Travel Services Specialist

    Travel Agent

    CIP Name: Travel Services Specialist|CIP Code: 52.1905
    SOC Codes: 41-3041, 13-1161

    Provide direct retail services to hotel and motel clients and customers in a variety of settings.

    $63K
    Median Salary
    +4.45%
    Job Growth
    6mo-1.5yr
    Training
    47.1K
    Jobs/Year

    What Travel Services Specialists Do

    Provide direct retail services to hotel and motel clients and customers in a variety of settings.

    Common Tasks

    Travel Agents

    • 1Collect payment for transportation and accommodations from customer.
    • 2Plan, describe, arrange, and sell itinerary tour packages and promotional travel incentives offered by various travel carriers.
    • 3Converse with customer to determine destination, mode of transportation, travel dates, financial considerations, and accommodations required.
    • 4Compute cost of travel and accommodations, using calculator, computer, carrier tariff books, and hotel rate books, or quote package tour's costs.
    • 5Record and maintain information on clients, vendors, and travel packages.

    What You'll Learn

    the principles of hotel/motel operationscustomer sales and assistance operations and techniquestelephone operationsbasic office management

    Types of Travel Services Specialists

    Auto Travel CounselorBeach ExpertCorporate Travel ConsultantDestination SpecialistInternational Travel ConsultantTour CoordinatorTour CounselorTravel AgentTravel ConsultantTravel CounselorBusiness Development SpecialistCommunications SpecialistDemographic AnalystMarket AnalystMarket Research AnalystMarket Research ConsultantMarket Research SpecialistMarket Researcher

    Work Environment

    Locations

    • • Travel agencies
    • • Hotel and resort front offices
    • • Corporate travel departments
    • • Call centers and remote/home offices
    • • Tour operators and cruise lines

    Schedule

    Most roles follow a set weekday schedule, though some positions require evenings or weekends to support clients and handle urgent changes.

    Physical Demands

    Work is primarily desk-based with long periods of sitting and frequent computer and phone use. Physical exertion is low, but repetitive motions and handling documents or small items can be moderate.

    Salary & Job Outlook

    Median $62,700
    $37,679$109,377+
    Entry Level
    10th percentile
    $37,679
    Early Career
    25th percentile
    $47,497
    Median
    50th percentile
    $62,700
    Experienced
    75th percentile
    $82,877
    Top Earners
    90th percentile
    $109,377+

    National Employment: 1,007,400 jobs

    Top Paying States

    Why Demand May Grow

    Demand may rise as leisure and business travel increase and customers seek help comparing options, building itineraries, and resolving disruptions. Hotels and travel brands also rely on customer and market insights to target promotions and improve guest experience.

    Skills You'll Need

    Customer service and conflict resolutionSales and upselling techniquesPhone and email communicationAttention to detail for itineraries and bookingsBasic office software and data entryOrganization and time managementProblem-solving under time pressureComfort with research and comparing options/pricing

    Pros & Cons

    Pros

    • People-focused work with daily customer interaction
    • Transferable skills across hospitality, travel, and sales
    • Opportunities to specialize (corporate travel, destinations, groups)
    • Mostly indoor, low-physical-demand work
    • Clear performance metrics and advancement paths in sales/marketing

    Cons

    • Time pressure during peak seasons and travel disruptions
    • Customer service can involve difficult or stressed clients
    • Earnings may depend on commissions or sales goals in some roles
    • High screen time and repetitive computer/phone work
    • Industry sensitive to economic swings and global events
    FAQ

    Common Questions About the Travel Services Specialist Trade

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