define retail travel agency

What is a retail travel agency? This is how they operate

What is a retail travel agency for?

What types of retail travel agencies are there, what differentiates a retailer from a wholesaler, what a retail travel agency needs to do to keep customers happy.

If you are reading this article, the chances are you have an interest in the wonderful world of tourism. You will see in the following sections that there are ample opportunities to create or grow a travel agency. First of all, you need prior knowledge of the market, to conduct an analysis of the right tools to offer the services demanded by travelers, but especially you should be aware of the Special Regime for Travel Agencies that will define the operations performed and how they are invoiced depending on the nature of the service offered to customers.

Retail travel agencies are companies that provide their customers, people who want to travel, with services (such as these examples of tourism products) at their destination. These companies act as intermediaries between the tourist and the tourist packages organized by wholesale agencies. A retail agency does not offer its services to other agencies.

These companies are responsible for providing their clients with the trip of their dreams within their budget. They can offer tour packages created by a wholesale company or they can create their own by combining various services in the sector.

When we talk about retailers, we are referring to those travel agencies that offer services directly to the end user, the tourist. Therefore, they provide an intermediary service between a wholesaler and the customer . They have the task of preparing, organizing and selling the services to the tourist so that the trip they are going on is tailored to their liking.

There are different forms that a retail business can take in this area of the tourism industry. For example, a retail travel agency can have the following characteristics that differentiate it from other companies.

In other words, they offer trips previously created by wholesalers, to send people to places different from their hometowns and tailored to their needs.

Their role is to welcome visitors to the area where they are located.

Online Travel Agencies

Also known as OTAs. The European Graduate Center (CEUPE) explains that many retail companies do not have a physical presence and, as a result, offer services but do not usually act as advisors to their customers.

Brick-and-mortar agencies

This is the traditional form that is still in use. It allows for more direct service and for tourism professionals to get to know what the client is looking for and to advise according to their preferences.

Specialized

They offer travel services in a specific niche. These could be for learning languages abroad, adventure and extreme sports, honeymoons, business travel, senior travel, luxury travel, etc.

Basically, retailers choose travel packages that can be adapted to their target market and then recommend and sell these services and package tours to travelers. They are the intermediate company that has to respond to the needs and preferences of the end customer.

Wholesalers, on the other hand, are the ones responsible for creating these vacation packages . They are in contact with hotels, airlines and guides for various excursions. They are also in contact with retail companies that will offer these services to the end user.

Sometimes, retail travel agencies can partner with other agencies to form what are known as travel agency management groups. These groups are “entities” with greater competitive strength in terms of coordination and bargaining power with suppliers. 

The role that these companies play, in itself, can bring a great deal of happiness to people: never forget that a good vacation or a trip to a dream destination can be a great source of joy!

But the service has to be right to fulfill this purpose. However, at the same time, if a company in this sector does not manage to get everything just right, it can ruin one of the highlights of the year for their customers. Here are some tips to ensure that the business runs smoothly and builds customer loyalty:

• Assess customers carefully . Who doesn’t spend months eagerly awaiting their trip of the year? For this reason, companies in this sector need to listen to their customers, find out their preferences and passions and, with this information in hand, advise them on the trip they are going to like the most, in line with their budget.
• Offer advice . A change of scenery is always a new cultural experience. A retail travel agency should also give guidelines to travelers so that they know what they can expect to find in the destination and also what practices will make their experience much more beautiful and enriching.
• Use technology to improve efficiency . Technology helps any experience to be faster and deliver better results. To stay in touch with wholesalers, there are services such as those offered by Hotelmize , which allow the use of big data applied to booking management that helps to find better services and save on costs.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Yay you are now subscribed to our newsletter.

Marc Truyols has a degree in Tourism from the University of the Balearic Islands. Marc has extensive experience in the leisure, travel and tourism industry. His skills in negotiation, hotel management, customer service, sales and hotel management make him a strong business development professional in the travel industry.

Mize is the leading hotel booking optimization solution in the world. With over 170 partners using our fintech products, Mize creates new extra profit for the hotel booking industry using its fully automated proprietary technology and has generated hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue across its suite of products for its partners. Mize was founded in 2016 with its headquarters in Tel Aviv and offices worldwide.

Related Posts

List of 32 travel agency management groups

6 min. Whether you are thinking of moving into the travel industry or you already own a business in this sector, the concept of travel agency management groups is a task worthy of analysis and study. Defining an effective business model for your retail travel agency is one of the key factors in optimizing sales […]

Ultimate Guide to Understanding the Benefits of a Travel Management Company

12 min. Managing and operating modern businesses often encompasses corporate travel. However, managing business travel is complex, especially with limited experience and resources. You must ensure that everything goes smoothly for the travelers while staying on top of the logistics and expenses. That’s why many organizations decide to outsource their travel management to a dependable […]

The Essentials About the Inventory System Used by Travel Agencies

11 min. While travel agencies have to overcome many challenges to remain competitive, there is one challenge in particular that all agencies need to overcome despite their size or target market. They need to excel as intermediaries between tour operators or travel product suppliers and consumers or travelers. The real question is, how do they […]

Travel Agency

A travel agent is a person who has full knowledge of tourist product – destinations, modes of travel, climate, accommodation, and other areas of the service sector. He acts on the behalf of product providers/principles and in return gets a commission. Technically, a travel agent is an owner or manage r of an agency, but other employees are responsible for advising tourists and selling packages tours/individual components of travel products.

A travel agent may be an individual /firm or corporation which is commonly known as a travel agency . An agency means the office of travel agent or organization where all travel goods and services are assembled and coordinated for the smooth conduct of travel agency business.

Travel agency is one of the most important organizations in the tourism private sector which plays a significant and crucial role in the entire process of developing and promoting tourism in the country or at a destination. It is a travel agency which packages and processes all the attractions, accesses, amenities and ancillary services of a country and present them to tourists. That’s why travel agency is known as ‘ image builder ‘ of a country.

A prospective travel agency is one which makes arrangements of travel tickets (air, rail, road, and sea); travel documents (passports, visa and other documents required to travel); accommodation, entertainment, and other travel-related services from principle suppliers. It may also secure travel insurance, foreign currency for traveling people.

History of Travel Agency

The first Travel Agency of the world was established by Thomas Cook in 1845 in England. The use of the term travel trade dates back from the early years of the 19th century, but this should not obscure the fact that what we today describe as travel trade (travel agency and tour operation business) was taking place much earlier in history.

Throughout history, there was travel middleman who helped the merchants traveling for trade and others who traveled for religious purposes.

In 1841 a fortunate day comes in the history of travel trade when Thomas Cook , as secretary of South Midland Temperance Association, organized a trip by a train for 570 members for his association to the distance of 22 miles. He bought railway tickets in bulk to sell them to people.

The experiment was successful and everybody was exultant. Mr. Cook had done his job on a no-profit basis. But, incidentally, It gave him a new idea and turned it into a tour business.

Four years later in 1845 , he set up a ‘ World’s First Travel Agency ‘ to organize excursions.  Due to this innovative approach, Mr. Thomas Cook is known as the Father of Travel Agency Business . He co-ordinated railway and steamship excursions throughout England, Scotland and Europe.

However, the railways only gave him a 5% commission which was not enough to meet his overheads, so he decided to diversify this business into tour operation .

In 1855 Mr. Cook started operating package tours . He conducted the world’s first international tour from England to Paris.

Types of Travel Agency

Travel agencies are basically categorized into two types-: Retail Travel Agenc y and Wholesale Travel Agency .

Retail Travel Agency

A retail travel agency sells tourists products directly to the public on the behalf of the products suppliers and in return get commissions. Some package tour is sold in two ways i.e., on a commission basis and mark up the price.

When a travel agency sells a tour on the marked-up price it means that first, it markup the cost of the tour and then sell it at a higher rate. The markup price is the difference between retail price and wholesale cost.

Definitions of Retail Travel Agency

According to Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) a retail travel agency is defined as ” a business that performs the following functions: quotes fares, rates, make reservations, arrange travel tickets and accommodation, arrange travel insurance, foreign currency, documents and accepts payments.”

According to SARC (1967), ” retail travel agency business consists of the activities involved in selling tourism products/services directly to the tourists and performs normal functions such as issuing air tickets, making accommodation and transportation reservation, providing specialized services, and accepting and making payments.”

The main source of the revenue for the travel agency is the commission received from the vendors. However, the rate of the commission differs from organization to organization an travel component to the travel component.

A travel agency receives appx. 95% of their revenue from the commission, and the remaining 5% from consultancy services and others.

