Becoming a Disney World Travel Agent

Certified Disney Travel Agents are registered travel agents that are recognized by Disney for their expertise in planning and booking Disney World destination trips. Only travel agents who successfully register and complete an online course can state to clients that they are Disney Travel Agents. Travel agents may also be able to receive commissions from Disney for successfully booked trips and have access to a secure website with special offers and continued learning courses.

Log on to the "Disney Travel Agents" resource website. The link is available in the Resource section of this article. If you have not accessed the site before,click "Register Now."

Create a user name and password. Enter your name, e-mail address, and your travel agent I.D. number. Agents are required to have a IATA or CLIA number when they become a licensed travel agent in the United States. Select your job title from the drop down menu below the I.D. number text box.

Click on the "Register" button. Locate the "College of Disney Knowledge" link on the main page and click on it. Follow the prompts to complete the online course. The College of Knowledge teaches travel agents about Disney hotels, park details, and planning each day at the parks.

Print out your Disney certification when you successfully complete the online course. Download brochures and request literature and labeling from the Disney Travel Agent website to display your Disney expertise to potential clients.

Visiting the various Disney resorts and parks can increase your knowledge and provide your clients with first hand information.

Disney Travel Agent Log In:/portal/site/dta-domestic

Information on IATA numbers and Disney Travel Agent Training: /FAQ.htm#ARC Number

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How To Work From Home As A Travel Agent

There is a great need for travel agents, and many benefits included with some jobs, such as health insurance, retirement and travel discounts. At-home travel agents have the flexibility to choose their own hours and work from anywhere in the world. There are also endless possibilities for advancement and the opportunity to own your own agency. Work at home as a travel agent and earn money while getting travel benefits, spending time with your family, and helping others plan their vacations. Here's exactly how to become a travel agent:

Step 1: Gain experience by working at a travel agency before opening your own home travel agency.

Step 2: Enroll in the nationally recognized Travel Agent License training program and get certification from The Travel Institution to teach you how to operate a computer reservation system.

Step 3: Understand and become familiar with all aspects of travel, including airlines, railways, currencies, and passports. Have knowledge about where you are sending your customers, including the cities, hotels and attractions. The best way to do this is by actually traveling yourself.

Step 4: Learn a foreign language to arrange travel accommodations abroad and gain familiarity with different cultures.

Step 5: Register your business name with your state and apply for a business license. This way people will realize you are a professional and be likely to want to do business with you.

Step 6: Make a professional website for your business and use professional travel programs such as Apollo and Sabre to book reservations.

Step 7: Suscribe to travel magazines and read about current travel trends to keep up with your customers' needs.

For more information, go to:/travelagent.html

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How to Find A Good Travel Agent And Travel Agency

It is the travel agents task to match the clients expectations, as closely as possible, to reality. Because travel consultation is a skill that gets better with practice, it is also useful to know the length of the time the agent has been in the business. An agent who has at least five years experience in the industry would be ideal.

Because the travel industry is information-intensive, it is best to deal with an agent who knows how to work through the quagmire of date, which includes the thousands of daily changes in airfares among the millions of fares in the agents data bank.

Ask about the agents credentials. Briefly inquire about the certifications. This will give you an idea of how serious the travel agent is about the business.

The travel industry constantly changes. It will be helpful to know if a travel agent constantly updates his or her skills, or is working to maintain or receive a certification.

Before giving an advanced deposit for a product that you will use or avail on a later date, such as a grand tour involving a significant amount of money, be ensured that the agency is financially stable. Ask which travel association the agency is affiliated and check if no complaints have been filed against the agency.It is very important that you feel comfortable talking with an agent, because you need to be honest in discussing your travel dreams and how much you can really afford to spend. You should need to be comfortable discussing your vital eccentricities that can affect the enjoyment of your planned trip. This will also help the agent determine the accommodations and tour spots that will be suggested to you.

A good travel agent asks plenty of questions regarding your past travel experience/s, what you liked or didnt like, the airlines and accommodations you prefer, any medical conditions, etc. A good agent keeps this client information on file because this will greatly speed up the process of satisfying the clients travel needs.

