Travel Agent Training (200 hours)

Course Overview/Description

The Travel Agent Program is a proven, successful method for motivated people to begin a travel career, and will help prepare students for The Travel Institute (formerly ICTA) TAP Certification. Learn the basic skills needed to operate a computer reservation system, whether with the airlines, travel agencies, car rental agencies, cruise lines, hotels, resorts, as a corporate travel coordinator, or as a home based agent, all in a convenient online environment.

The online program consists of two modules. Students will first participate in a Travel Career Development program followed by the student's choice of computer reservation systems including SABRE, WORLDSPAN, APOLLO, GALILEO or AMADEUS GDS systems.

Upon registering, you are given an initial six months to complete the program. Should you need more time, you may request a 6-month extension at no additional charge.

Course Objectives

By completing this course the student will:

• Learn the basic history and future of the travel industry.
• Learn to identify the various types of travelers and match them to the correct travel products.
• Learn how airline computer reservation systems operate.
• Learn the basics of travel geography.
• Learn how domestic and international airfares are determined.
• Learn the proper documentation needed to travel internationally and how to obtain it.
• Study how the ground transportation system works including rail, cars, and bus tours.
• Learn how hotels are rated, priced, as well as the different between a hotel and a resort.
• Learn about cruises - how to read and understand brochures, match the client to the proper ship, and explain the value of cruising.
• Learn the various types of tours from escorted to independent.
• Learn about marketing.
• Learn the basic formats used by the airlines to book flights, price tickets, build the passenger name record (PNR).
• Learn how to change or cancel records.
• Learn how to book cars and hotels in the reservation system.

Course Outline

• Exploring the World of Travel
  1. Travel and the Travel Profession
  2. Technology
  3. Geography Basics
• The Travel Product
  1. Domestic Air Travel
  2. International Travel
  3. Ground Travel
  4. Accommodations
  5. Cruises
  6. Tours
• Sales and Marketing
  1. Making a Sale
  2. Specialized Sales
  3. Marketing
• The Travel Workplace
  1. Communications
  2. Money Matters
  3. Home-Based Agents
  4. Finding a Job
  5. Building a Career
• Computer Reservation Systems

Prerequisites/Audience

There are no specific prerequisites for this course. This course is intended for professionals who want to enhance their travel industry knowledge or for individuals who want to jump-start their career in the travel industry.

PC Requirements/Materials Included

This course is compatible with the Windows Vista operating system.

This course can be taken on either a Mac or a PC. Students will need to have an Internet connection and email capabilities.

Students will receive a copy of Travel Career Development text and workbook. Upon completion of the Travel Career Development section of the program, students will be given access to their choice of online Reservation Systems modules with accompanying reference manual.

Instructor Bio

Jo DuBiel is a Certified Travel Consultant with over 25 years experience in the travel industry.

A graduate of The Travel Institute (formerly The Institute of Certified Travel Consultants - ICTA) in Wellesley, Massachusetts, Jo has been a travel consultant for her entire career as well as the Owner and Manager of Stonehenge Travel agency for eight years, and a manager of one of the oldest travel agencies in the United States, founded in 1873. Jo has been a travel instructor for over sixteen years (Johnson and Wales University, the Hall Institute, Roger Williams University, Gatlin Education), both in the classroom and on the Internet.

Her travel experience and knowledge in handling both individuals and groups has proved invaluable to her clients and those working with her.

"In this competitive travel environment it is essential that good agents and travel industry personnel understand the importance of never knowing too much…the world is changing so quickly that keeping oneself informed and becoming a specialist in your field is more important than ever to stay ahead of the competition and be successful." --Jo DuBiel, CTC

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How do I register?
Click on the register button at the top of the page and follow the directions. It is important that you type all your information in the boxes, then print it out to sign.  Payment and sending instructions are in the bottom right corner of the form.

2. How much do the courses cost?
The fee is in the pink box at the top of the page.

3. Can I register for courses if I live outside the United States?
Yes you can!

4. Do I ever have go to the school I register with?
All of our courses are delivered entirely online, so you never have to go to a class or travel to the school.

5. How long does it take to complete a course?
All of our courses are self-paced and open enrollment. You can start and finish the course at your own pace. When you register for a course, you are given an 180 days (6 months) to complete the course. If you need more time, extensions are available.

6. Do I have to buy additional materials?
All materials are included. The cost of materials will be covered by your tuition. GES will ship all materials via UPS ground service upon registration.

7. Can I get financial aid?
GES courses are non-credit courses, so they do not qualify for federal aid. In some states, vocational rehab or workforce development boards will pay for qualified students to take our courses.

• GES provides a loan opportunity for students. Simply go to www.collegeloanapplication.com to apply for an easier qualifying loan at a slightly higher rate. Click here for more information on this loan program.

8. What happens when I complete the course?
Upon successful completion of the course, you will be awarded a certificate of completion from the school you registered with. You must obtain a final passing grade of 70% or greater to be awarded a certificate.

9. Am I guaranteed a job?
GES courses will provide you with the skills you need to obtain an entry-level position in most cases. We do not provide direct job placement services, but our instructors will help you build your resume and are available to give advice on finding your first job. Instructors will also be available to use as a professional reference upon completion of the course. Potential students should always do research on the job market in their area before registering.

10. Who will be my instructor?
Each student is paired up with a facilitator for one-on-one interaction. The facilitator will be available (via email or phone) to answer any questions you may have and to provide feedback on your performance. All of our facilitators are successful working professionals in the fields in which they teach.

11. What do I have to have in order to take an online course, and what are the system requirements?
In order to take our online courses, you must have access to a computer and the Internet (a normal dial-up connection is fine). You can access the course contents from any web-enabled computer. There are no necessary plug-ins. You do not have to use the same computer to log-in to the course every time. We recommend that you have a word processing program (Microsoft Word is best) and the latest version of Internet Explorer.

12. Can this course be taken on a Mac?
Yes.

13. How can I get more information on the course?
All of the information we have is available online under our course catalog (www.gatlineducation.com). If you have questions that are not answered online, please feel free to email us at courseinfo@gatlineducation.com or call 817-870-2870. We will answer your questions promptly.

14. When can I start the course?
Our courses are all open enrollment. You can register and start the course as soon as you are ready.