How to Become a Travel Agent
What You Need to Get Started
When you become an independent travel agent with KHM Travel Group, you’ll have everything you need to run a successful home-based travel agency at your fingertips. Our education programs are designed to teach you everything you need to know to book travel and build your business in the travel industry. No certificate or prior travel agent education is required!
You must be a U.S. citizen living in the U.S. with a current and valid driver’s license or state ID in order to become an agent. You will also need a valid credit card in your name in order to enroll and reliable access to the internet in order to access our Agent Portal and CRM systems, along with other supplier booking engines.
A passion for travel isn’t a requirement, but it is usually beneficial in helping agents succeed!
How You’ll Learn to Be a Travel Agent
In our Travel Agent Tips video, our Vice President of Agent Engagement, Bill, provides an overview of what it’s like to run your own travel business.
The bottom line: Education comes first! Our Learning Management System (LMS) lets you control your travel agent education. Accessible 24/7 from any device, the LMS is an online classroom accessible to all KHM Travel Agents through MyTravelAgentPortal. Everything in the LMS makes the learning is broken down into courses, and each course is divided into lessons, so the learning process is very structured. When you first get started, you’ll go through our series of “Destinations” or courses within Agent Orientation. These courses act as a roadmap to guide you through the process of learning the travel industry and how to run your business.
Agent Orientation covers the basics of how to become a travel agent. This includes things like getting your business set up, working with clients, compliance, and simple marketing techniques. You’ll also gain a better understanding of all the tools and resources you have available to you as a KHM Travel Agent.
The LMS gives you the ability to learn how to become a travel agent at your own convenience. To continue expanding your professional development and travel knowledge, you can take advantage of our in-person educational events and one-on-one coaching program. You can always rely on our team to answer your questions or offer encouragement if you are feeling stuck.
How You’ll Find Prices and Book Trips
KHM Travel Group Agents are all independent contractors, running their own businesses under the umbrella of our booking credentials. Once you’re on board with us, our team will help you get registered with our Preferred Suppliers to access their travel agent-only websites. There is no additional cost to register with suppliers, but each supplier has a set of procedures to follow for agents to research trips and book travel.
KHM Travel Group already has established relationships with the most popular travel suppliers, giving you access to exclusive promotions, incentives, and marketing assets. Whether you want to specialize in selling cruises, romance travel, family vacations, or anything in between, we’ll provide you with the knowledge and connections you need to develop your sales.
How Do Travel Agents Make Money?
When you make bookings for yourself or your clients, our travel suppliers will pay a commission on the sale amount. The exact commission percentage varies between 3% and 20% of the travel sale amount, with the average being around 14%. Whatever commission we receive, we pay you 80% of that amount to start. After agents have reached $5,000 in gross commissions in a calendar year, they are bumped up to 90% commission. Learn more about commissions and see an example on our commission page here.
KHM Travel Group’s long-standing relationships with our Preferred Travel Suppliers enable us to receive the industry’s top commission payouts, which we pass on to you!
How Much Do Travel Agents Make?
One of the first questions people ask when researching how to become a travel agent from home is usually, “can I actually make money doing this?” The answer is yes, and the amount of money you can make is really up to you. Some of our travel agents work part-time to plan travel for friends & family and earn a few hundred dollars on those trips. Our top-producing agents turn their travel business into their full-time career and earn thousands in commission each month.
Typically, agents get out of their business what they put into it. As one of our agents, Lisa, put it, this is not an opportunity for someone who wants to make money quickly or by sending their clients to book themselves online. It does take time and dedication, but if you love travel, a travel agent career can bring you long-term rewards.
Check out all the benefits of partnering with KHM Travel Group and learn about our pricing options here. If you’re ready to become a travel agent, you can get started here or give us a call 1-888-611-1220.