Wholesale Travel Agency

These agencies are specialized in organizing package tours, which are marketed to the customers/tourists through the network of a retail travel agency or directly to the prospective clients ( if wholesale travel agency has a retail division). A wholesale travel agency purchases tourists’ product components in the bulk and designs tour packages.

Sometimes, a wholesale travel agency buys travel components from the vendor in bulk and resell them to other travel business originations.

Wholesale travel agencies assemble package holidays and sell them to clients through retail travel agencies. A typical package tour includes – air tickets, accommodation, and something other services may also be included in it such as entertainment, sightseeing, and sports activities, etc.

These packages are referred to as ‘package tours’ most of these tours include the services of escorts but a few are sold to people who wish to travel independently.

Now a question arises – How a wholesale travel agency generates profits?

Generally, a wholesaler receives volume discounts from the principal suppliers because a wholesaler might agree to purchase a large number of seats from a particular airline or reserve a large number of rooms at a particular hotel or resort.

Practically, a wholesaler who sells package vacations/tours is called a Tour Operator .  However, technically there is a difference between a wholesaler and a tour operator. A wholesaler who sells tourists products individually without assembling them into a package tour is called a Consolidator .

Mostly, these are specialized in particular product components such as air tickets, accommodation, and conferences, and conventions, etc.

Difference between Wholesale Travel Agencies and Tour operators

The wholesale travel agencies may offer or operate the package tours or may specialize in developing tours for inbound as well as outbound travelers. They are often referred to as tour operators , but these two essentially different:

• Wholesale travel agency does not sell directly to the public, while tour operators do sell directly to clients.
• A wholesale travel agency usually combines, assembles and contacts for existing travel services to formulate a new travel product she has his own one or more components of travel product i.e. ‘ inclusive tours.’
• Wholesale travel agencies are less inclined than tour operators to perform ground services i.e. handling agency or ground operators.
• A wholesale travel agency may deal with one component of travel product while a tour operator offers a variety of tour programmes.
• The size of the business is large in the case of tour operators in comparison to a wholesale travel agency.

Features and Importance of the Travel Agency

Travel agency plays an important role in the travel sector business. Some most important features and importance of the travel agency business are following as:-

• An important link between the clients and principal suppliers.
• Image-Builder.
• Ensures rapid travel services.
• Provider of authentic and reliable travel information.
• A social a continuous process.
• Establishes a good relationship with clients and vendors.

These are the most important features of the Travel Agency Business.

Functions and Services of Travel Agency

Today, Travel Agencies have been recognized as a vital component of travel and tourism and have become an integral part of the travel and tourism industry at globally. They account for more than 90% of international and 70% of domestic tourist traffic

Further, more than 60%  of all travel agency revenues are derived from business travel. Most travel agencies sell both commercial and leisure travel but there are many travel agencies that only specialized in one sector or the other.

The operation of each travel agency is based on the scope of its activities and organizational size. Here we discuss the functions of a large scale travel agency that performs all types of activities such as Retail travel agency, wholesaling and tour operations, etc. The main function of a large-scale travel agency are:

Travel Information

Whatever the size of a travel agency, it has to provide necessary travel information to tourists. A travel agency must give up-to-date, accurate, and timely information regarding destinations mode of travel, accommodation, sight-seeing, shopping, immigration, passport, visa, customs clearance and procedure, health and security rules, and various permits required to travel in particular areas, etc.

Itinerary Preparation

The term tourists itinerary is used to identify the origin, destination and all the stopping points in a traveler’s tours. It is a composition of various elements and designed after a detailed study of the market. Travel agencies prepare an itinerary for tour packages.

Airline Ticketing and Reservation

A travel agency sells a variety of tourism products. Airline ticketing and reservation is still a major source of revenue. Travel agencies perform a function of airline ticketing and reservation on behalf of various airlines.

Tour Packaging and Costing

Travel agencies prepare a tour package and sell them to tourists. The coasting and pricing of tour packages depend to a large extent on the ability of travel agents as to how effectively he is able to negotiate with the principal suppliers.

Reservation

It is a very important function of all types of travel agencies. A travel agency consistently makes linkage with the accommodation sector, transport sector and other entertainment organizations to reserve rooms, and seats in the cultural programs and transportation.

Travel Insurance

Some large-scale travel agencies perform additional functions to serve their clients. Travel insurance protects travelers against the person as well as baggage losses resulting from a wide range of travel-related happenings and problems.

Currency Services

Approved travel agency authorized by Govt. body provides currency exchange services to tourists.

Organization of Conference/Conventions

Large-scale travel agencies offer a complete convention/conference package which includes registration of the participants at the venue to be picked up for dropped to the airport/hotel, overhead projectors, slide projectors, TV, VCR, information counter, sightseeing, etc.

Travel Agency Linkages and Integration

Basically, a travel agency serves two types of clients: business travelers and leisure travelers. Incidentally, the requirements of these tourists are different and an agency has to assemble or purchase-related components from the principal suppliers to cater to their needs.

Essentially, travel agencies maintain close ties with Airlines, hotels, car rentals, banks, insurance companies, railways, government, trade associations, foreign tour operators and travel agents, ground operators, cruise companies, and tourism educational institutes.

Please wait while your request is being verified...

• Travel, Tourism & Hospitality

Travel agency industry - statistics & facts

The biggest players of the ota market, the travel agency and tour operator retail market, key insights.

Detailed statistics

Online travel market size worldwide 2017-2028

U.S. travel agency industry market size 2012-2022

U.S. tour operator industry market size 2012-2022

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Current statistics on this topic.

Tour Operators & Travel Agencies

Market size of the travel agency services industry worldwide 2011-2024

Online Travel Market

Revenue of leading OTAs worldwide 2019-2022

Related topics

• Online travel market
• Mobile travel trends
• Impact of technology on travel and tourism
• Artificial intelligence (AI) use in travel and tourism

Online travel companies

• Booking Holdings Inc.
• Expedia Group, Inc.
• Tripadvisor

Travel agency and tour operator market

• Travel agencies in the United Kingdom (UK)
• Package travel in Japan

Recommended statistics

Industry overview.

• Premium Statistic Market size of the tourism sector worldwide 2011-2024
• Premium Statistic Online travel market size worldwide 2017-2028
• Premium Statistic Key information on the global travel agency industry January 2024
• Basic Statistic Market cap of leading online travel companies worldwide 2023
• Premium Statistic Leading travel companies worldwide 2022, by sales
• Premium Statistic Number of employees at leading travel companies worldwide 2022

Market size of the tourism sector worldwide 2011-2024

Market size of the tourism sector worldwide from 2011 to 2023, with a forecast for 2024 (in trillion U.S. dollars)

Online travel market size worldwide from 2017 to 2023, with a forecast until 2028 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Key information on the global travel agency industry January 2024

Key data on the travel agency industry worldwide as of January 2024

Market cap of leading online travel companies worldwide 2023

Market cap of leading online travel companies worldwide as of September 2023 (in million U.S. dollars)

Leading travel companies worldwide 2022, by sales

Leading travel companies worldwide in 2022, by gross sales (in billion U.S. dollars)

Number of employees at leading travel companies worldwide 2022

Number of employees at selected leading travel companies worldwide in 2022

Online travel agencies (OTAs)

• Premium Statistic Revenue of leading OTAs worldwide 2019-2022
• Premium Statistic Marketing expenses of leading OTAs worldwide 2019-2022
• Premium Statistic Marketing/revenue ratio of leading OTAs worldwide 2019-2022
• Basic Statistic Revenue of Booking Holdings worldwide 2007-2023
• Premium Statistic Revenue of Expedia Group, Inc. worldwide 2007-2023
• Premium Statistic Airbnb revenue worldwide 2017-2023
• Premium Statistic Total revenue of Trip.com Group 2012-2022
• Premium Statistic Revenue of Tripadvisor worldwide 2008-2023
• Premium Statistic Despegar: revenue 2015-2022

Leading online travel agencies (OTAs) worldwide from 2019 to 2022, by revenue (in million U.S. dollars)

Marketing expenses of leading OTAs worldwide 2019-2022

Marketing expenses of leading online travel agencies (OTAs) worldwide from 2019 to 2022 (in million U.S. dollars)

Marketing/revenue ratio of leading OTAs worldwide 2019-2022

Marketing to revenue ratio of leading online travel agencies (OTAs) worldwide from 2019 to 2022

Revenue of Booking Holdings worldwide 2007-2023

Revenue of Booking Holdings worldwide from 2007 to 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Revenue of Expedia Group, Inc. worldwide 2007-2023

Revenue of Expedia Group, Inc. worldwide from 2007 to 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Airbnb revenue worldwide 2017-2023

