Travel Sales Agent

The structural principles behind the training are subdivided into three focal points/job areas:

• Tour organising (e.g. DERTOUR, ITS, JAHN REISEN, Meier's Weltreisen, TJAEREBORG)
• Tourism travel arrangements (e.g. DER and ATLASREISEN)
• Transport travel arrangements (e.g. DER Business Travel Agencies)

Travel sales agents in tour organising plan, design and estimate prices for package tours, individual trips, round trips and group as well as special tours. They negotiate prices and terms with airlines, hotels and other service providers. They handle payment and invoicing processes, help to design marketing efforts and catalogues and co-ordinate the co-operation between tour operators and travel agencies.

• GCSE (Abitur) or specialised GCSE (Fachabitur)
• Very strong interest in business and in geography
• Solid knowledge of English and, if possible, Spanish
• Solid knowledge of computers (MS Office) and an interest in computer reservation systems
• Initial experience from internships or part-time jobs (commercial or service industry)
• Time spent abroad with foreign language studies, if possible
• Communicative and interpersonal skills along with good manners
• Flexibility, team spirit and the ability to handle pressure

Travel sales agents who arrange tourist travel sell products and services from various companies such as tour operators, airlines, car hire firms, railways, ferries and travel insurers through travel agencies. They advise and inform customers of travel connections and rates, determine and estimate prices, handle payment and invoicing processes, help to design marketing efforts and provide information on travel destinations as well as visa and other customs requirements.

• Good leaving certificate from a higher commercial school, commercial trade school, GCSE or specialised GCSE (Höhere Handelsschule, kfm. Berufsfachschule, Abitur or Fachabitur)
• Very strong interest in geography
• Good knowledge of German, solid knowledge of English
• Interpersonal skills, good manners
• Basic IT skills
• Initial experience from internships
• Willingness to provide services and work in teams

Travel sales agents who specialise in arranging transportation generally work for business customers in the field of business travel. Most contact with customers is by telephone. These agents sell products and services from various service providers. These are mainly from airlines, railways, car hire firms and hotels. The job is focused on rates, data and facts; organising and processing; as well as on using the internet and e-mail. The agents serve as contacts for company representatives and handle corporate orders quickly and reliably. Quick routines as well as up-to-date information are thus essential for service and customer satisfaction. The agents have a wide range of modern computing and communications technologies at their fingertips.

• Good leaving certificate from a higher commercial school, commercial trade school, GCSE or specialised GCSE (Höheren Handelsschule, kfm. Berufsfachschule, Abitur or Fachabitur)
• Interest in geography
• Good knowledge of German
• Good knowledge of English
• Good IT knowledge along with a strong interest in computer reservation systems
• Good communicative and expressive skills
• Flexibility and ability to handle pressure
• Willingness to provide services and work in teams

• Tour organising
• Tourism travel arrangements
• Transport travel arrangements

• Handling sales
• Accounting
• Travel coordination
• Purchasing allotments
• Sales / agency service
• Advertising / marketing
• Press / public relations

• Destinations
• Products and services
• Communication and co-operation
• Commercial management and review
• Controlling
• Designing products / services
• Marketing
• Special tasks in each specialisation
• Legal foundations
• Customer advising and sales
• Cost and service invoicing

• 2.5 to 3 years
• Examinations before the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK)