Archive for August, 2011

Travel and Tourism Schools – Career Training Options

There are a number of accredited travel and tourism schools providing different career training options to students who wish to gain the skills needed for a career. Prospective students can gain the knowledge they need to enter into the workforce prepared for an exciting new vocation. Accredited training in this field allows students to pursue careers in a variety of areas. Students can obtain a certificate, diploma, or associates, bachelors, or master’s degree in the field.

*Certificates and Diplomas

Students can earn certificates and diplomas in the field of travel and tourism for a variety of reasons. Students can earn certificates and diplomas for entry level positions in the field. With an accredited vocational training program students will have the opportunity to study courses like geography, tourism, sales, general management, and much more. Coursework will prepare students for careers in international travel, domestic tourism, and more. Certificates can also be obtained through continuing education courses which allow professionals to enhance their skills and knowledge.

*Associates Degree

Accredited vocational schools offer students the option to train for an associate’s degree in travel and tourism. A degree program at this level of training will allow students to learn a variety of subjects by attending courses in hospitality, travel planning, marketing, and much more. Students who choose to obtain an accredited associates degree in this field will prepare for careers working as travel agents, reservationists, property managers, and many other professions. By obtaining an associates degree students can seek employment or further education at a bachelor’s degree level.

*Bachelors Degree

The opportunity to obtain an accredited bachelors degree in travel and tourism is available through a number of accredited vocational training schools. Students can prepare for the career they desire in this industry by studying courses like destinations and cultures, travel and tourism systems, tour production, and many other related studies. By gaining knowledge in these areas and more students will be prepared for careers as travel agents, meeting planners, travel guides, convention planners, and much more. With an accredited bachelors degree students can start their career or pursue a master’s degree in this field.

*Masters Degree

Accredited technical schools allow students to earn a masters degree in travel and tourism if desired. Students can study subjects that will help them obtain the skills and knowledge needed to work in and manage this field. Coursework will vary by program but may include training in management, tour arranging, travel industry law, reservation systems, travel destinations, and many other subjects. By gaining an education in these areas students can seek out the career of their dreams. Career training possibilities can include employment as travel agents, corporate travel counselors, cruise sales managers, and more. With an accredited masters degree in the field students will be prepared for an exciting new career.

Accredited vocational programs allow students to train for careers in travel and tourism. Accreditation is a schools proof that students will receive the best quality education possible. Agencies like the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET) can provide programs with full accreditation. Students should request more information to learn more about the travel and tourism training program of their choice.

Posted in Travel And Tourism

How to get Travel Codes and Save Money on Your Travel

Travel codes are a great way to get discount travel no matter which way you decide to move from state to state, or country to country. Travel codes are specialized codes that are set aside for specific groups of people so that they can get discount travel tickets for trains, planes, car rentals, and even ferries.

Travel codes are usually available through websites to help students, for instance, receive any additional money saving vouchers that will help them get home. In most cases, these travel codes are located on the school’s website. If you are in college, the travel codes for your school are located on the school’s web pages listed under travel code application, travel discount application, or something that depicts an application for discount travel. People in the military are often able to find these travel codes on their government website pages.

All you have to do is fill out the application, which takes only a few moments, and your discount travel code is then emailed directly to you. When you go online to book your mode of travel, you enter the travel code for your school or military until that was emailed to you and you will receive an instant discount.

Almost every organization offers travel codes. Churches, high schools, and even some animal rescue groups offer these handy little codes to help you get discount travel. There are some websites that offer these codes to the public so that anyone can save some money. Hotel website, train websites, and even some airline booking sites will offer a travel code voucher application right on their website so that you can receive the offers without being in school or the military.

These codes are particularly useful when gas prices are on the rise. Some gas companies even offer discount travel codes right on their site to help you spend less on the petrol you need to get back and forth. It is within everyone’s power to reduce their travel costs for one or all family members by looking for these travel codes.

If you make it a habit to find the discount travel codes on the appropriate website, you can save hundreds or even thousands on travel expenses, which can ultimately save a vacation or make it possible to take the much needed business trip. The more ways that we all can find ways to save money on travel, the better, as the decline of summertime travel is part of the decline of our economic state. Being able to afford more travel is simply beneficial for everyone.

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Posted in Travelling

How do Travel Agents Get Free Trips?

There are perks travel agents can take advantage of that would cause their travel to be reduced.  However, there are also instances where they can experience tremendous savings and even not pay in the long run.  This article will show just how agents can go for free!

There are several scenarios that could allow travel agents to travel for free.  In this article, I will explain four ways that how agents can save and even travel for free when they travel

There are incentives for booking groups (the fact that group travel is the most lucrative bookings in the travel industry should be incentive enough).  If an agent books so many rooms (hotel) or cabins (on a cruise); they could get a free room or cabin credit (not counting the commission) that they could be used toward their room or cabin.  Of course this all depends on the vendor’s group policy, quantity needed and who is assigned as group leader.

Actually you do not have to be a travel agent to get this benefit I am described above.  If you are not a travel agent and you decide to book a group, if you are the group leader, you could very well get these benefits (ask your travel agent they should inform you of any perks available).  This is the only way (outside of a frequent guest program) that a non-travel agent could get perks extended to them… so if you want to get some perks out of your trip…think in groups!

Another way an agent could go free could be based on sales volume for a specific property or destination in a particular niche.  Some travel vendors and agencies may offer free trips to top agents as incentive or awards for sales performance.  These kinds of awards are offered as contents too!  I’ve seen some really exotic destinations offered to contest winners in my agency, which makes it really worth trying to get your sales

Travel agents can sometimes take advantage of extended ‘courtesies’ or perks, which is an added benefit of being in the travel industry.  We call them courtesies because no vender is obligated to extend perks just because a travel professional identifies themselves as such.  If an option for a room upgrade or car rental upgrade is available, agents will ask first if of course, and it’s up to the vendor to extend free services, amenities or perks to agents up presentation of valid credentials.  These perks may also include shows, attraction tickets, tours and much more.

This is the part I love about being a home-based travel agent!  It really is all free in the long run! How is that?  Travel professionals are allowed to legitimately write off their travel 100%.  Yes, they can, so regardless if you are a travel agent paid for their trip, they are in the business of travel, which makes all your travel .  So if you are a travel agent, the key is to your trip and save your receipts so you can legally write off your trips at the end of the tax year!

Just to recap, there are 4 main ways travel agents can travel for free:

Booking groups and getting room, cabin, or monetary credit
Agency and Vendor Contests
Perks & upgrades
Write-off your travel 100%

Travel Agents… save those receipts and document, document, document!  If you are not a travel agent and you are an avid traveler, you are throwing money away.  Learn how to become a part time travel agent and get the benefits of owning a home-based online travel business.

Posted in Travel Agents