Travel Counsellors (NOC 6431)

Description

Travel counsellors advise clients on travel options and tour packages, make bookings and reservations, prepare tickets and receive payment. They are employed in travel agencies, transportation and tourism firms and hotel chains.

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Example Titles

travel agent
travel consultant
travel counsellor

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Classified Elsewhere

Airline ticket agents (in 6433 Airline Sales and Service Agents)
Convention co-ordinators (in 1226 Conference and Event Planners)
Travel agency managers (in 0621 Retail Trade Managers)

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Duties

Travel counsellors perform some or all of the following duties:

Provide travel information to clients regarding destinations, transportation and accommodation options and travel costs, and recommend suitable products
Plan and organize vacation travel for individuals or groups
Make transportation and accommodation reservations using computerized reservation and ticketing system
Sell single fare tickets and package tours to clients
Promote particular destinations, tour packages and other travel services
Investigate new travel destinations, hotels and other facilities and attractions
Provide travel tips regarding tourist attractions, foreign currency, customs, languages and travel safety.

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Skills

Travel counsellors should have an interest in travel and a knowledge of geography, and the following characteristics:

ability to deal with people of varying backgrounds
good verbal communication skills
selling abilities
ability to handle stressful situations calmly and effectively
ability to work well with other staff
a methodical approach in compiling information
ability to operate computerized systems
basic computational skills
organizational and problem-solving skills
a foreign language may be useful.

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Employment Requirements

Completion of college training in travel or tourism is usually required. Certification with the Alliance of Canadian Travel Associations (ACTA) or Canadian Institute of Travel Counsellors (CITC) may be required. This certification is granted after three years of work experience in the industry and the completion of mandatory courses and examinations.

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Terms & Conditions

Travel counsellors spend most of their time in the office. Almost all of them work full time (84%), Monday to Friday and sometimes Saturday and Sunday. They often work longer hours and are under more pressure to serve the increased demands at holiday and vacation time. A small percentage are self-employed (9%) usually operating their own agencies. Women make up 80% of this occupational group.

Their salaries may be supplemented by commissions from sales. On occasion, they may travel to tourist locations to check out the amenities.

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Earnings

$21,000 per annum - starting

$31,200 per annum - average

$49,700 per annum - high

Earnings are reviewed annually or more frequently if new information becomes available.

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Education / Training

Red River College offers a two-year Hospitality and Tourism Management diploma program. Students register into a common first year and, prior to entering second year, may select the Tourism Management major.
CDI College of Business, Technology and Health Care, and Robertson College, both private vocational institutions, offer Travel Counsellor certificate programs.

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Career Paths

Inexperienced workers may start in clerical positions, and take night courses or in-service training while they are gaining experience.

Advancement depends on the travel consultant's sales ability and initiative, and the size of the company. Travel counsellors may move into other jobs requiring their sales abilities, or become tour guides or developers of tourist programs.

Some experienced travel consultants open their own travel agencies.

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Outlook

Employment prospects for travel counsellors are expected to be limited in the period 2010 to 2014. The number of travel counsellors employed in Manitoba in 2010 is estimated at 790.

Rising incomes and an ageing population are likely to increase demand for vacation travel services over the forecast period. At the same time, the number of travel counsellors is expected to continue to decline, albeit modestly. The Internet provides a wealth of travel related information and automated booking services, bypassing the need for personal service. Corporate or business travel will increasingly be booked "on line" due to lower fees, and the personal traveller may find this more convenient. However, for complex itineraries, or "niche market" tourism (eco tourism, art tours, etc.), the services of an experienced travel counsellor will continue to be in demand. Employment is sensitive to cyclical swings in the economy.

Travel counsellors are found throughout the province, although the greatest concentration is in Winnipeg (74%). Across industries, the majority (87%) are employed in Administrative and Support Services.

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