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Thank you for your interest in working for our agency. We are always accepting applications from experienced travel advisors. Although we may or may not have a current position available at the time you apply we do keep resumes on file and we do have an Independent Travel Associate Program for experienced advisors who are looking for a local host agency,  click here for details .

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Complete the form below and our Host Agency Manager will contact you and schedule a personal conversation about how hosting with Market Square Travel fits with your business goals.

Job Openings

Job Description

Are you passionate about travel and have a knack for sales?  Looking for a career change to a more satisfying work life?  Look no further, Travel Leaders Market Square Travel in Minneapolis, MN is looking for individuals willing to train to start a career in travel.  Our travel agency excels at providing training and support to begin your sales career in one of the leading travel agencies in the country.   Founded in 1984, Travel Leaders Market Square Travel is a family-owned business that has been recognized multiple times as the  Travel Leaders Network: Agency of Excellence & Associate of the Year.

Our company offers:

• Paid training program including first-hand travel experiences on educational trips
• Fun and flexible work environment
• Health and dental benefits as well as 401k
• Highly personalized support and mentorship in sales and marketing
• Access to industry-leading training programs
• Strong and diverse supplier relationships that offer additional training and marketing programs
• Lead generation program to sell more and earn new customers
• Unique opportunities to share best practices and learn from other advisors in your specialty, both in-person and virtually

Must-Have Qualities

• Love of travel and passion for helping people dreaming of a trip
• Customer service disposition to handle a diverse clientele with respect
• Willingness to take direction
• Competency in Office365 products and ability to efficiently maneuver on the computer
• Good writing and communication skills
• Ability to multi-task, prioritize and meet deadlines
• Mindfulness of details and organization
• Reliability to your team mates, your customers and leadership
• Sales experience or a vibrant personality who is willing to sell
• Problem-solving skills
• Team Player
• Past international travel experiences a plus

General Job Responsibilities

• Provide excellent customer service to travelers throughout the entire sales process.
• Participate in ongoing training and educational trips
• Personal marketing and networking
• Research trip components/destinations
• Plan, book, and coordinate travel for clients including Air, Car, Hotel, Cruise, Tour, Insurance, Excursions and Rail
• Manage and invoice trip details
• Prepare final detailed client itineraries
• Navigate changing travel protocols and requirements
• Build meaningful relationships with clients

At Travel Leaders Market Square Travel you are part of our family and we value our employees. That’s why we provide a competitive compensation and benefits package. As a member of our team, you will be eligible to receive:

• Competitive starting rate and training pay
• Comprehensive benefits package, including medical/dental/life/STD/LTD, and 401K
• Generous Paid Vacation Days
• Travel opportunitie s

As part of the team, you must be willing to wear multiple hats in our cross functional business travel environment. You will not only be a corporate travel advisor on multiple accounts, but you will also work side by side with the corporate travel team with opportunities to assist upper management to support and maintain a robust travel department in all facets of the industry.

Qualifications

• 3+ years’ experience in a travel agency environment with a high proficiency in any Travelport GDS
• Ability to execute sound judgment and apply logic in a high-pressure fast-pace environment
• High level of problem solving and analytical skills
• Accurate and detail oriented
• Strong written, oral and electronic communication skills with customers and company personnel
• Ability to effectively work individually and in a team environment
• Perform duties and special requests as assigned by management
• Inquisitive mindset, positive attitude with natural drive for taking initiative and getting things done

Requirements

• Minimum of 3 years (recent) experience with Worldspan or other Travelport GDS
• Must demonstrate thorough knowledge of domestic and international fares, ticketing rules/regulations and exchanges
• Knowledge of corporate travel operations and travel industry technologies and products
• Proficient with corporate online booking tools (Deem and/or Concur) including day to day questions and support
• Experience with credit card authorization forms
• Desire to work with advisors, customers, suppliers, industry support teams and upper management
• Work well under pressure with the ability to multi-task while maintaining a professional rapport with customers
• Act with integrity and confidentiality; protect sensitive information
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel and Outlook
• Be highly productive in a self-directed work environment
• Knowledge of all aspects of travel agency operations a plus
• Maintain favorable working relationships with all other company employees to foster and promote a cooperative and harmonious working climate, which will be conducive to maximum employee morale, productivity and efficiency/effectiveness.