Revenue of Airbnb worldwide from 2017 to 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Total revenue of Trip.com Group 2012-2022

Total revenue of Trip.com Group Ltd. in China from 2012 to 2022 (in billion yuan)

Revenue of Tripadvisor worldwide 2008-2023

Revenue of Tripadvisor, Inc. worldwide from 2008 to 2023 (in million U.S. dollars)

Despegar: revenue 2015-2022

Revenue of Despegar.com, Corp. from 2015 to 2022 (in million U.S. dollars)

Travel websites and apps

• Premium Statistic Most popular travel and tourism websites worldwide 2024
• Premium Statistic Total visits to travel and tourism website booking.com worldwide 2021-2024
• Premium Statistic Total visits to travel and tourism website tripadvisor.com worldwide 2020-2024
• Premium Statistic ACSI - U.S. customer satisfaction with online travel websites as of 2023
• Premium Statistic Number of aggregated downloads of leading online travel agency apps worldwide 2023
• Premium Statistic Number of aggregated downloads of leading online travel agency apps in the U.S. 2023
• Premium Statistic Leading travel apps in the U.S. 2022, by market share
• Premium Statistic Leading travel apps in Europe 2022, by market share

Most popular travel and tourism websites worldwide 2024

Most visited travel and tourism websites worldwide as of April 2024 (in million visits)

Total visits to travel and tourism website booking.com worldwide 2021-2024

Estimated total number of visits to the travel and tourism website booking.com worldwide from December 2021 to March 2024 (in millions)

Total visits to travel and tourism website tripadvisor.com worldwide 2020-2024

Estimated total number of visits to the travel and tourism website tripadvisor.com worldwide from August 2020 to March 2024 (in millions)

ACSI - U.S. customer satisfaction with online travel websites as of 2023

U.S. customer satisfaction with online travel websites from 2000 to 2023 (index score)

Number of aggregated downloads of leading online travel agency apps worldwide 2023

Number of aggregated downloads of selected leading online travel agency apps worldwide in 2023 (in millions)

Number of aggregated downloads of leading online travel agency apps in the U.S. 2023

Number of aggregated downloads of selected leading online travel agency apps in the United States in 2023 (in millions)

Leading travel apps in the U.S. 2022, by market share

Market share of leading travel apps in the United States in 2022

Leading travel apps in Europe 2022, by market share

Market share of leading travel apps in Europe in 2022

Travel agencies and tour operators

• Premium Statistic U.S. travel agency industry market size 2012-2022
• Premium Statistic U.S. tour operator industry market size 2012-2022
• Premium Statistic Revenue of TUI AG worldwide 2004-2023
• Premium Statistic Leading travel agents ranked by number of outlets in the UK 2024
• Premium Statistic Leading ATOL-licensed tour operators in the UK 2024, by passengers licensed
• Premium Statistic Turnover of Hays Travel Limited in the UK 2008-2023

Market size of the travel agency sector in the United States from 2012 to 2022 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Market size of the tour operator sector in the United States from 2012 to 2022 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Revenue of TUI AG worldwide 2004-2023

Revenue of TUI AG worldwide from 2004 to 2023 (in billion euros)

Leading travel agents ranked by number of outlets in the UK 2024

Leading travel agencies in the United Kingdom (UK) as of February 2024, by number of travel shops

Leading ATOL-licensed tour operators in the UK 2024, by passengers licensed

Leading ATOL-licensed tour operators in the United Kingdom as of February 2024, ranked by number of passengers licensed

Turnover of Hays Travel Limited in the UK 2008-2023

Turnover of Hays Travel Limited in the United Kingdom from 2008 to 2023 (in million GBP)

Cruise companies

• Premium Statistic Worldwide cruise company market share 2022
• Premium Statistic Revenue of Carnival Corporation & plc worldwide 2008-2023
• Premium Statistic Revenue of Royal Caribbean Cruises worldwide 1988-2023
• Premium Statistic Revenue of Norwegian Cruise Line worldwide 2011-2023
• Premium Statistic TUI cruise brand revenue worldwide 2015-2023, by brand
• Premium Statistic Percentage change in revenue of leading cruise companies worldwide 2020-2023

Worldwide cruise company market share 2022

Worldwide market share of leading cruise companies in 2022

Revenue of Carnival Corporation & plc worldwide 2008-2023

Revenue of Carnival Corporation & plc worldwide from 2008 to 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Revenue of Royal Caribbean Cruises worldwide 1988-2023

Revenue of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. worldwide from 1988 to 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Revenue of Norwegian Cruise Line worldwide 2011-2023

Revenue of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. worldwide from 2011 to 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)

TUI cruise brand revenue worldwide 2015-2023, by brand

Revenue of TUI cruise brands worldwide from 2015 to 2023, by brand (in million euros)

Percentage change in revenue of leading cruise companies worldwide 2020-2023

Percentage change in revenue of leading cruise companies worldwide from 2020 to 2023 (compared to 2019)

Further reports Get the best reports to understand your industry

Get the best reports to understand your industry.

Mon - Fri, 9am - 6pm (EST)

Mon - Fri, 9am - 5pm (SGT)

Mon - Fri, 10:00am - 6:00pm (JST)

Mon - Fri, 9:30am - 5pm (GMT)

Modern Retailing

Modern retailing new.

Consumers expect great digital experiences that are intuitive, frictionless, and fast. And while many other industries are pushing the boundaries of digital innovation, travel retailing is lagging. But travel’s been an innovator in technology before and can lead again.

Are you ready to move forward and Get Modern?

People expect big things from digital retailers. And although there are pieces of modern retailing sprinkled throughout our industry, what’s missing is a truly modern end-to-end customer journey — which is vital for travel to keep up with the standards that customers know and love elsewhere.

Travel Retail Needs An Upgrade

At Travelport, we believe travel agencies are best placed to create that modern retailing experience across the entire customer journey. And in turn, suppliers will see higher profits and happier travelers who become repeat customers.

Travel retailing needs an upgrade. Here’s why.

Agencies, we've got your back

Other platforms

And it's good for suppliers

Modern retailing isn’t just good for travel agencies and consumers; it’s also good for suppliers.

Because when customers have the best choices across multiple suppliers, products, and ancillaries, they’re likely to find the perfect options — and therefore spend more.

Modern retailing also helps to set the right customer expectations, so they know what they’re buying no matter where they made the booking. That means happy customers boarding the plane, checking into the hotel, or picking up their car rental keys.

A MODERN RETAILING PLATFORM

It’s easier than you think to Get Modern when you have the right tools. Get modern at your own pace with Travelport+, the next-generation platform empowering agencies to deliver a modern retailing experience.

Latest Research

New Research

A new era of business travel

Research 2023

What consumers want

Research 2022

Differentiation in travel

Fixing Travel Retail

More on modern retailing

THE 7 WONDERS CHALLENGE

Travelport and AWS partner to transform travel retailing

7 ways we can modernize travel retailing

Rory Sutherland on how travel retailers can get creative

Travelport Accelerator: A path to moderniziation

7 types of travel agents around the world

Disclaimer: Some posts on Tourism Teacher may contain affiliate links. If you appreciate this content, you can show your support by making a purchase through these links or by buying me a coffee . Thank you for your support!

Travel agents are an important part of the tourism industry. There are several different types of travel agents. The different types of travel agents vary according to the service they provide and the products that they offer. In this article I will teach you about the different types of travel agents and provide some examples too.

What’s a travel agent?

High street travel agents, business travel agents, call centre travel agents, internet travel agents, independent travel agents, multiple travel agents, miniple travel agents, types of travel agents: to conclude, further reading .

A travel agency is a private retailer that sells travel-related products and services to consumers. This includes package holidays as well as individual holiday elements such as hotel rooms, flight tickets and travel insurance.

Travel agents typically use global distribution systems (GDS). These systems enable to travel agent staff to receive real-time updates on availability and prices and to make bookings.

Travel agencies typically take a percentage of the overall fee that a consumer pays, known as commission. Commission rates vary depending on the product and/or service that is sold. It is for this reason that consumers will sometimes pay more for a holiday booked through a travel agency than they would if they booked it directly with the suppliers.

Did you know that you can set up your own travel agency business and earn from your sofa? Find out how here!

The different types of travel agents

There are four main types of travel agents in the travel and tourism industry: high street, business, callcentre and Internet. I will explain how each of these types of travel agents work below. BUT before you read on, hit play on my new YouTube video below!

High street travel agents have been around for a long time. Up until only a few years ago, high street travel agents were the most popular and themes common types of travel agents.

High street travel agents are typically found in major shopping areas, such as local high streets or in shopping malls.