An agent who is willing to provide you with competitive information as a result of careful research is a good one. A good travel agent will recommend several travel options, explain penalties and restrictions, help you in obtaining travel needs such as passports and the other requirements, obtain amenities and other value-added benefits for you, and will be available to help solve problems should something go wrong. A working contact number of the agent is very important.

A good travel agency is able to command a much better price for an accommodation for you than what you can get if you do it on your own.

Brochures and other literature from the travel agency should provide good details such as names of specific hotels, resorts, and even transportation. If there are no such details mentioned, it may mean that the agency has not locked in any reservations. Meal programs must be clearly stated. Know if the menu is a preset one or an a la carte. Are the actual tour leaders mentioned? It is important to know who will handle the toursis it the owner, the employees, or interns? Small companies have tours that are usually led by the owners themselves. Middle-sized to large companies hire knowledgeable guides or train them in-house. Either practice is fine. You might be taking a chance if your tour will be conducted by an intern without the guide of an experienced agent along.

A good travel agent and agency with a proven track record can give you a list of people and companies who provide accommodation and transportation services at various destinations which have been developed through years of experience and networking. You may contact these operators to have an idea of regarding their experience with the travel agent or agency.

Find out the agencys policy regarding deposits and refunds. Ask how the agency handles tour cancellations, because this is a reality that happens, say, for example a political unrest or natural disasters that unexpectedly occur in the destination.

These are just some of the things you have to consider when planning your travel and choosing your travel agent.

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How to Find A Good Travel Agent And Travel Agency

It is the travel agents task to match the clients expectations, as closely as possible, to reality. Because travel consultation is a skill that gets better with practice, it is also useful to know the length of the time the agent has been in the business. An agent who has at least five years experience in the industry would be ideal.

Because the travel industry is information-intensive, it is best to deal with an agent who knows how to work through the quagmire of date, which includes the thousands of daily changes in airfares among the millions of fares in the agents data bank.

Ask about the agents credentials. Briefly inquire about the certifications. This will give you an idea of how serious the travel agent is about the business.

The travel industry constantly changes. It will be helpful to know if a travel agent constantly updates his or her skills, or is working to maintain or receive a certification.

Before giving an advanced deposit for a product that you will use or avail on a later date, such as a grand tour involving a significant amount of money, be ensured that the agency is financially stable. Ask which travel association the agency is affiliated and check if no complaints have been filed against the agency.It is very important that you feel comfortable talking with an agent, because you need to be honest in discussing your travel dreams and how much you can really afford to spend. You should need to be comfortable discussing your vital eccentricities that can affect the enjoyment of your planned trip. This will also help the agent determine the accommodations and tour spots that will be suggested to you.

A good travel agent asks plenty of questions regarding your past travel experience/s, what you liked or didnt like, the airlines and accommodations you prefer, any medical conditions, etc. A good agent keeps this client information on file because this will greatly speed up the process of satisfying the clients travel needs.

An agent who is willing to provide you with competitive information as a result of careful research is a good one. A good travel agent will recommend several travel options, explain penalties and restrictions, help you in obtaining travel needs such as passports and the other requirements, obtain amenities and other value-added benefits for you, and will be available to help solve problems should something go wrong. A working contact number of the agent is very important.

A good travel agency is able to command a much better price for an accommodation for you than what you can get if you do it on your own.

Brochures and other literature from the travel agency should provide good details such as names of specific hotels, resorts, and even transportation. If there are no such details mentioned, it may mean that the agency has not locked in any reservations. Meal programs must be clearly stated. Know if the menu is a preset one or an a la carte. Are the actual tour leaders mentioned? It is important to know who will handle the toursis it the owner, the employees, or interns? Small companies have tours that are usually led by the owners themselves. Middle-sized to large companies hire knowledgeable guides or train them in-house. Either practice is fine. You might be taking a chance if your tour will be conducted by an intern without the guide of an experienced agent along.

A good travel agent and agency with a proven track record can give you a list of people and companies who provide accommodation and transportation services at various destinations which have been developed through years of experience and networking. You may contact these operators to have an idea of regarding their experience with the travel agent or agency.

Find out the agencys policy regarding deposits and refunds. Ask how the agency handles tour cancellations, because this is a reality that happens, say, for example a political unrest or natural disasters that unexpectedly occur in the destination.

