thoughts on travel agents...

[Copperline]

Ok, I don't know if this is even the right place to post this, but since I am a DVC owner I feel most comfortable posting here. If it needs to be moved, I understand...

So I am in my early mid-life crisis (32) pg w/ baby #2 and thinking my career took a wrong turn someplace along the line. I am currently a Network Designer/Engineer and bore even myself to sleep most of the time.
I reallllly want to do something more FUN w/ the rest of my life, but it's hard to leave the fat paycheck this job provides. I feel like I know so much about Disney World and general domestic US travel that I am wasting that knowledge. I would LOVE to have my own web-based travel service, specializing in Disney Vacations.

Has anyone else done this? Or currently dreams about it? Any thoughts or advice? Is this field already too saturated?
I'm not even quite sure where to start my research, but figure it might be something worth exploring with a nice long maternity leave coming up.

Thanks in advance for reading my ramblings and sharing any info.

 

[JimC]

www.dreamsunlimitedtravel.com is the one we use when we need a Disney specialist.

There are others as well, but I have not used them.
Small World Travel (http://www.wdwtravelagent.com/)
Mouse Ear Vacations (http://www.mouseearvacations.com/)

 

[manning]

You will have to work at it. The internet and the airlines now not supporting travel agents has turned the industry upside down. Gone are the days when you could wait for the business to come to you. A lot of agencies have closed for good or closed their offices and work from their homes.

Check this site out. It may help you decide:

http://www.hometravelagency.com

Big agencies are merging with others, creating bigger agencies.

 

[wtpclc]

I think DIsney is still pretty supportive of travel agents, though. TNtraveler hangs out on teh COoking Crafting and Scrapping board. She is a travel agent that works out of her home. You may want to send her a pm.

 

[isyt]

I grew up with my Mother being a travel agent. When we were little , before internet ther was always lots of freebies and discounts. Now you are usually lucky to get any discount.I worked for Thomas Cook Travel and we were bought out by Amex travel. I had left for maternity and my office moved to Florida. The travel industry has gone down big time and it is very hard for the mom and pop agencies to make a living. Airlines generally don't pay commision any more so angencies have to charge a ticketing fee, so the public turns towards the internet to book direct with the airlines, then between hotel sites and airlines booking hotels for you there is nothing left for an agent to do.

I stay at home and do only Disney bookings. It is fun for me because I can talk Disney all day ( my friends are sick of me), but I certainly can not make a living at it. This was all an after thought because my mothers agencies kept calling me to ask questions so i just started doing the bookings. I fell into it and hopefully it will supplement my Disney habit!!

Good Luck!!

 

[kmc33]

Copperline - I feel like I could have written your post.

I am an engineer by occupation but travel, especially Disney, is my passion. I love talking, reading, planning, researching trips... My friends and family come to me for advise when making Disney and cruise travel plans. I have put together a travel plans and tips for friends going to Disney and received comments that I could be in business.

I have thought that if I could work from home and have flexibilty of schedule for my son that it would be worth it even though I couldn't make as much as I do now. With DH's salary and a smaller salary on my part, we would still be okay. But is it getting harder and harder to even bring in a small salary????

But every time I start thinking about it, I end up reading all the things about travel agents being a declining field. I still think sometimes... what about Disney and cruises... they still use travel agents and I have a lot of expertise there!!!

I keep coming back to that idea...

 

[Copperline]

Thanks for all the great replies, ideas and links!
You guys are awesome!

I will continue to look into this...it's worth investigating, and if nothing else, I will learn more about Disney!

 

[bluedoggy]

Ah yes... I was a former travel agent ( 11 yrs) from the early 80's to early 90's. I specialized in Disney travel, the Disney Cruise ( remember the Royale??) I worked for a small agency, and had a large following of clients, but in my best year only grossed $18k... Then with the internet, reduced commissions and the almost complete extinction of freebies I made the concious decision to get out. I got my Real Estate license (as I had previous Real Estate experience) and I still have old clients who ask me for advice for Disney Trips (which I love to talk about) but I don't do it for the money. Internet fares, and the ease by which people can access the information, has really changed how the Travel Agencies do business. Good luck in whatever you decide - but the best advice I can give is - put your client's needs ahead of your own financial gain. It will give you peace of mind, and you will build client relationships that last years.