High street travel agents typically have an area where holiday brochures are displayed and desks for consumers to sit at and talk than travel agent. Travel agent staff are generally very knowledgeable about the products and services thatchy are selling and offer high standards of customer service.

Many people continue to prefer house high street travel agents because they enjoy the face-to-face interaction.However, fewer and fewer people have been using travel agents in recent years. This has led to the closure of many high street travel agents.

High street travel agent examples: TUI, Hays Travel, Cooperative Travel

Business travel agents specialise in planning and booking travel for business purposes. Business tourism is one of the largest types of tourism . As such, this is an important type of travel agent.

Business travel agents do not always have a visible high street presence. Instead, they may be tucked away in office blocks or in quiet locations.This is because they do not tend to have walk-in business.

Business travel agents typically work with companies to organise business travel. Stays tend to be shorter than ordinary holidays. Business travel agents are popular because they help to save organisations timed money, given that they are able to quickly plan itineraries and book travel the best prices.

Business travel agent examples: Crystal Corporate, Click Travel, Kanoo Corporate

A call centre travel agent is a travel agent which is based in a call centre.

Call centre travel agents provide advice and guidance on booking your holiday via the telephone. Many major travel agencies will have call centres as wells high street shops.

Call centres have lower overheads than high street retailers because they do not have to pay premium prices for their offices- they have the flexibility to be based anywhere.

Some companies even choose to base their callcentres in developing countries, where wages and overhead costs are lower. However, this has been known to have a detrimental impact on the service offered due to language barriers and cultural differences.

Call centre travel agent examples: Flight Centre, Virgin Holidays

Internet travel agents are travel agents theatre based the Internet. This includes major travel companies as wells independent travel agents who are working from home.

Internet travel agents are the most popular types of travel agents nowadays. Many people prefer to book online.

Just like high street travel agents, Internet travel agents take a commission from the money paid by the consumer.

The rise of the Internet travel agent has been so significant in recent years that there is now a lot of competition in the marketplace. This helps to drive down prices and to make holidays more affordable to customers.

Internet travel agent examples: Expedia, Booking.com, Agoda

Types of travel agent businesses

The types of travel agents can also be distinguished by their business model. There are three major business models that are used: independent, multiple, miniple. I will explain what each of these are below.

An independent travel agent is an agent is a unique company. There is only one branch and it is not associated with any other travel agency stores or companies.

Independent travel agents are commonly found in small towns and villages. They are usually locally-run businesses. Because of scales of economy, independent travel agents are often not able to compete with the lower prices offered by larger types of travel agents.

Independent travel agents do not necessarily need to have physical travel agency. There are many people who are running their own, successful travel agency businesses from home. These are Internet travel agents who are operating on an independent basis.

Since COVID-19, many organisations have reduced their business travel requirements, opting instead for Zoom calls and webinars facilitated by the shut-in economy . It is predicted that this change will be irreversible and therefore that the need for business travel agents will be permanently reduced.

A multiple travel agent is one which has a chain of branches. They are typically large organisations with a strong high street presence.

Multiple travel agents did have a monopoly of the market for many years. However, they have struggled to compete with the Internet travel agents, who have fewer overheads and are more conveniently located- on a consumer’s computer/smart device!

Miniple travel agents are travel agents that have several branches. These are usually mid-sized companies. They are often regional.

As you can see, the travel agency market has changed a lot in recent years. We have moved away from the traditional multiple on the high street towards an Internet-based approach when researching and booking our holidays. Nonetheless, there does continue to be a desire for travel agents, albeit largely online.

If you’re studying travel and tourism then I highly recommend the following texts to support your learning:

• The 10 Major Types of Events
• The 8 Major Types of Cruise
• 150 types of tourism! The ultimate tourism glossary
• 20 Popular Types of Hotels Around The World
• 21 Types of Tourists Around The World

Liked this article? Click to share!

Anolik Law Group

621 18th St Oakland, California 94612 (415) 729-3748 [email protected]  

Travel Agency and Its Functions

• Post author By varun
• Post date December 1, 2022

A little stigma exists, let’s face it, around guided travel. When you hear this, what pictures spring to mind? Do you see throngs of people being pushed from one tourist site to the next, hardly scratching the surface of their destination’s cultural offerings? Alternatively, tight schedules that don’t allow for independent exploration or getting lost? Let’s debunk some myths if that’s the case.

Making new acquaintances, bridging cultural divides, and experiencing new things are all made possible via guided travel. You might also be surprised to see the flexibility you’ll have to customize the journey according to your preferences, with plenty of time to accomplish the things that are essential to you and the ability to make decisions along the route.

Here comes the function of travel agency in the picture. The task of planning travel falls to a travel agency. An agency is a location where all travel-related goods and services are managed and coordinated for the efficient operation of the travel agency company. 

What is the Primary Function of a Travel Agency?

The principal function of travel agency is to gather, organize, and present to travelers all of a country’s tourist attractions, access points, facilities, and supplementary services. Another function of travel agency is to create a connection between tourists, travelers, and service providers. In fact, travel agencies are essential to fostering and advancing travel inside a nation or to a particular location. 

The travel agency arranges pick-up from the airport, lodging reservations, and plane travel, among other things. Though, the prime function of travel agency is to exclusively cater to or care for the visitor. However, by reserving the ticket or the room, a travel agent has also benefited the airline or the hotel. In all of these services, the travel agency has helped the visitor while also bringing in revenue for the service providers. 

This indicates the significance of the travel agency, whose function in the modern world is expanding. After all, not every traveler has the time or energy to plan every aspect of their trip.

What are the Types of Travel Agencies?

Travel agencies are mainly divided into two types: retail travel agencies and wholesale travel agencies.

Retail Travel Agency

A retail travel agency represents the product providers by selling travel-related goods to the general public directly in exchange for commissions. Some package tours are marketed using two different strategies: commission-based sales and price markups. 

The commissions that the travel agency gets from the suppliers are its major source of income. However, the commission rate varies from company to company and travel component to travel component. 

Wholesale Travel Agency

These businesses specialize in setting up package trips. They are offered to clients or tourists either directly or through the network of a retail travel agency (if a wholesale travel agency has a retail division). A wholesale travel agency creates trip packages by purchasing tourist product components in large quantities.

Package vacations are put together by wholesale travel companies and sold to customers by retail travel companies. Airline tickets, lodging, and sometimes other services like entertainment, sightseeing, sporting activities, etc. are all typically included in package tours.

A wholesaler may agree to book a big number of tickets with a specific airline or rooms at a specific hotel or resort, in which case they will earn volume discounts from the main suppliers.

11 Functions of a Travel Agency

Travel assistance.

The key function of travel agency is to arrange trips. Giving out information has become a crucial component of the travel agency industry. It distinguishes one travel agency from another one. 

Tourists are given the information in a comfortable setting where they may inquire about it and get clarification regarding their intended trip. Regardless of its size, a travel agency is required to give travelers essential travel information. 

A major function of travel agency is to provide current, accurate, and timely information on the mode of transportation, accommodations, sightseeing, shopping, customs clearance and process, health and security standards, and different permits necessary to travel in certain areas, among other things. 

To help sell goods, the presentation to a potential buyer must be persuasive, and exciting variants must constantly be developed. Another function of travel agency includes providing you with information about regional laws, customs, weather, travel papers, and travel warnings that apply to your location. 

Travel agents often expand and update their expertise by going to conferences and seminars, as well as going on vacations to get to know new places.

2. Determining the target client’s profile

The travel agency must decide which market group it wishes to target because it’s possible that one cannot efficiently service all types of customers. 

Another important function of travel agency is to keep records of the travel preferences of its clients: It’s useful to keep note of client preferences in a database, including transportation seats and hotel smoke vs. non-smoking choices, frequent flier numbers, hotel facilities requirements, and other things you can use as a guide so you can consistently deliver a tailored travel experience. 

The functions of a travel agency also involve thorough research on different locations. Whether or not you’ve been to a specific location, you should stay up with the innovations, attractions, and changes in the most well-known tourist destinations as well as any new ones that your clients mention.

3. Creating an itinerary

The word “tourism itinerary” refers to the starting point, final destination, and all rest stops in a traveler’s excursion. It was created after a thorough analysis of the market and is made up of a variety of components. An important function of travel agency is to create an itinerary, covering all the major stops of a destination. 

4.Service price negotiations with principals

After the schedule has been created, the next function of travel agency is to contact the principals (hoteliers, transportation providers, etc.) to see whether they can offer the services in quantity at potential dates and under what conditions. 

