Travel Agency Clerk

Also known as:

Holiday Booking Clerk
Travel Sales Advisor

Introduction

Travel agency clerks advise customers on holiday and travel opportunities. Work usually takes place behind a counter where the clerk acts as a salesperson, helping clients choose the holiday which suits their needs.

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Work Activities

Travel agency clerks advise customers on opportunities for holidays and travel in the UK and abroad. At the counter service in a travel agency, the clerk acts primarily as a salesperson, helping clients to choose the holiday that suits their needs.

In most agencies, clerks make use of computers to check the availability of tour packages. They can make immediate bookings with tour operators, airlines, shipping companies, coach operators and car hire companies.

Clerks may also advise customers about passports, vaccinations, visas, insurance and extra excursions. They deal with issues relating to holiday cancellations and may arrange refunds or handle complaints. They refer serious cases to a senior manager or tour operator.

Travel agency clerks are trained in foreign exchange procedures and in business travel. Foreign exchange involves buying and selling foreign currency and travellers' cheques for customers and arranging to transfer money to them while they are abroad. Clerks working in business travel usually deal directly with companies by telephone to arrange trips for executives.

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Personal Qualities and Skills

Good communication skills and a pleasant, friendly personality are important when dealing with the public and tour operators. Keyboard skills are useful as computers are used constantly for enquiries and bookings.

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Pay and Opportunities

The pay rates given below are approximate.

Travel agency clerks earn in the range of £13,500 - £18,500 a year, rising to £17,000 - £21,000 a year. Salaries may include a bonus element.

Clerks usually work a basic 39-hour week, and are usually required to work on Saturdays.

Employers are the many high street travel agencies. Some are small independent firms while others are part of a chain of companies. Check travel shop windows for vacancy cards.

Travel agency managers are often drawn from agency staff members who have completed in-company training schemes.

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Adult Opportunities

It is now illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Employers prefer applicants with a relevant background in retail sales, customer care and reception work.

Some colleges relax entrance requirements for travel and tourism courses for applicants with relevant paid or unpaid experience.

Relevant distance learning courses are offered by Cambridge International College and City College.

• 29% of people in occupations such as travel agency work part-time.
• 9% have flexible hours.
• 2% of employees work on a temporary basis.

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