Home-based travel agent - host agencies in Ontario/Canada?

[mollyseven]

Travel Counsellors is another work from home agency in Canada. They are a U.K company that has expanded into Canada and it's a great company.
They are looking to expand more and they offer a great split, low monthly fees and give you everything you need to suceed. They give you a laptop fully loaded with all you need to work from home. You go to Toronto for 3 days of training and get your supplies, business cards etc and then you are ready to roll.
PM me if you would like information and I can send you a referral for more info.

 

[monkey30]

In Alberta I believe you still need your tourism certifcation for this am I wrong in this?

 

[Susan2771]

Flight Center has a home based agent program as well but you need to have a very strong existing client base. They have a fairly generous commission split but you need to have experience in being a travel agent.

In terms of training, you have to go out there and find it on your own to keep up with the ever changing world of travel, suppliers, products, brands, niche markets, destinations, attractions, etc. Maybe it would be a good start for your wife to start taking some courses in a travel and tourism program to get her certification and also get prepared for the Tico exam which she will need to pass to be able to sell travel if you are in Ontario

 

[tone.def]

In Alberta I believe you still need your tourism certifcation for this am I wrong in this?

You do need to pass the TICO exam in Ontario. No pass, no sell. You sell without passing, you get fined.

 

[mousy_in_canada]

Besides earning commissions may I ask what the benefits are to being a travel agent. Do you get discounts off your stays in hotels and cruises are are those type of discounts not really there?

 

[TinkPirateMom]

I am a work from home independent travel consultant. I am in the US and travel agencies here work different than from Canada but I would be happy to answer any questions the best I can.

Here 80% is usually the best cut you can get (few exceptions). It is a very difficult business to break into if you do not have an existing client base. I don't want to sound pessimistic at all and I actually think agents in Canada have it a better than we do here as far as making money (most Canadians travel for a week to 2 weeks at a time, Americans tend to take 3-4 night trips that don't have as much profit), but here are some things to consider that a lot of newcomers may not know about:
1. Out of pocket expenses can be high. I spend over $700.00 just at he post office last year. Office supplies, computer, internet, fax, phone line, mail, fees to hot agency, business cards and other marketing materials, tables at bridal shows and trade shows, etc.
2.We do not get paid until several weeks after the clients travel. Take a look at the boards here to see how far in advance some people plan their trips. This can sometimes mean that you spend a year working with a client just to earn a couple of hundred dollars. Also if guests cancel you make either nothing or a small amount paid by insurance company if insurance is purchased. Also ste up a system to deter tire kickers. Dreams Unlimited has a system I really like from what I have read on their site as far as quotes are free but you must actually book to be assigned a travel consultant and given their number. I have worked with clients for months and given them countless quotes only for them to decide to book on Expedia to save 20 bucks when I could have matched the price anyway.

You do receive discounts from hotels but there are usually restrictions as far as who you can bring (if anyone) and when you can travel. Airlines do not give us discounts. However, that's another area that I think may be slightly better in CA as I think some tour ops give airline discounts and comps to those in the travel industry.

If you want to specialize in Disney travel you will want to complete the Disney College of Knowledge online.

HTH!

 

[minnie56]

Yes, lots of benefits! Often-but not always discounts on hotels, many at 50% off. Usually applicable on 1 room.Some airllines offer decent deals (Westjet is one) but you can't book outside of something like 30 days and it is for you and 1 guest. Cruiselines offer decent TA rates on select sailings usually within the next 3 months. If you want to book far out of course you will always pay the net price..minus your commissions. Cunard/Princess offer a free cruise for you and 1 guest upon completion of an online training course which is pretty lengthy to complete but totally do-able. Discounts on Park N Fly (50%)--car rentals etc...and of course, there are many fams and seminars available. Last Fall for attending a Bermuda information evening, you could sign up for a 5 days trip to Bermuda-for $300. That was air - deluxe hotel and most meals. Not too shabby.

Of course, Always great rates on rooms at Disney and DCL and throughout the year other promos that include passes and free dining.