These are just some of the things you have to consider when planning your travel and choosing your travel agent.

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Best Savings & Brand-Specific Hotel Specialist Training Programs For Travel Agents

style="text-align:justify;"> Many of the leading hotel chains offer great perks, fam rates and online training/certification options to the travel agents. Here's an overview of the best travel agent rate offers and my favourite (but not only) e-learning options available on the web.

To register an agent account with any of the hotel chains you need a valid IATA (International Air Transport Association), ARC (the Airline Reporting Corporation), or TIDS (The Travel Industry Designator Service), whichever one your home agency happens to be registered with. Also, a valid IATA (or other of the above) will be required at check in to claim any of the special rates highlighted below.

Famous Agents for Fairmont, Raffles and Swisstel This exciting program is open to travel agents who professionally engage in the promotion and sale of travel to the general public. To enroll in Famous Agents, you must first complete three lesson modules. These three lesson modules are designed to teach you everything you need to know about Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Raffles Hotels & Resorts and Swisstel Hotels & Resorts. There are three modules - one for each of Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Raffles Hotels & Resorts and Swissotel Hotels & Resorts. Each module consists of a one-page lesson and ten multiple choice questions. After you complete each module, you will receive your score. You must have at least seven correct answers on each of the three exams in order to proceed to the application form. It will take approximately 30 minutes to complete the three lesson modules and enroll in Famous Agents. Once enrolled, you are eligible for the exceptional Famous agent rates (star ting at $69 per room per night) at many of the properties belonging to the three participating chains. Note that in order for your account to become permanent you have to make and complete your first reservation within the 6 months from the enrollment date.

Marriott's Hotel Excellence - The program, designed specifically for travel agents, gives you access to become a certified Marriott specialist and, as a result, obtain access to Fam-Tastic rates, as well as useful information including advance notice about hotel openings, renovations, special offers and private events. In order to be eligible for all the perks you need to complete the five-module online training. The program consists of two-thirds industry-related information and one-third information about Marriotts products and services. Each module contains 10 questions; a passing score for each module is 70% (7 out of 10 answers correct). You will receive immediate Correct/Incorrect notification after each question is answered; the score for each module is provided upon completion of the module. You dont need to complete the modules all at once, your progress will be tracked and you will be able to pick up where you left off next time you visit the site. In addition, t he Hotel Excellence! home page provides current course completion status, and email notification of results is sent to participants' registered email addresses upon course completion. New graduates also receive welcome packages in the mail. Once you have your HE! Certificates in hand youre free to book your hotel stays (maximum of 5 per calendar year and up to 4 nights each). The fantastic rates start at $44 USD per room per night (black out dates apply)!

StarwoodPro by Starwood Hotels This excellent portal dedicated to travel professionals offers everything you need to know commissions, GDS, and educational tool named StarwoodProLearning thats your ultimate source of information on all Starwood brands, including Sheraton, Westin, W and more. It is a multimedia learning experience (currently consisting of 4 modules) designed to help you get to know the chains portfolio of brands, hotel and resort locations, provide insightful information and education, ultimately designed to improve your profit performance and deepen your customer relationships. For those living outside of North America, the learning module offers a downloadable script translated into six languages other than English, including French, Chinese, Japanese, German, Italian and Spanish. When you complete the first module, you will be rewarded! Upon completion, you will qualify for our new Travel Professional Experience Rate program, STARPRO with rates lower th an you can imagine.

Hyatt Hotels and Resorts, Accor Hotels, Hilton Hotels all offer multimedia learning programs, however, completing them doesnt give you further discounts on their already great agent discounts (all you need to get those is register an account and login). Consult the link above for details.

Also, there are quite a few other chain offering travel industry discounts but dont currently have specific training programs in place, they include Wyndham, Best Western, Choice Hotels and the InterContinental Hotel Group.