Job Description (Experienced)

Looking for additional support from your host agency?  Travel Leaders Market Square Travel in Minneapolis, MN is looking for experienced travel advisors/travel agents with a minimum of 3-5 years in the travel industry to join our team.  Our host agency excels at providing access to our supplier partnerships and supporting you with sales and marketing opportunities, new leads and mentorship to grow your businesses. Founded in 1984, Travel Leaders Market Square Travel has been recognized multiple times as the  Travel Leaders Network: Agency of Excellence & Associate of the Year.

Our boutique host agency offers:

• Strong and diverse supplier relationships
• Proven marketing tools including direct mail, email content and social media toolkits
• Invitations for you and your customers to attend consumer in-person and virtual events like cruise nights or destination focused experiences
• Provide onboarding assistance to make your transition to our host agency a breeze
• Top commissions with all major tour and cruise brands, as well as access to airline commission opportunities
• 90% commission plans available for qualifying advisors
• Access to industry-leading specialist programs
• Access to technology, including Client Base and Worldspan

If you have an existing clientele, we’d love to welcome you to our team as an independent advisor.  Our specialties include but are not limited to:

• Luxury travel
• Active and adventure travel
• Romance travel, including destination weddings and honeymoons
• Disney travel
• Fun and sun vacations
• Group travel
• Business travel

Job Description (New to Industry)

Are you passionate about travel and have a knack for sales?  Looking for a career change or starting a new travel business?  Look no further, Travel Leaders Market Square Travel in Minneapolis, MN is looking for entrepreneurs ready to start a thriving travel business.  Our host agency excels at providing access to our supplier partners, supporting you with sales & marketing opportunities, new leads and mentorship to grow your businesses. Founded in 1984, Travel Leaders Market Square Travel has been recognized multiple times as the  Travel Leaders Network: Agency of Excellence & Associate of the Year.

• Proven marketing tools including direct mail, email content and social media toolkits to jump start your business
• Provide onboarding assistance to help you launch your business

Our specialties include but are not limited to:

• Privately guided travel

NOTE: We are an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to a policy of nondiscrimination in employment on any basis including race, creed, color, age, sex, religion or national origin.

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The Journal

Travel Advisor Resources

How to Become a Travel Agent in Minnesota

The Modern Travel Agency

Fora Travel

https://www.foratravel.com/the-journal/how-to-become-a-travel-agent-in-minnesota

Are you interested in turning your passion for travel into a rewarding career? Becoming a travel agent in Minnesota allows you to build a fulfilling business and flexible income by booking travel. In this guide, we'll walk you through the steps to becoming a travel agent in Minnesota, from getting started to building a successful business.

First things first. What is a travel agent?

Travel agents earn money by planning trips. They work with clients to understand their vacation needs and handle all the travel arrangements, including planning activities and booking accommodations.

What are the requirements to become a travel agent in Minnesota?

Legal requirements for travel advisors

The main legal requirement to become a travel agent in Minnesota is that you will need an IATA number, a unique identifier that allows a travel agency to conduct business. Most travel advisors choose a host agency (a business that provides support and resources to independent travel agents or small travel agencies). If you’re working with a host agency such as Fora, the host agency provides access to the IATA number.

Certification & education

Becoming a travel agent in Minnesota does not require a formal travel agent certification or accreditation from a certificate program (such as Certified Travel Associates). Nor is a bachelor’s degree or high school diploma required. However, travel agent certification is highly encouraged (Fora offers this as part of its travel agent training program — more on that below).

How to become a travel agent in Minnesota

1) Understand the role: As a travel agent in Minnesota, you plan & book travel for clients, from booking flights and accommodations to organizing activities and excursions. You can also leverage your local knowledge to plan trips to your home state — tours of Minneapolis, visits to Lake Superior — using your insider intel on Minnesota travel. Once you understand the basics of the role and are ready to dive in, you’ll want to get the right support and training. Learn more about how to become a travel agent .

2) Find the right host agency: In most cases, an independent travel agent in Minnesota will work with a host agency. A host agency provides resources to travel agents, including access to booking systems & partner programs, marketing support and training. A host agency also provides agents with an IATA number, allowing them to earn commission on the travel they book. Fora is a host agency and offers a one-stop shop with everything you need to get started with your travel advisor business.

3) Participate in a training program: Once you choose a host agency, you’ll want to take a training course. Fora offers a comprehensive training program that includes seminars with all of the foundational topics to run your travel advisor business (ranging from customer service sessions to the nitty gritty of how to book). Our initial certification program offers 40+ hours of live, small-group training as well as access to recordings. We also offer ongoing training programs, including an advanced certification as well as regular partner and destination trainings.

How do I earn money as a travel agent in Minnesota?

As a travel agent in Minnesota, partners (like hotels and cruise lines) pay agents commissions for travel bookings. Commission rates vary depending on the partner. Travel agents are eligible to earn commission on any type of travel experiences, though many agents focus on 3-star or higher hotels, along with villas, cruises and tour operators. You can also earn money through planning fees. Learn more about how travel agents get paid . As an independent travel advisor, you’ll have a flexible schedule for earning. Whether you’re home-based or traveling, or if you’re working full-time or part-time, you can set your travel agent job schedule to whatever aligns best with your lifestyle.

How do I grow my business as a travel agent in Minnesota?

Build your client base: As a travel agent, this is where creativity and customer service skills come in. Clients can be found via your personal network, often starting with your friends and family. You may decide to leverage email marketing and social media to showcase your services and attract clients. At Fora, we offer marketing training as part of our program. Fora Advisors also have access to a suite of marketing tools, including a Fora profile that functions as a website, social media and email templates and more. Learn more about how we help travel advisors build their book of business .

Network : You can also attend travel industry events, trade shows and conferences to network with other travel professionals to level up your knowledge and build your travel advisor business. We offer both online and in-person networking events through Fora, including Live Forum , our annual conference. We’ve also launched local chapters in select cities throughout the United States (with more to come). Fora Chapters offer local advisors the chance to connect, network, visit hotels and talk all things travel.

The first step to become an independent travel agent is to join a host agency. Through Fora, you will get all the training, tools & community you need to succeed as a travel agent. Apply to join today to turn your skills into a fulfilling and flexible career.

More FAQs about becoming a travel agent in Minnesota

Where do travel agents work? How can I become a travel agent from home?

Some travel agents in the tourism industry work in an office, but Fora Advisors can work from anywhere. To get started, all you need is a passion for travel, a WiFi connection and a can-do attitude — and a few potential clients in your network doesn’t hurt either. As part of joining Fora, you will be an independent contractor, which means that you can set up your own business the way you want to.

What types of travel can I book as a Fora Advisor?

When starting your travel business, some Fora Advisors focus solely on booking hotels, while others offer full itinerary planning for domestic and international travel, including on-the-ground experiences (tours, activities, transportation…). In addition to hotels, advisors can book villas, cruises, yacht charters, vacation packages, all-inclusives, car rentals, travel insurance, private aviation and room blocks (for example, a destination wedding room block). Learn more about the types of bookings you can make as a Fora Advisor .

Where do travel advisors book trips to?

All over! You name it, they book it. Fora Advisors book travel to Italy (a community favorite), Costa Rica, Montana, all around the Caribbean, Australia and beyond. No destination is off-limits (yes, Fora Advisors even book travel to Antarctica ). Our training programs cover different types of travel planning at length — from cruise lines to international travel and luxury travel, as well as deep dives on different destinations. The training programs are designed to provide a deep understanding of the industry.

What kinds of travel partnerships does Fora have?

Throughout our decades-long relationships in the tourism industry, Fora has partnered with more than 5,000 hotels, meaning our advisors have access to exclusive upgrades & perks at top properties around the world. Our preferred partnerships include prestigious collections including Virtuoso , Four Seasons , Rosewood and more. We work with both high-end luxury partners as well as lifestyle boutique partners in the travel industry.

How do Fora Advisors get paid?

Fora travel advisors get paid by earning commissions from their clients' trips — usually from hotel and travel bookings. Travel partners typically pay the agent 10 to 15 percent of the total cost, but sometimes more (depending on the brand and type of partner). You can also earn money by charging a planning fee.

Unlike at other agencies in the travel industry (where travel advisors frequently have to chase their own commission), we're proud to offer a full-service, backend commission-management department. For aspiring travel agents, the process is seamless, but don't just take our word for it: hear directly from Fora Advisor Amna Ismail in this article from TravelAge West .

What resources are available to me as a travel agent in Minnesota?

Fora offers a one-stop shop for everything you need to launch your business as a travel advisor: community, training, partnerships, marketing tools, technology and payments. Online, you have access to our community app, Forum, to stay on top of travel trends and get answers to your questions about travel services, tour operators, partnerships, marketing strategies and more.

How much does Fora's subscription plan cost?