This is a crucial stage since it has a significant impact on the tour operator’s capacity to remain profitable. He will be able to obtain high-quality services at steep discounts and increase his income if he can successfully negotiate.

5. Booking and ticketing for airlines

Another crucial function of travel agency is that it offers a range of travel-related goods for sale. Booking and selling airline tickets continue to be a significant source of income. 

On behalf of numerous airlines, travel firms handle reservations and tickets for flights, and it is also counted as the prime function of travel agency . Selling airplane tickets is a common source of satisfaction for small travel firms. The job of the travel agent got more difficult in the current environment of the abrupt changes in domestic and international airlines’ schedules as well as the sporadic addition of new routes. 

The reservation process for both rail and air travel as well as hotel rooms has seen a significant transformation in recent years thanks to the computerized reservation system (CRS).

6. Tour pricing and packaging

Tourists can purchase prepared tour packages from travel agencies. The cost of trip packages heavily relies on the competence of the travel agent and how well he can bargain with the major suppliers.

7. Foreign exchange regulations and documentation

If the package includes crossing international borders, the tour operator, similar to a travel agency, expedites the documentation process—passport, visa, permits, etc.—as well as making arrangements for foreign exchange from relevant authorities. 

Some of the important documents required while traveling are mentioned below:

i) Passport – Valid for at least 6 months following your date of travel. ii) Visa – Valid visa for the nation you’re visiting. If you are traveling for some time longer than 12 hours, you will additionally need a transit visa. Please review the country’s transit visa requirements. iii) Air Tickets – Only those with a student or working visa, as well as their families, can purchase a one-way ticket.

8. Travel Insurance

Large-scale travel businesses occasionally carry out extra tasks for their customers. Travel insurance shields passengers from personal and luggage losses brought on by a variety of travel-related incidents and issues.

9. Currency exchange services

Bureau de change service is another unique function of travel agency . Tourists can exchange currencies through a functionally approved travel agency that has been approved by a government entity.

10. Package Deals for Travel

The market for tours and activities is getting more competitive, but businesses don’t have to spend a fortune on marketing and promotion. Utilizing several mediums creatively will help you engage your audience and increase the season’s reservations. 

11. Actual Tour Package Activity

Executing the tour that has been sold is the final and, perhaps, the most significant function of travel agency . He must make sure that the visitors receive all the amenities that were promised to them by the principals and, in turn, by him to them. When required, tour groups are also deployed with guides and interpreters.

A travel agency is required by both business and leisure tourists. An agency must make sure that it is able to meet the unique requirements of its customers. Platforms such as  Pathfndr helps a travel agency in maintaining seamless operations and fulfilling each function of travel agency by offering travel booking management tools. In fact, Pathfndr allows you to launch an AI-powered website through which you can keep a track of all the booking made by your customers when it comes to flights, accommodation options, airport transfers and more.

Small Business Trends

How to start a travel agency.

If you buy something through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. Learn more .

If you love to travel, are highly organized and enjoy working directly with people, becoming a travel agent is an awesome career choice.

You’d think with the ease of using search engines on the internet; the travel business wouldn’t be thriving. But it is.

According to statistics, a person may spend (waste) 20 hours on internet research before booking a flight. The internet is clogged with info, which is why the benefits of using a travel agent will always be valuable to most travelers.

What is a Travel Agency Business?

A travel agency is a company that provides travel and tourism booking services and planning for people. This can include making arrangements for things such as air travel, vehicle rental, hotels/lodging and travel insurance. Before you get started, find out how do travel agents make money and see if you can find out new ways to generate income.

Travel agencies can offer a wide range of services, including:

• Booking flights and hotels: Travel agencies can help you find the best deals on flights and hotels. They can also book your transportation and accommodation and even help you with things like visa applications and currency exchange.
• Planning itineraries:  Travel agencies can help you plan your itinerary, taking into account your interests and budget. They can also recommend popular tourist destinations and activities.
• Offering travel insurance:  Travel agencies can help you purchase travel insurance, which can protect you in case of flight cancellations, lost luggage, or medical emergencies.
• Providing customer service:  Travel agencies provide customer service to help you with any problems that may arise during your trip.

There are two main types of travel agencies:

• Retail travel agencies:  These agencies sell travel packages to the general public. They typically have a physical location, such as a storefront or a call center.
• Wholesale travel agencies: These agencies sell travel packages to other businesses, such as airlines, hotels, and tour operators. They typically do not have a physical location and operate online or through a call center.

Starting a travel agency business can be a great way to turn your passion for travel into a successful business.

How Much Does It Cost to Start a Travel Agency?

The cost of starting a travel agency can vary depending on a number of factors, including the size of the agency, the location, and the type of services offered. However, in general, you can expect to spend anywhere from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars to get started.

Here are some of the expenses you’ll need to consider when starting a travel agency:

• Business license and permits:  You’ll need to obtain a business license and any necessary permits from your local government. The cost of these fees will vary depending on your location.
• Travel agency software:  You’ll need to purchase or lease travel agency software to manage your bookings and reservations. The cost of this software will vary depending on the features and functionality you need.
• Marketing and advertising:  You’ll need to invest in marketing and advertising to reach potential customers. The cost of this will vary depending on the channels you use and the reach you want to achieve.
• Office space:  If you plan to have a physical office, you’ll need to rent or lease space. The cost of office space will vary depending on the location and the size of the space you need.
• Staffing:  If you plan to hire employees, you’ll need to factor in the cost of salaries, benefits, and training.

In addition to these expenses, you’ll also need to factor in the cost of travel, meals, and other expenses associated with booking travel for your clients.

The good news is that there are a number of ways to reduce the cost of starting a travel agency. For example, you can use free or low-cost marketing channels like social media and email marketing. You can also start your agency as a home-based business, which can save you on the cost of office space.

How Much Can You Make Owning a Travel Agency?

The average salary for someone working for an established agency is $19 per hour. The average annual earnings for independent travel agents is $36,000. That varies depending on your geographical location and the type of travel business you’ve chosen as a specialty.

18 Important Steps to Start Your Own Travel Business

Here are key steps to take to get your start in the travel industry. You should decide early whether you want to work for a travel company or work on starting a travel agency.

1. Complete Relevant Training

Colleges and business schools offer associate and four-year degrees in tourism. There are some independent educators, such as The Travel Institute , which offer certifications.

All these studies will include courses in business management, marketing, accounting and customer service. As part of ongoing education, you should also keep tabs on international affairs and weather events.

2. Look at the Competition

Agencies in the travel industry typically offer all types of services but specialize in a certain niche. For example, some travel agencies focus on luxury travel, and some focus on the adventure travel industry.

Savvy travel agents know their competition well, especially before starting their own business.

3. Choose Between Host Agency, Independent Travel Agent, and Franchise

Under the umbrella of a host agency, you can work as an hourly or salaried employee. In addition to your regular pay, you may be eligible to earn commissions.

If you’re starting a travel agency, you’ll be working independently. Your source of pay will be the fees you charge clients plus commissions you earn from travel suppliers – such as airlines, hotels and rental vehicle companies. Some businesses function solely as online travel agencies, often focusing on arranging corporate travel.

You can also opt to purchase a franchise, such as Dream Vacations . A franchise will provide training programs. Both a host agency and a franchise have the advantage of existing vendor partnerships.

4. Find a Specific Niche and Target Market

Maybe your idea of a dream vacation is renting bicycles and traveling to an Inn in New England. Or you might prefer canoeing wilderness rivers, and staying in tents. Maybe you’d like to book an all-inclusive trip, where the price includes airfare, lodging, food and beverages.

Your preferences aren’t what’s most important. You need to think about your potential clients and customers. Learn the demographics of your local community area and the average income of potential customers.

5. Choose a Business Name and Register Your Travel Agency

Before you lock in on the name, go to the website for your secretary of state. That’s where businesses are registered. You can check to make sure the name you’d like to use isn’t similar or the same as a travel agency already in existence before you spend money on business cards or a website.

6. Write a Travel Agency Business Plan

Here are some helpful tips for making your business plan. A business plan should include key elements of a business plan for travel companies:

• New business name and website
• Business physical location
• Business Structure
• Niche in the industry
• Forming partnerships (cruise lines, hotels, rental companies, etc.), especially once you’ve been a travel professional for over a year
• Plans for marketing/expansion in the industry

7. Open a Business Bank Account

Opening a business bank account is a fundamental step for any budding travel business. It not only separates your personal finances from your business transactions but also enhances your professionalism.

When selecting a bank, consider factors like fees, transaction limits, online banking features, and customer service quality. Additionally, look for banks offering perks for small businesses, such as waived fees for the first year or low minimum balance requirements.