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The Advantages of Using a Travel Agent To Help You Plan Your Wedding

Increasing numbers of people now research and book their vacations on the internet which is having an effect on the number of people the travel agent sees. It is not only because you can book your vacation from the comfort of you home but generally, it will be less expensive as well. I still like using a travel agent as it is nice to speak to someone face to face but I still go online to research the place I am traveling to. Checking out the destinations online can be fun, educational and it is easy carrying out virtual tours before you go plus by the time I actually visit the travel agent I have all the details I need. I certainly don't want to spend my time, or their time, looking into trying to find a travel deal that I can afford if I already know that I cannot. If you are planning on international travel, they can advise you of things you need to know and you can find out what some of the laws are that might affect you. They can make recommendations of places that are particularly interesting, if there are any fees for entry into specific countries and laws relating to driving that can be easy to fall foul of. These people are there to make your life easier and ensure that your vacation needs are completely taken care of, something the internet cannot do. Don't get me wrong, the internet is great but it is not caring and it is always reassuring dealing with a real person. You can book all of your flights and hotels through the internet but when it comes to complaining or trying to resolve an issue, suddenly a website cannot be of assistance whereas travel agents are there to assist you. Seeing a travel agent in person became much more important when my husband to be and I decided to get married outside of America and we needed a great deal of help with booking the whole vacation and wedding. The lady was very pleasant and couldn't be more helpful so after a half hour chat I had a good idea where the best place for weather on our we dding was as well as a range of other services we might need. The pricing was obviously at the top of our priority list but she was even able to help there giving us plenty of options and contacting other companies for information on our behalf. It was this help that enabled us to book the wedding and our vacation almost immediately which was not something we had planned on but there wasn't anything else left to do. You can always count on travel agents being there for you, even if things go horribly wrong. Kathy Street is an author and wedding consultant. She operates several websites that have information on wedding chair covers and how to buy cheap wedding chair covers

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5 Reasons to Use a Full Service Online Travel Agent

When it comes to planning your vacation, it's tempting to go the do-it-yourself route. After all, it's easy enough to book an airline flight reservation. Why shouldn't you also do your own booking for a car rental, hotel, or even a cruise? Here are five reasons why you should leave your vacation planning to a professional, full service online travel agent:

1. Terrific Deals

You can do your own booking, but you won't necessarily get a low far or the best deal. Airlines, hotels, car rental agencies, and cruise ships count on people to make their own reservations and charge higher rates to those who do. Yet they don't really make a profit until they're completely booked.

Think of hotel rooms, airplane seats, and cruise ship cabins as perishable commodities. Just like an expired carton of milk has to be pulled off the grocery store shelf, on any given night, an empty hotel room is lost revenue that will never be regained. Similarly, an airplane is going to fly and a cruise ship will embark whether or not the seats and cabins are full. It's in the best interest of hotels, airlines, and cruise ships to be fully booked. That's why they offer discounted fares to an online travel agent, who can then pass along the savings to you.

2. Full Packages

A full service online travel agent can put together package vacations to destinations and hotel properties to which you might not otherwise have access. Perhaps you're a golfer, and want a dream golf vacation. Maybe a Caribbean vacation is on the horizon. Or maybe you are looking for the perfect cruise package. Although it's sometimes possible to book travel packages with the destination, you often don't get the options that best meet your needs. An online travel agent can put together packages that work best for you and your family.

3. Great Service

When you go the do-it-yourself route, it's often difficult to coordinate all aspects of your travel. Making sure that your flights depart and arrive at optimal times, that your hotel reservation is in order, that your car rental will be available, and that you'll have everything in order to board a cruise ship is no walk in the park. An online travel agent can do all the legwork for you so you can concentrate on preparing for your trip. And, if you have a change in plans, the great service that an online travel agent provides can make the transition a smooth one.

4. Group Travel

Extended families often travel together, and businesses have group travel requirements from time to time. In either case, a full service online travel agent can easily book trips for people who have the same destination but who are traveling from different places. Having a group travel coordinator gives everyone peace of mind and ensures that the group's needs are met.

5. Honeymoon Registry

If you're planning your honeymoon, an online travel agent can provide you with the latest trend in wedding gifts: the honeymoon registry. When you register with a full service online travel agent, your guests can contribute funds to your honeymoon, or they can buy specific services (such as a spa treatment or a romantic breakfast in bed) that you have on your wish list.

While it's possible to book travel yourself, why would you want to? After all, the advantages in using a full service online travel agent are limitless.

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