IMO--the BEST travel 'club' out there!

**I should add also-I don't pay for my mailings, but do pay for my own office supplies and if I want to participate in a show of any kind I would pay that fee as well. Haven't done it-and if I chose to do likely would get involved with other agents in the office to offset costs I imagine.

 

[Susan2771]

Tink Pirate is right on a lot of what she wrote.

 

[My 2 princesses]

So I gotta ask......how hard are the TICO exams???

 

[minnie56]

Not hard..read the book and it's multiple choice and pretty easy!

 

[tone.def]

Not hard..read the book and it's multiple choice and pretty easy!

Yes, but you are not forgetting to mention to these discount hungry, starry-eyed folks that in order to qualify for the discounts and fam trips, it takes a lot of more than saying you're a travel agent! You need to work for an agency, get an IATA card and in order to get one, you have to sell something like over $10,000 a year in travel...

 

[APB513]

Yes, but you are not forgetting to mention to these discount hungry, starry-eyed folks that in order to qualify for the discounts and fam trips, it takes a lot of more than saying you're a travel agent! You need to work for an agency, get an IATA card and in order to get one, you have to sell something like over $10,000 a year in travel...

Actually in order to qualify for the IATA card you have to earn at least $10,000 a year in commission not sell $10,000 in travel.

 

[TinkPirateMom]

Actually in order to qualify for the IATA card you have to earn at least $10,000 a year in commission not sell $10,000 in travel.

Right, so it will take a year or two to do this because it is based on commission earned and commission is not paid out until after travel. Most industry discounts require you to have an IATA ID card to qualify. Don't get me wrong, I think the benefits are decent but if you need to actually earn a living and you do not have an existing client base it can be difficult.
So just to give you an idea this is what I find myself thinking some days....
Is it really worth it to work my butt off for $20,000.00 a year and travel discounts or should I look for a higher paying job so that I can still travel and not need the discounts?
I am currently dealing with a client that was supposed to travel last September for her wedding. She canceled the wedding with less than 24 hours notice. Her trip was non-refundable at that point and she had no insurance. However, I went out of my way to change her travel dates so she could use the trip in the future. She picked this July as her new travel dates. Now here we are a month before travel and she needs to cancel or change her dates again. When I re-booked her new dates I had her sign a contract stating that this new booking was 100% non-refundable and the dates could not be changed again nor could names or resort. She is calling the owner of the agency and the tour operator screaming crying that I will not help her. Ugggh!!!! Be prepared to be on call 24/7 to deal with this crap as an independent agent.
Sorry that turned into a vent. I just try to warn people that think this is such a fun job and that you get to travel for free. It's like any other job there are perks but there are down sides.

 

[minnie56]

All good points..you have to be in this for reasons other than the deals for sure. It is a full time commitment and you certainly earn your money! For me, it makes the $$$ I intended it to and pretty much allows me to travel all over for decent prices. That said, I have been in the travel business of one type or another for 37yrs..it's in my blood, I wouldn't know how to do anything else and I love putting all kinds of vacations together and getting positive feedback for my efforts! I can make a difference and that feels good?

 

[TinkPirateMom]

All good points..you have to be in this for reasons other than the deals for sure. It is a full time commitment and you certainly earn your money! For me, it makes the $$$ I intended it to and pretty much allows me to travel all over for decent prices. That said, I have been in the travel business of one type or another for 37yrs..it's in my blood, I wouldn't know how to do anything else and I love putting all kinds of vacations together and getting positive feedback for my efforts! I can make a difference and that feels good?

Great response! Thank you for sharing your experience as a TA. I have found that those that have been in the business for years do make quite a decent living. For me, I started at a large agency (not as an independent) and there I had a set salary rather than commission only. I was there for 2 years. I don;t think there are many places like that left that pay salary rather than commission. For the past 3 years I have been a home based agent and I specialize in Destination Weddings in the Caribbean and Mexico. To be honest, I think I may just be burned out on wedding clients. Brides/Grooms and their families can be tougher than your average vacation client.

