Being a travel agent in New Hampshire is not as easy a job as one could imagine.
You probably even think there’s no point in becoming one currently, however, the demand for such professionals is slowly increasing.
Read this guide to find out more!
Travel Agent Job Description and Duties in New Hampshire
Usually, knowing what you’re supposed to do once hired as anything, helps you realize if that job is made for you or not.
Travel agents usually arrange for the following, for their clients:
- Transportation
- Accommodation
- Entertainment
However, figuring out these travel aspects involves knowledge, skills, and other specific actions.
Understanding what the client needs or wants is the first step.
The next step is to find solutions based on their budgets.
Travel agents also need to make sure their customers can actually go to their desired destination.
For this, agents must:
- Review visas, vaccinations, and other travel necessities
- Keep accurate records
- Find solutions to issues and emergencies
- Handle payments and deposits
- Promote the various packages resorts, hotels, and cruise companies offer
- Negotiate with hotels, resorts, cruise companies, and more
Sometimes, the whole process could involve additional steps and tasks to be completed.
It’s very common for these professionals to become more familiar with certain types of tourism:
- Honeymoon
- Have some more family time together
- For business
- Go on a cruise
- Luxury
- Budget
- Relaxation
Requirements to be a Travel Agent in New Hampshire
By now you’re probably wondering what kind of person it takes to become a travel agent.
This is easy to answer.
You’ll need abilities like the following:
- Good communication skills
- Good management skills
- Able to use various computer programs
- Good problem-solving skills
- Great marketing skills
- Able to work full-time
- Detail-oriented
- Being confident
- Be at least 18 years old
- Having a clean criminal record
- Being honest
- Have a high school diploma or GED
- Speaking a foreign language
- Liking and having the ability to travel
Having previous experience is not something you must have, though there will be employers who will prefer experienced candidates.
Education and Certification for a Travel Agent in New Hampshire
Ignoring getting some education as a future travel agent is a big mistake.
Formal education is how you’ll develop most of the skills you’ll need down the road.
The majority of agents hold at least an Associates’ degree if not even a Bachelors’ degree in tourism.
To find tourism-related classes in New Hampshire look at the table below.
Top 9 Schools in New Hampshire
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Concord's Community College | 31 COLLEGE DRIVE CONCORD, NH 03301 |
| Granite State College | 25 HALL STREET CONCORD, NH 03301 |
| Great Bay Community College | 320 CORPORATE DRIVE PORTSMOUTH, NH 03801 |
| Lakes Region Community College | 379 BELMONT ROAD LACONIA, NH 03246 |
| New England College | 98 BRIDGE ST HENNIKER, NH 03242 |
| Plymouth State University | 17 HIGH STREET PLYMOUTH, NH 03264 |
| Southern New Hampshire University | 2500 NORTH RIVER ROAD MANCHESTER, NH 03106 |
| University of New Hampshire | 105 MAIN ST., THOMPSON HALL DURHAM, NH 03824 |
| White Mountains Community College | 2020 RIVERSIDE DRIVE BERLIN, NH 03570 |
To enroll you’ll have to show you graduated from high school or to at least present a GED.
You can find courses both online and in-person, depending on your preferences.
These are the main topics you’ll study in-depth:
- Introduction to the travel industry
- Professional Skills
- Basic/International geography
- Destination geography
- Introduction to international travel
- Introduction to air travel
- Transportation
- Career development
- Sales and marketing for travel
Travel Agent Salary and Employment in New Hampshire
Many jobs come with perks, and that of a travel agent is traveling.
This improves your recommendation, it’s better for negotiating packages, and more.
As this type of agent, you can work either for an agency or on your own.
Even the type of employment comes with advantages and disadvantages.
These can be working from home or in an office, according to your own schedule, or to one that is imposed, and so on.
The average salaries across the 10 largest cities in this state are seen below.
| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
$35K | |
$38K | |
$46K |
Average Salary of Travel Agents in New Hampshire
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Manchester | $39,384 |
| Nashua | $41,610 |
| Concord | $39,614 |
| Derry | $40,452 |
| Dover | $39,307 |
| Rochester | $39,146 |
| Salem | $40,996 |
| Merrimack | $41,610 |
| Londonderry | $41,610 |
| Hudson | $41,610 |
Additional Information for Travel Agents in New Hampshire
Those working on their own usually need additional licenses that must be kept updated.
Becoming a member of various associations is highly recommended to travel agents.
The mention of continuing education is spot on. Staying updated on trends and technology is crucial in an industry that’s constantly evolving.
I never realized the variety of skills needed to thrive as a travel agent until reading this. From customer service to sales, it’s a multifaceted profession indeed!