A dedicated business credit card is also advisable for handling business expenses and potentially earning rewards.

8. Make Sure You Have the Licenses and Permits Required in Your State

General Business License as required by your business location.

Travel Agents License – If required by your state.

Federal employer identification number (EIN) is needed for paying business and payroll taxes, if you have employees. You’ll need the EIN when you file taxes.

Zoning – If you’re working from a home office, you must make sure your residence meets the zoning requirements for home-based travel agents.

9. Create a Travel Agency Website and Choose a Location

You may start your own travel agency with the glitziest, most informative and most gorgeous website imaginable.

But its use will fail if it hasn’t been correctly linked – called search engine optimization. Unless you’re very savvy about this, it will pay you to hire a professional to make sure clients find your new company and social media accounts. That’s a key part of your marketing strategy.

10. Sort Out Your Accounting Software

You’ll need to manage travel contracts, travel bookings, invoices and receipts, vendors and more on the financial end. Here are some of our recommendations:

• Fresh Books
• itouroperator

11. Choose a Business Structure

You’ll need to choose a structure for starting your travel agency. Many travel agencies choose the Limited Liability Company or LLC. The LLC allows you to protect your personal assets, especially if you’re operating in your own home.

Other common structures chosen by many businesses in most states include partnerships and corporations.

12. Get Your Taxes in Order

Understanding and managing your tax obligations is crucial for a travel business. Firstly, obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) for tax purposes, especially if you plan to hire employees.

Familiarize yourself with the various taxes you’ll be liable for, including sales tax, payroll tax, and income tax. Use reliable accounting software to keep meticulous records of all financial transactions.

Consider consulting a tax professional or accountant to navigate complex tax regulations, ensure compliance, and identify possible tax deductions specific to travel agencies.

13. Purchase Business Insurance

There are common insurances needed, such as BOP (business operators), professional liability, commercial liability, errors and omissions, and general liability insurance.

If you’re going to sell travel, you need to offer travel insurance. What if travel restrictions suddenly impact a location? What if a natural disaster destroys the plans for a beach wedding destination?

14. Join Travel Associations

Here are a few which will serve as additional resources for you (help you with finding customers):

• American Society of Travel Advisors
• Association of Independent Tour Operators

15. Set Up Your Office and Invest in Equipment

You’ll need typical office equipment such as computers, software, internet, phone system and fax. If you’re offering travel services face-to-face, you’ll need comfortable furniture, a conference room, and ample parking.

16. Marketing

Effective marketing is key to the success of a travel business. Begin by identifying your unique selling proposition and target audience. Develop a marketing strategy that includes a mix of online and offline tactics.

Utilize social media platforms to engage with potential clients and showcase your offerings. Create informative and appealing content, such as travel guides, tips, and destination highlights.

Consider email marketing to keep your audience updated with the latest deals and offers. Attend travel expos and network events to build relationships and partnerships. Always track the effectiveness of your marketing efforts to refine your strategy.

17. Find Partners

Partners can include elements of a destination – a motel, B&B, restaurants, or spas, for example.

A partner can also be a media company, such as a newspaper, radio, or television station. You buy advertising with them and negotiate a reduced-price trip for an owner or manager.

18. Build Trust with Your Customers

Building trust with your customers is essential for the longevity and reputation of your travel business. Maintain transparency in your dealings, clearly communicate travel plans, and be upfront about costs and potential issues.

Provide exceptional customer service by being accessible, responsive, and empathetic to client needs and concerns. Encourage feedback and reviews from customers to improve your services. Develop a system to handle emergencies or unexpected travel issues efficiently.

Consistently delivering on your promises and providing memorable travel experiences will foster customer loyalty and lead to repeat business and referrals.

How to Compete with Big Brands in the Travel Industry

The travel industry is competitive, and it can be difficult for small businesses to compete with the big brands. However, there are a number of things you can do to give yourself a fighting chance.

Here are some tips on how to compete with big brands in the travel industry:

• Focus on a niche market.  Instead of trying to compete with the big brands on everything, focus on a specific niche market that you can specialize in. This could be a specific type of travel, such as ecotourism or adventure travel, or it could be a specific group of travelers, such as families or business travelers.
• Offer unique experiences.  Big brands often offer the same generic travel packages. To stand out from the crowd, you need to offer unique experiences that your customers can’t find anywhere else. This could be anything from a private tour of a hidden gem to a customized itinerary that’s tailored to your customer’s specific interests.
• Provide excellent customer service.  This is one area where small businesses often have an advantage over big brands. Big brands can be impersonal and bureaucratic, while small businesses can provide more personalized and attentive service. Make sure your customers feel like they’re valued and that you’re going above and beyond to make their travel experience as smooth as possible.
• Use technology to your advantage. Technology can be a great way to compete with big brands. You can use social media to connect with potential customers, use online booking tools to make booking their travel easy, and use analytics to track your performance and make improvements.
• Be creative with your marketing.  Big brands often have big budgets for marketing, but that doesn’t mean you can’t compete. Be creative with your marketing and find ways to reach your target audience without breaking the bank. This could include using social media, running contests, or creating original content.

Here are some additional tips that you can follow:

• Build relationships with travel suppliers.  This will give you access to better deals and will help you to provide your customers with a more personalized travel experience.
• Stay up-to-date on the latest travel trends.  This will help you to offer your customers the most in-demand travel experiences.
• Be flexible and adaptable.  The travel industry is constantly changing, so you need to be able to adapt your business accordingly.
• Never give up.  The travel industry is a tough one, but if you’re passionate about travel and you’re willing to work hard, you can succeed.

Competition in the travel industry is fierce, but it’s not impossible for small businesses to succeed. By following these tips, you can give yourself a fighting chance to compete with the big brands.

What are the legal requirements for starting a travel agency?

The legal requirements for starting a travel agency vary by country and region but may include obtaining the necessary licenses, permits, and registrations.

How do I choose a niche or specialty for my travel agency?

Consider your interests, expertise, and target market to choose a niche, such as adventure travel, luxury vacations, or corporate travel.

What technology and software do I need to run a travel agency?

You’ll need travel booking software, customer relationship management (CRM) tools, and a user-friendly website to handle reservations and inquiries.

How can I build relationships with travel suppliers and vendors?

Attend travel industry events, join travel agent associations, and establish strong communication with suppliers to build beneficial partnerships.

How do I market and promote my travel agency to attract clients?

Utilize digital marketing strategies, social media, content creation, and collaborate with influencers to increase your agency’s visibility.

What financial considerations should I keep in mind when starting a travel agency?

Plan for initial startup costs, ongoing expenses, and potential fluctuations in the travel industry. Budget for marketing, staff, and technology investments.

How can I provide exceptional customer service and stand out from competitors?

Focus on personalized travel planning, attentive communication, and 24/7 customer support to create a memorable experience for clients.

Image: Depositphotos, Envato Elements

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

© Copyright 2003 - 2024, Small Business Trends LLC. All rights reserved. "Small Business Trends" is a registered trademark.

• Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

Meaning of travel agency in English

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

• air corridor
• amenity kit
• caravanning
• high season
• package tour
• phrase book
• post-holiday
• put something up
• ranger station
• tourist trap

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

travel agency | American Dictionary

Travel agency | business english, examples of travel agency, translations of travel agency.

Get a quick, free translation!

Word of the Day

be up to your eyeballs in something

to be very busy with something

Binding, nailing, and gluing: talking about fastening things together

Learn more with +Plus

• Recent and Recommended {{#preferredDictionaries}} {{name}} {{/preferredDictionaries}}
• Definitions Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English English Learner’s Dictionary Essential British English Essential American English
• Grammar and thesaurus Usage explanations of natural written and spoken English Grammar Thesaurus
• Pronunciation British and American pronunciations with audio English Pronunciation
• English–Chinese (Simplified) Chinese (Simplified)–English
• English–Chinese (Traditional) Chinese (Traditional)–English
• English–Dutch Dutch–English
• English–French French–English
• English–German German–English
• English–Indonesian Indonesian–English
• English–Italian Italian–English
• English–Japanese Japanese–English
• English–Norwegian Norwegian–English
• English–Polish Polish–English
• English–Portuguese Portuguese–English
• English–Spanish Spanish–English
• English–Swedish Swedish–English
• Dictionary +Plus Word Lists
• English    Noun
• American    Noun
• Business    Noun
• Translations
• All translations

Add travel agency to one of your lists below, or create a new one.

{{message}}

Something went wrong.

There was a problem sending your report.

• To save this word, you'll need to log in. Log In

travel agent

Definition of travel agent

Examples of travel agent in a sentence.