The first year as an independent, I don't think I had any income at all. Not because I wasn't working or didn't have clients but because everyone plans their wedding travel a year in advance so I worked for a year with no income and then that first set of clients began traveling and I started to see an income the 2nd year albeit not the greatest. However, that year I traveled to Jamaica, Aruba, Turks and Caicos, and Riviera Maya on discounted rates (little or nothing for resort, paid full price for airfare). This year, I am starting to make better money but finding it difficult to travel because these bridal clients seem to need me 24/7.

Working from home takes some getting used to because you never get to leave work, but after a while the right balance can be found. This business can be very rewarding as the PP describes. I think starting out will just take patience and perseverence. I know when I was on a travel agent only FAM in Mexico I was with many Canadian travel agents. They were making higher commissions because their clients tend to take longer vacations which is nice. They were also allowed to bring their spouses on that trip and the agents form the US were not, not sure why? I believe Canadian TA's still make commission from airfare as well while we do not. So you have some advantages on your side. Best of luck!

 

[ccudmore]

Great response!I believe Canadian TA's still make commission from airfare as well while we do not. So you have some advantages on your side. Best of luck!

According to a travel agent I know here in Canada, they get commission on airfare for AirCanada and WestJet, but not from any U.S.-based airlines. That info is a couple years old so I'm not sure if it's still accurate.

 

[minnie56]

We get small commission from Westjet and only a small amount on Tango fares only with AC. Hence adding a nominal booking fee because researching air is very timely. We can sometimes book air with a consolidator and find better than the consumer can ie: booked air yesterday YYZ-YVR for $598 w/Westjet and the WJ site had it at $756 so I would add a small fee and the client is still delighted because it is less than they would be able to find it for. Win-win. No commissions with U.S carriers...

TinkPM sounds like you invest a lot of time and energy! I am on call too...but I do manage to get away and the office takes over in my absence. Good support system thankfully...we help each other.

 

[sue_gowin]

I can't believe I JUST came across this thread!!! I decided to make a big change just after the new year this year, and signed up for an online travel agent program. After graduating that, I found it hard (of course) to find a job. I really wanted to focus on Disney vacations, but that's hard to come by in Canada. I signed up with Expedia CruiseShipCenters in June, and am well on my way. Luckily we know a lot of people, and those people have been really good at spreading the work to "book with Sue!!". I paid the $500 start-up fee, and had my e-mail and booking engine working that afternoon. I wrote my TICO a few weeks ago and passed (even though I thought I failed!!), so I'm "officially" good to go!!!
Minnie56...I'm almost done with the "Disney Learning Connection" program, and I'm planning on booking myself a trip for next year with my sister. I'm having a hard time finding out if I can book myself a package with the agent discount. I know I can get a room discount, and I know I can get a ticket discount, but I can combine the two? Or do I have to do just one or the other? Also, If I can combine room/ticket discounts, can I add a dining plan? Again, I'm just having a hard time finding any information on this on the Disney agent site.
TIA!!!!!!!

 

[mollyseven]

Sue.....the disney agent site is easy. On the top you see a bunch of areas to click on and one is agent benefits....you can hover over that and a drop down menu comes up with Disneyworld hotel rates, tickets etc.etc.
When you click on this you can find out about agent hotel rates or ticket discounts. You can get a free ticket once per year for yourself and no discounts for others. You can get agent rates any times per year at all the hotels. I went in May and stayed at POR with an agent rate and they switch up the hotels offered every few days it seems.....sometimes they had cbr offered and sometime POR or whatever for moderates.
You have two days to fax them a copy of your iata card or they cancel your reservation.
I have stayed at all the mod's and a value and deluxe.......but just once used the agent rate as I only started working again as an agent in December.

 

[TinkPirateMom]

I have our room booked under the Disney Travel Agent discounted rates. It is a huge discount. The discounted ticket has more requirements than just booking the room (some college of knowledge must be completed and you must have so much in Disney sales or at least that's the way it is for US agents).

I am not sure if you can purchase a dining plan when booked with these rates. That's a great question though!