 

[manning]

When I retired in 1995 I took the American Express travel course with the intent on opening an agency. At the time it was possible after several years in the business. That is when the airlines started to reduce commissions and promote the internet. Needless to say I saw what was coming and opted out. My SIL took the course with me and went to work with an AMEX agency, became a manager. That agency was bought out by another AMEX agency. I asked her if she would do it again and why does she still work there. She said no and is doing it for health insurance coverage.

The mom and pops are about all gone. In the middle 90s there was one on every corner. Now you have to look for one. There were six within a mile of me. Now two.

The money is being made booking cruises and land packages. However the cruise industry is starting to discover the internet. Several lines are now probing there and beginning to lower commissions. The common line was check your travel agent for details. More and more it is now check our web site for details or your travel agent.

If you notice Disney is even turning to the internet. You can now book vacations there.

You will have to be a salesman and to make money you will have to work full time at it. It can be done, but you will work hard to make a living at it. I don't know if commissions are still around 10 percent, but if it is you will have to sell $500,000.00 to make $50,000.00 and if you have to split that with a host agency you will not see all of it.

When you start out you will, more or less, have to work with a host agency and split commissions. As you get to be known by travel providers you may be able to break away. You will pay for brochures. FAMS are go go go. We went to Hawaii with my sil on one. Actually she did. We paid our way and met up with her on her free time. We did this because we were there before and wanted to show her around. Guess what, out of 7 days she was free for 2. The rest of the time she was running around inspecting properties.

But, then again, you may enjoy it. If you think you will, go for it.

 

[CherCrazy]

Hey Blue Doggie...same with me. I was a travel agent for 20 years and am now a realtor.

The industry started it's decline before the internet became so prominent. The cutting of commission by the airlines started it. The internet sealed the deal. I loved my job and had a great following, but the reality was that as a full time travel agent in retail, I could only expect to make about $25K - 30K per year. This was in the late 90's when I left the industry.

Starting your own company, especially without travel sales experience, is incredibly risky, to say the least. First of all, the big travel companies are given better rates and commissions by the cruise lines, hotel chains, tour companies, etc. If you don't have a certain amount of sales with any particular vendor, you will just get rack rates to pass on to your clients. You can't compete with that forever. Sooner or later, your clients will figure out that they can get that cruise for $200 pp cheaper somewhere else. And a small agency will be lucky if they make 10% on a cruise fare (no commssion on port taxes BTW) where a large, multi-office agency may make 15% or more plus negotiate lower rates for their clients. Unfortunately, it's a system that does not make room for newbies.

May I suggest that you get a job as an outside salesperson with a travel agency? You would be able to keep your day job, and try out the world of travel in your spare time. You would be able to learn the operations of the business to better make your decision.

 

[Mamu]

I love my TA. Most domestic trips I do myself.

When traveling abroad, or to new areas across the country I always use a TA. He gives me options on where to stay, how to travel from one area to another. He's never stirred me wrong. I've always been more then pleased.

I think booking your own trips is great, but there are some things I feel I need help with. I do research my trip, check what other have to say then make my choices on where I'll stay. I do have to say my best trips have been planned by a TA.

 

[Deemarch]

If you can do it as extra pocket money, you'll be okay. But I don't think that, unless you own the company, you'll make a killing. But you WILL have FUN!!!

I do it as a way to talk to people about Disney and not get "that look"!

 

[Sthronds]

I am a TA, but a relatively new one. I was a teacher for about 8 years when I just decided it wasn't for me anymore. I had always wanted to be a travel agent but was discouraged from it. After being unhappy for years in a job I was encouraged to take, I was ready to try what I wanted. I wrote a letter to a local travel agency and told them that I had no experience but that I was smart and willing to learn. They hired me as a receptionist and slowly started letting me do travel. At the 8th month mark, I moved into travel mostly full time. The money sucks, but the job is great. I have never loved a job before, so I am very happy. I don't know what the future holds but I am blessed to have been given the opportunity to learn on the job and just given a chance. I say go for it but keep in mind that there is a lot to learn. Find an agency who will help you. Even if you have to work in the office part time, you would be amazed at how much you glean from just listening to the other agents.

 

[agotta]

There is another post on the Budget board similar to this. I have just started being a TA at home part time. I have worked for Disney and AAA so I am very familiar with the whole system, but wanted to work for myself. I am hoping that someday I can do it full-time when we start having kids. I love it and it is tough to make a living at. If you want my two cents on how I got started, feel free to email me at wishuponastarvacations@gmail.com