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'travel agent.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

1885, in the meaning defined above

Articles Related to travel agent

Is it ‘traveling’ or...

Is it ‘traveling’ or ‘travelling’?

A tale of two variants

Dictionary Entries Near travel agent

travel agency

Cite this Entry

“Travel agent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/travel%20agent. Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the day.

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Your vs. you're: how to use them correctly, every letter is silent, sometimes: a-z list of examples, more commonly mispronounced words, how to use em dashes (—), en dashes (–) , and hyphens (-), absent letters that are heard anyway, popular in wordplay, the words of the week - apr. 19, 10 words from taylor swift songs (merriam's version), a great big list of bread words, 10 scrabble words without any vowels, 12 more bird names that sound like insults (and sometimes are), games & quizzes.

Travel Retail Marketing

Travel retail is the sales channel targeting travellers in duty-free zones such as airports and cruise terminals. Both digital channels and the in-store experience come together in making the user experience more convenient and memorable during their travels. Travel retail marketing plays an important role in reaching potential customers at various stages of their travel journey.

Due to the unique nature of the travel retail sector, the marketing strategy formulated needs to cater to the behaviours and mindset of a traveller who may interact with multiple touchpoints across various devices and formats, both online and offline. It is extremely important to leverage the right channels and touchpoints to bring an engaging experience to your potential customers.

Through user journey mapping, our digital marketing team will gain a clearer understanding of our target audience as travellers. This is then used to create an integrated marketing strategy that leverages the channels with the highest efficacy for reach, awareness, and conversion, working with various partners such as duty-free retailers, trade media, and industry influencers to amplify the marketing efforts.

Our team’s services include campaign planning for product launches, building brand and product awareness, partnership marketing, influencer marketing, and media buying, to name a few.

Our Capabilities

The Macallan Global Travel Retail - New Product Launch Campaign

• Lack of O2O strategy
• Fragmented customer journey
• Missed opportunity for data collection for customer re-engagement and campaign performance analysis

• Using AR in-store to engage offline users, bringing them onto digital channels
• Data collection for remarketing
• Integrated marketing plan to reach users at different stages of their travel journey

• Improved the seamlessness of the customer journey and brand experience
• Reconnected with online users across multiple channels
• Measured success of campaign through gathered data on digital channels, setting a benchmark for future campaigns

The team at RFI have had extensive experience working with travel retail clients and have a deep understanding of the importance of the online-offline-online strategy required to engage the traveller audience segment. With full-stack digital marketing capabilities from strategy development to execution, campaign ideation to design and copy development, RFI can help your travel retail business achieve its brand and business objectives.

Get a call back

How issuers define travel: What’s considered a travel purchase?

Key takeaways.

• Rewards credit cards that offer travel-related benefits often come with restrictions on what's considered a travel purchase.
• In addition to issuer-specific rules, merchant category codes affect whether individual purchases code as travel transactions.
• If an individual transaction does not code as travel, you won't earn travel-category rewards or trigger any annual credit offers associated with your cards.
• Because you have no recourse in these situations, it's best to familiarize yourself with what’s considered travel for credit cards before planning your spending.

Citi is an advertising partner.

While some credit card issuers offer the same rewards and benefits for every purchase you make, others offer bonus rewards for travel or statement credit offers that apply for travel-related spending.

That said, it’s important to note that there is some variability as to which types of purchases actually count as travel from one company to the next. For example, pretty much all card issuers count airfare and hotels booked directly with airlines and hotels as travel purchases. But things aren’t so cut and dry when you get into less obvious travel-related purchases like boat leases, parking garages, campgrounds and timeshares.

If you’re counting on your cards to deliver travel-related perks, you need to know how your issuers classify purchases so you can plan accordingly. Here, we’ll go over the definition of travel according to various card issuers, as well as the steps you can take to ensure you’re getting the rewards and perks you deserve when using your cards for travel purchases.

What are travel purchases?

Our chart offers general information for specific cards from each issuer, though it’s not a comprehensive list. Read over the terms and conditions of your specific credit cards to know which purchases will and will not register as travel.

Issuer-specific travel requirements

Bank of america.

Bank of America is very transparent when it comes to purchases that code as travel with each of their cards.

With the Bank of America ® Premium Rewards ® credit card , for example, the following purchases count as travel and earn bonus rewards as a result: “airlines, hotels, motels, timeshares, trailer parks, motorhome and recreational vehicle rentals, campgrounds, car rental agencies, truck and trailer rental, cruise lines, travel agencies, tour operators and real estate agents, operators of passenger trains, buses, taxis, limousines, ferries, boat rentals, parking lots and garages, tolls and bridge fees, tourist attractions and exhibits like art galleries, amusement parks, carnivals, circuses, aquariums, zoos and the like.”

Capital One

Capital One doesn’t have any credit cards that offer bonus rewards on travel purchases booked anywhere, although it does have cards that offer bonus miles on eligible travel purchases booked through Capital One Travel .

That said, the card issuer still defines the following to count as travel: “airlines, hotels, rail lines, car rental agencies, limousine companies, bus lines, cruise lines, taxi cabs, travel agents, timeshares, campground fees, ferries, motorhome and RV rentals.”

Not only does Chase offer several cards that reward general travel spending, one of its cards — the Ch ase Sapphire Reserve ® — offers a $300 annual credit. Knowing which purchases qualify for these perks will ensure you’re able to capitalize on their value.

Fortunately, Chase is also transparent when it comes to what each of its bonus rewards categories include. In particular, Chase defines the following purchases as travel for this purpose: “airlines, hotels, motels, timeshares, car rental agencies, cruise lines, travel agencies, discount travel sites, campgrounds and operators of passenger trains, buses, taxis, limousines, ferries, toll bridges and highways, and parking lots and garages.”

Citi lists a range of travel purchases that count as travel for the purpose of earning rewards. With the Citi Custom Cash ® Card, for example, the following purchases count as travel: “airline, hotel, cruise line and travel agency purchases.”

Finally, Discover also lays out clearly which purchases count as travel with its selection of rewards credit cards. With the Discover it® Miles card, for example, the following purchases qualify: “airline tickets, hotel rooms, car rentals, travel agents, online travel sites, commuter transportation, restaurants and gas stations.”

Using MCCs to confirm your travel spending

Networks decide which kinds of purchases code as travel — or any other category — through their merchant category codes (MCCs) . MCCs are assigned by payment processors based on their typical products and services. Depending on the payment processor in question, merchants may also be able to request specific or secondary MCCs.

That said, MCCs that can code as travel aren’t always intuitive. A few MCCs that tend to baffle consumers include:

• Lodging–Hotels, Motels, Resorts–not elsewhere classified (MCC 7011)  — some card networks only list hotels as travel-related purchases, but motels also tend to count as travel the majority of the time.
• Real estate agents (MCC 6513) — you may be surprised to see this MCC come up, but this category often includes popular vacation rental booking sites like Vacasa and VRBO.com
• Travel agencies and tour operators (MCC 4722) — where travel agencies used to operate out of brick and mortar offices or individual homes, this category now includes online travel agencies (OTAs) like Expedia.com and Priceline.

The bottom line

Knowing which types of purchases count as travel with your rewards credit cards ensures you’re able to earn the highest possible rewards for your travel spend. It can also ensure eligible purchases you make trigger any statement credit offers associated with your accounts.

Unfortunately, you may occasionally encounter travel-related purchases that don’t code as travel, based on the merchant’s MCC. While not earning rewards is disappointing, there’s nothing you can do to change the situation after the fact. All you can do is count it as a lesson learned and make future rewards-based spending decisions accordingly.

All Mars Resources

Perseverance’s ‘Bunsen Peak’ Sample

NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover captured this image of a sample cored from a rock called “Bunsen Peak” on March 11,…

NASA’s Curiosity Rover Reaches Gediz Vallis Channel (360 View)

360-degree panorama provided by NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover. This view was captured at Gediz Vallis channel, a feature that formed…

Animation of Mars Helicopter Flight Test

This animation shows a simulation of the response of NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter to the system identification, or “Sys-ID,” process.…

Rover, Helicopter Locations in Jezero Crater

This map shows the locations of NASA’ Perseverance rover (white star) and Ingenuity Mars Helicopter (cyan star) on Dec. 19,…

Sol 4132: Right Navigation Camera, Cylindrical Projection

NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity took 31 images in Gale Crater using its mast-mounted Right Navigation Camera (Navcam) to create this…

Sol 4130: Right Navigation Camera, Cylindrical Projection

NASA's Mars rover Curiosity took 31 images in Gale Crater using its mast-mounted Right Navigation Camera (Navcam) to create this…

Sol 4128: Right Navigation Camera, Cylindrical Perspective

NASA's Mars rover Curiosity took 30 images in Gale Crater using its mast-mounted Right Navigation Camera (Navcam) to create this…

Sol 4128: Left Navigation Camera, Vertical Projection

NASA's Mars rover Curiosity took 30 images in Gale Crater using its mast-mounted Left Navigation Camera (Navcam) to create this…

Sol 4128: Left Navigation Camera, Cylindrical Perspective

Sol 4128: Left Navigation Camera, Cylindrical Projection

Sol 4128: Mast-Mounted Navigation Camera, Cylindrical Perspective

NASA's Mars rover Curiosity took 30 image pairs in Gale Crater using its mast-mounted Navigation Camera (Navcam) to create this…

Sol 4128: Right Navigation Camera, Cylindrical Projection

Sol 4125: Right Navigation Camera, Cylindrical Projection

NASA's Mars rover Curiosity took 52 images in Gale Crater using its mast-mounted Right Navigation Camera (Navcam) to create this…

Sol 4123: Right Navigation Camera, Cylindrical Projection

NASA's Mars rover Curiosity took 51 images in Gale Crater using its mast-mounted Right Navigation Camera (Navcam) to create this…

Sol 4118: Right Navigation Camera, Cylindrical Projection

NASA's Mars rover Curiosity took 49 images in Gale Crater using its mast-mounted Right Navigation Camera (Navcam) to create this…

Current time by city

For example, New York

Current time by country

For example, Japan

Time difference

For example, London

For example, Dubai

Coordinates

For example, Hong Kong

For example, Delhi

For example, Sydney

Geographic coordinates of Elektrostal, Moscow Oblast, Russia

City coordinates

Coordinates of Elektrostal in decimal degrees

Coordinates of elektrostal in degrees and decimal minutes, utm coordinates of elektrostal, geographic coordinate systems.

WGS 84 coordinate reference system is the latest revision of the World Geodetic System, which is used in mapping and navigation, including GPS satellite navigation system (the Global Positioning System).

Geographic coordinates (latitude and longitude) define a position on the Earth’s surface. Coordinates are angular units. The canonical form of latitude and longitude representation uses degrees (°), minutes (′), and seconds (″). GPS systems widely use coordinates in degrees and decimal minutes, or in decimal degrees.

Latitude varies from −90° to 90°. The latitude of the Equator is 0°; the latitude of the South Pole is −90°; the latitude of the North Pole is 90°. Positive latitude values correspond to the geographic locations north of the Equator (abbrev. N). Negative latitude values correspond to the geographic locations south of the Equator (abbrev. S).

Longitude is counted from the prime meridian ( IERS Reference Meridian for WGS 84) and varies from −180° to 180°. Positive longitude values correspond to the geographic locations east of the prime meridian (abbrev. E). Negative longitude values correspond to the geographic locations west of the prime meridian (abbrev. W).

UTM or Universal Transverse Mercator coordinate system divides the Earth’s surface into 60 longitudinal zones. The coordinates of a location within each zone are defined as a planar coordinate pair related to the intersection of the equator and the zone’s central meridian, and measured in meters.

Elevation above sea level is a measure of a geographic location’s height. We are using the global digital elevation model GTOPO30 .

Elektrostal , Moscow Oblast, Russia

• TheFreeDictionary
• Word / Article
• Starts with
• Free toolbar & extensions
• Word of the Day
• Free content
• Elektrostal

Elektrostal’

(until 1938, Zatish’e), a city under oblast jurisdiction in Moscow Oblast, RSFSR; situated 58 km east of Moscow. Railroad station on a branch line of the Moscow-Orekhovo-Zuevo line. Population, 135,000 (1977; 43,000 in 1939; 97,000 in 1959; 123,000 in 1970). Enterprises in the city include the Elektrostal’ Electrometallurgical Plant, a heavy machinery plant, a book bindery, and a plant for the production of motor vehicles and railroad equipment. The main educational institutes are a branch of the Moscow Institute of Steel and Alloys, machine-building and construction technicums, and a music school.

(full name, I. F. Tevosian Elektrostal’), an electrometallurgical plant located in the city of Elektrostal’, Moscow Oblast. It manufactures high-quality alloy and special steels.

Formed from a foundry that had opened in 1916, Elektrostal’ began operation in 1918. It was thoroughly retooled between 1926 and 1937, with the addition of two steelmaking shops equipped with open-hearth and electric furnaces, a rolling shop equipped with model 350, model 600, and model 800 mills, a heat-treating shop, a stamping shop, a forging shop, and a drop-hammer shop. In 1940, the plant produced 226,000 tons of steel.

Elektrostal’ was evacuated to the Urals at the beginning of the Great Patriotic War of 1941–45. It was reevacuated in 1942 and began production for the front in July of that year. In the 1950’s, 1960’s, and 1970’s, a number of production sections were modernized and fully mechanized; shops with special equipment of the newest design were built, as were first-class laboratories with modern apparatus.

Elektrostal’ makes use of many advanced production processes, including oxygen steelmaking, subsurface deoxidation, and refining in molten slags and under high vacuums. Electron-beam melting and plasma-arc melting have been introduced.

Research is conducted at Elektrostal’ on the development and commercial production of new types of steel. The plant is now capable of producing more than 2,000 types of steel and alloys. Its steel output increased by a factor of 3.5 between 1945 and 1975.

Elektrostal’ was awarded the Order of Lenin in 1945 and the Order of the October Revolution in 1971.

I. S. P RIANISHNIKOV

• Architecture and Art
• Beliaev, Nikolai
• Beliaev, Nikolai Ivanovich
• Boris Stark
• Boris Viktorovich Stark
• Central Economic Region
• Grigorovich, Konstantin
• Grigorovich, Konstantin Petrovich
• Heavy Machine Building
• Ivan Fedorovich Tevosian
• Ivan Tevosian
• Konstantin Grigorovich
• Konstantin Petrovich Grigorovich
• Kuznetsov, Vasilii Vasilevich
• Moscow Oblast
• Nikolai Aleksandrovich Vtorov
• Nikolai Beliaev
• electroviscous effect
• electroweak interaction
• electroweak theory
• electrowinning
• electro-zinc plated
• elegant program
• Elegiac Distich
• Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard
• Elektricheskaia i Teplovoznaia Tiaga
• Elektricheskie Stantsii
• Elektrichestvo
• Elektrion process
• Elektrogorsk
• Elektrokhimiia
• Elektrokhimprom Chirchik Production Association
• Elektroprovod
• Elektrosviaz
• Elektrotekhnika
• Elektrougli
• El-elohe-Israel
• element 110
• element 111
• element 112
• element breakdown
• element leader
• element time
• Element, Chemical
• elemental area
• elemental motion
• Elemental Paragenesis
• Elementary Charge
• elementary commodity group
• Elementary Divisor
• elementary event
• elementary excitation
• Elementary Flora
• Elementary Function
• Elektronische Health Assessment Questionnaire
• Elektronische Informationsverarbeitung und Kybernetik
• Elektronische Kampfführung
• elektronische Projektmanagementplattform
• Elektronische Stellwerk
• Elektronische Steuererklärung
• Elektronische Zahlungssysteme im Internet
• Elektronische Zeitschriftenbibliothek
• Elektronischen Geschäftsverkehr
• Elektronischen Informationsverteiler
• Elektronischen Kampf
• Elektronischer Bremskraftverteiler
• Elektronischer Buchfahrplan Mit Verzeichnis der Langsamfahrstellen
• Elektronischer Rechtsverkehr
• Elektronischer Teilekatalog
• Elektronischer Zolltarif
• Elektronisches Gerichts und Verwaltungspostfach
• Elektronisches Lastschrift Verfahren
• Elektronisches Vorschaltgerät
• Elektronisches WaehlSystem Digital
• Elektronisk Data Behandling
• Elektronisk Tekstbehandling
• Elektroniske AnmeldeSYstem
• Elektroniske Patient Journal
• Elektronske Zdravstvene Dokumentacije
• Elektropivreda Crne Gore
• Elektropneumatische Schaltung
• Elektroprivreda Crne Gore
• Elektroprivreda Srbije
• Elektrostal, Russia
• Elektrosviaz Telecommunications Radio Engineering
• Elektrotechnicky Zkusebni Ustav
• Elektrotechnik Elektronik Informationstechnik
• Elektrotechnische Apparate GmbH
• Elektrotechnische Zeitschrift
• Elektrotehnicki Fakultet u Beogradu
• Elem Indian Colony
• Element (chemistry)
• Element 1 Power Systems Inc.
• Facebook Share