's just it.

Ever notice that 'Disney Specialists' are a dime a dozen in the US? This is because anyone can get a CLIA card and start selling travel out of their home in most US states. This is not all the case in Canada. Never mind proper schooling and testing, but in some provinces you also have to align yourself with a storefront travel agency.

Just like every other profession, it takes dedication, time and studying to become a travel agent in Canada. It is a profession (not a part time job), so choose it wisely. :thumbsup2

[minnie56]

Unfortunately, I sometimes think it's going the same direction here. People complete the Disney College of Knowledge and lay claim that they are a 'Disney Specialist'!! Not so..takes years of 1st hand experience and selling it before you have enough information under your belt to do it justice IMO...

;)