As a modern travel agency, we have insight, data and experience on how much travel agents make. Below, we break down all the factors that go into travel agent pay, including how to maximize your earnings if you choose to become a travel agent.
How do travel agents get paid?
Travel agents are paid commissions for the properties and services (car rentals, tours, etc.) they book for clients. This is typically a percentage — five to 15 percent — of the total price of the room, rental car or experience. Additionally, many travel agents charge planning fees for building custom itineraries. The exact amount varies by agent and by the itinerary’s complexity, but $250 per week of travel planned is a common starting point.
Related article: Is Being a Travel Agent Worth It? Fora Discusses the Pros & Cons
Can you make ‘good’ money as a travel agent?
Absolutely. Our top bookers earn north of six figures annually (read our article on Fora travel advisor salaries). The more you book, the more you earn. And if you become a Fora Advisor, you get to work at your own pace, on a schedule that works best for you and your lifestyle.
Factors that might affect how much a travel agent makes
Image courtesy of Turtle Bay Resort
A lot of factors go into how much travel agents make. Here are some of the most common ones.
The host agency that the travel agent chooses (and the resources the agency provides)
Most travel agents partner with host travel agencies to gain access to an IATA number — booking travel without one is nearly impossible — as well as the agency’s resources and tools.
Choosing the right host agency can have a profound impact on how much a travel agent makes. You have to consider the agency’s prerequisites. Some agencies require that incoming agents complete some sort of travel agent school before enrolling in their program. Then, virtually all agencies charge a subscription fee and take a percentage of their agents’ commission in exchange for access to the agency’s tools and resources.
As such, it’s important to weigh the value the agency offers against their fees and commission split. At Fora, we include everything you need to be a successful travel agent in our monthly subscription ($49). This cost covers our extensive range of tools and resources. You’ll receive comprehensive travel agent training, access to time-saving tools like our in-house booking platformmarketing resources and access to a wealth of invaluable insider travel knowledge. Our commission split is 70-30 (you take home the larger percentage). And Since travel agents are independent business owners, these costs can be written off as expenses come tax season.
The travel agent’s niche
The type of travel an agent books matters. Not all travel agent jobs — or niches — are the same, and some are more lucrative than others. For example, a successful luxury travel advisor tends to book higher-value lodging and experiences. But volume matters, too. More approachably priced products can still generate substantial income when sold at scale.
Full- or part-time schedules
Fora Advisors have the flexibility to work as much as they want. (As remote travel agents.) Some agents treat their position as a part-time endeavor alongside another job or caregiving duties. Others jump into travel advising full time.
Related article: Travel Agent Commission: How Does it Work?
5 Ways to maximize your earnings as a travel agent
Here are a few ways to boost how much you can make as a travel agent.
1. Consider adopting a niche
A niche can go a long way in boosting how much a travel agent makes. Rather than trying to be good at everything, niche travel agents become great at one or two aspects of travel — at least to start. This allows them to build a wealth of knowledge in their niche that will impress clients, potentially drawing in business from new clients seeking a similar trip.
At Fora, there’s no limit to the type of niches an advisor adopts. You could specialize in selling cruises, Disney vacations, trips to a certain location (such as Las Vegas or Barcelona) — whatever you’re most passionate about. Plus, you can continue to adopt additional areas of expertise.
Related articles: How to Become a Cruise Travel Agent (It's Easier Than You Think) & How to Become a Disney Travel Agent: Fora’s Full Guide
2. Expand your partnerships with hotel reps, tour operators and other travel-related services
Incentives like complimentary travel perks — hotel room upgrades, extended check-in/out, spa credits, etc. — give travel agents an edge over online travel agencies (OTAs) like Booking.com. Expanding these partnerships boosts the value and depth of a travel agent's services.
By becoming more attractive to potential clients, these agents increase their earnings potential. Of course, expanding partnerships is no easy feat without the backing of a top-tier host agency.
Fora partners with all major hotel groups, allowing our travel advisors to unlock VIP perks for their clients at thousands of hotels around the world. And Fora’s HQ is constantly working to expand its network of partnerships.
3. Work with a travel company that cares about your success
As mentioned earlier, your choice of host agency is critical.
At Fora, we offer unwavering support to all our advisors, plus loads of resources, including a bevy of marketing materials, an advanced travel advisor training program and access to an engaged community filled with travel experts.
4. Give your clients the star treatment (because thoughtful advisors will get repeat business)
Possibly the most important factor affecting how much a travel agent makes: their customer service skills. Travel is a human-first business, after all. Relationships matter. Putting the time and effort into making sure your clients have an amazing experience will pay dividends. Not only will you likely win their future business, but you could win the business of their family members, friends and peers, too. In fact, most of our top-earning agents grew their businesses first by word of mouth. Enthusiasm spreads.
Related article: How to Get Clients as a Travel Agent: Fora's Top 3 Tips
5. Keep at it
Patience and dedication have a dramatic effect on how much travel agents make. You’re not going to start with a dozen clients planning 20 trips. It takes a lot of time and effort to get to that point. Building a business takes time (and courage). But travel planning can be a very rewarding career.
Apply to become a Fora Advisor & start earning right away
Overall, travel planning can be a rewarding (and flexible) career for those willing to put in the work.
Fora only enhances that flexibility and earnings potential by equipping you with all the tools, training and support you need to be successful. Upon becoming a Fora Advisor, you can start earning money by booking travel right away. Apply to join Fora today.
How much do travel agents make: FAQs
Read on for a few answers to common questions regarding how much travel agents make.
In a literal sense, how do travel agents get paid?
Our guide to how travel agents get paid covers this topic thoroughly. Generally, commission payments are sent some time after the agent’s client completes the commissionable service. The exact window varies by service and brand and so on.
At Fora, we handle invoicing and chase payments on our advisors’ behalf. This dramatically cuts down on the amount of time they have to spend on administrative tasks, and speeds up the time it takes to get paid.
“The benefit of Fora handling commission tracking and payments is that it streamlines the entire process, ensuring accuracy and timeliness while reducing administrative burden,” said Fora Advisor Chanda Daly. “This allows me to focus more on growing my business and less on the complexities of financial management.”
How do you make six figures as a travel agent?
It’s a bit of a cliché, but patience, dedication and great customer service all make a big difference. It takes a lot of hard work to build up a client base that facilitates six-figure earnings. Choosing the right travel agent host agency can also go a long way in equipping you with the right tools, industry knowledge and resources to attract clients and craft dream vacations for them.
More travel advisor resources
Check out these travel advisor resources:
