This page will provide you with information on how to become a travel agent in Oregon. If you are looking for a job that requires you to travel to various destinations and to experience them as normal tourists would, the profession of travel agent might be for you.

Besides traveling, there is much more to being a travel agent. You have to be able to assist, inform and advise your customers about their travel. Good communication skills are a must. Your customers expect information that they cannot find anywhere else. They come to you because you provide a service that they cannot find elsewhere. Sure they can use travel web sites like Expedia.com, Kayak.com and Priceline.com, but these are quite limited. A travel agent assists the customer before and during their trip. If something goes wrong during the trip and you need rescheduling, they can do it for you.

As a travel agent you have to be able to provide your customers with information about the tourist attractions in their travel destination of choice. For instance, if someone was visiting Oregon, you should be able to tell them to visit the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden, Cannon Beach, Crater Lake National Park, and Astoria. http://www.planetware.com/top-tourist-attractions/oregon-usor.htm

Often travel agents specialize in various areas such as cruises, honeymoons and business trips. They are often also well traveled and are able to give you information based on their own person experience. Nowadays travel agents are required to become travel experts. They should be able to answer any questions and concerns that might arise. http://careerplanning.about.com/od/occupations/p/travel_agent.htm

EDUCATION: To become a travel agent in Oregon, you will need a minimum of a high school diploma or the equivalent. Knowledge of computers and the internet is required because most of a travel agent's research is done here. Many employers hire people who have had some sort of additional travel agent training. Vocational training is an option. Some people choose to get a bachelors' or masters' college degree in travel and tourism. Some people take various courses like world history, geography, computer science, and foreign languages. Some schools in Oregon that teach classes geared towards becoming a travel agent include: Chemeketa Community College and Mt. Hood Community College. You can even take classes/courses online at Penn Foster Career School, Stratford Career Institute, and Central Pennsylvania College. http://www.citytowninfo.com/employment/travel-agents/oregon http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos124.htm

EMPLOYMENT: When you have completed your education and have taken various training courses, you can start looking for a job. A lot of aspiring travel agents start out as receptionists or reservation clerks at travel agencies. By taking entry positions, you can learn about the daily travel agent tasks and you also get a foot in the door. Over time more responsibilities might come your way and eventually you might end up as a travel agent. http://careerplanning.about.com/od/occupations/p/travel_agent.htm

SALARY: An important factor to becoming a travel agent is your salary. If you work from home as an independent travel agent, you will make commission and fees. If you work for a travel agency you will make a salary and commission. Most people that own their own home based travel business started out working for a travel agency. The 2010 base annual salary of an Oregon travel agent is estimated at $31,355.00. If you have your own business working from home, your income can be as much as 100K annually. http://swz.salary.com/salarywizard/layoutscripts/swzl_salaryresults.asp?op=salswz_psr&jobfamilycode=23&txtKeyword=travel+agent&hdOmniNarrowDesc=Materials+Management&hdZipCode=97204&hdOmniTotalJobsFound=20&pagefrom=selectjob&hdJobCategory=AR02&hdGeoLocation=Portland%2C+OR+97204&countertype=1&totaljoblistnum=2&joblevelcode=&hdCurrentPage=1&hdNarrowDesc=Hotel%2C+Gaming%2C+Leisure%2C+and+Travel&hdLocationOption=1&hdViewAllRecords=0&hdJobTitle=Travel+Clerk&hdSearchByOption=0&hdKeyword=travel+agent&rdbSearchByOption=0&hdStateMetro=137&jobcounter=8&hdSortBy=0&hdJobCode=OF13000058&hdJSBoolDisplayAdvertisement=&hdAjaxKeyword=travel+agent&hdAjaxKeywordWithOR=%23travel%23+OR+%23agent%23&hdAjaxDisplaySection1=0&hdAjaxDisplaySection2=1 http://www.homebasedtravelagent.com/FAQ.htm

LICENSING: To sell travel in the state of Oregon, you do not need a license. There is no special state administered test to pass like there is with real estate and insurance. If you are selling travel from home, independently, you might have to register with a travel seller's registration program. Check with the state Office of the Attorney General or Department of Commerce on this. If you are required to register, suppliers will recognize you as a legitimate entity. http://www.careeroverview.com/travel-agent-careers.html

SCAMS: When looking for a job as a travel agent, you might come across companies willing to serve as a host company. This means you are allowed to use their web portal and name to sell travel. They require that you pay them part of all commission you make. Some of these companies are scams and can often be found in online advertisements. They recruit affiliates giving them the idea that they will be able to travel at discounts and make lots of money. To join, they require an amount up front and after that there are monthly fees. They might ask you to recruit new affiliates for a commission. These companies are nothing more than multi level marketing businesses and have nothing to do with becoming a travel agency. Whichever company you decide to work for, make sure your do your research and confirm that they are reputable. http://www.homebasedtravelagent.com/scams.htm

DUTIES: When considering becoming an Oregon travel agent, you want to make sure you know what is expected of you. Following are some duties, so you can see if you need additional training in some areas.

• ■ As a travel agent you have to advise and inform your clients about their travel destinations. Tell customers about the climate/weather, attractions, currency, required travel documents, necessary vaccinations, customs and possible accommodations. Your clients depend on you to provide information they cannot get elsewhere.
• ■ Another task for travel agents is researching publications and online sources: You have to find information on flights, group discounts, fares, and quality of hotel accommodations.
• ■ Making calculations of air fares, rental car costs, and a hotel stays is another requirement. You have to be able to quote various package prices to your customers.
• ■ If you work for a tour operator you might have to promote, arrange, develop and sell their travel services and packages. You will have to do this using the Internet, direct mail and by doing presentations.
• ■ Travel agents print out the tickets and answer their clients questions.http://www.careerplanner.com/Job-Descriptions/Travel-Agents.cfm

BENEFITS: One of the benefits of being a travel agent is that you get to travel at discounts if not for free. Traveling is considered part of your job. Your employer might send you to visit several locations so you can experience them just how regular tourists would experience them. This will give you the benefit of being able to sell the location from a personal point of view. You will be more confident and convincing because you have actually experienced it. After a minimum of 6 months of selling travel your employer can add you to the list of employees authorized to travel at discounts. You will get a travel agent ID card issued by IATAN and will be able to enjoy discounts on hotel rates, air fare, cruises, rental cars and more. Upon termination of employment, you will have to turn in your ID card. http://www.travelagenttrainingcenter.com/Travel%20Industry%20Benefits.htm