We charge advisors a monthly ($49) or annual ($299) subscription fee, which includes the cost of Fora’s technology platforms, certified training, admin support and our community app. We’ll set you up with everything you need to succeed, from your first booking to 1,000th and beyond.

How do I get started?

Sign up! Enter your email on this page and you’ll be prompted to complete a detailed survey on your travel style and experience. We’ll be in touch with next steps from there.

From training to tech, community and more, Fora is a one-stop shop to build your business as a travel advisor. Learn more and become a Fora Advisor today.

Are you the go-to person for travel tips?

Transform your passion for travel into your dream job. We'll set you up with everything you need to succeed as a travel advisor. From training to top-notch tech, marketing assets, community, commission tracking & payments (and more), we've got you.

How to Become a Travel Agent in Minnesota

Home / Travel Agent / How to Become a Travel Agent in Minnesota

Get information on Travel Agent Training programs by entering your zip code and request enrollment information.

Trending Careers

Minnesota borders Canada and Lake Superior, which is the largest of the Great Lakes.

This makes it a popular U.S. travel destination.

If you love travel and helping others, you should consider becoming a travel agent in Minnesota. 

Let’s take a look at the steps you need to follow to start your new career as a travel agent. 

Table of Contents

Travel Agent Duties in Minnesota

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As a travel agent in Minnesota, you’ll be responsible for helping your clients make travel plans.

This includes discussing destinations, helping to create an itinerary, and ensuring that travel documents are in order. 

Of course, you’ll also be responsible for booking flight or transportation reservations and hotel accommodations.

You may also need to book tours and events for your clients. 

You may choose to work with clients who live in Minnesota, those who are traveling to Minnesota, or both. 

Specific duties for a travel agent in Minnesota may include:

• Making reservations for flights and hotels  
• Recommending specific destinations and attractions 
• Booking tours and dinner reservations
• Creating a schedule or itinerary
• Making sure that any needed passports or visas are in order
• Providing advice or information about the destination

You can choose to work independently, and begin your own business as a travel agent.

You can also choose to work with a travel agency.

Working independently puts you in complete control of your business, while working with a travel agency can make it easier to work with airlines, hotels, and cruise lines as a travel agent. 

There are no licensing requirements to become a travel agent in Minnesota.

However, becoming certified is still a good idea. 

Because the industry is unregulated, there are many scammers that claim to be travel agents.

This makes potential clients cautious to work with new travel agents. 

When you are certified, this tells clients that you are a legitimate travel agent.

It also demonstrates your skills as a travel agent. 

There are five states that have licensing requirements for travel agents.

If you are working with clients who live in these states, you’ll need to be licensed in the state.

These states are California, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, and Washington.

Travel Agent Programs in Minnesota

The Travel Academy offers a Travel Agency & Reservations Systems program.

You can take the program online, or on campus.

You’ll complete the program in only 3 weeks, so you can get your career started quickly. 

There are a few things that set this program apart from similar programs.

They focus on giving you the experience you’ll need to be a successful travel agent.

The Travel Academy also has lots of industry connections.

Once you complete the program, they can help you get started on your own, or with a travel agency.

They even have a career services department. 

During the program, you’ll learn about airlines, how to use a reservation system, and how to meet your client’s travel needs.

You’ll also receive training in landing a job as a travel agent, and how to communicate with clients effectively. 

The program costs $4,900, and $500 scholarships are available. 

Minnesota State College Southeast offers a travel agent program as well.

The program is completely online, and you have 6 months to complete it.

The course is 100 hours.

Many students finish the program in a few months, however. 

Once you’ve completed the program, you can take the Travel Agent Proficiency, or TAP, test from the Travel Institute.

This entry-level certification allows you to show clients your skills and that you are serious about being a travel agent. 

During the course, you’ll learn about the travel industry, including ground and air transportation, and popular destinations you may want to recommend to your clients.

You’ll also learn the customer service skills you’ll need, and how to market yourself as a travel agent. 

The cost of the program is only $2,245 and includes the cost of the TAP exam. 

Salary 

The average yearly salary for a travel agent in Minnesota is $41,286.

Salaries range from $37,621 to $48,083.

How much you earn as a travel agent will depend on your skills, education, whether you specialize in a certain type of travel and your experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Travel agent positions are expected to grow by 20% in the next decade.

This growth rate is much higher than average.

You’ll have great job security as a travel agent.

The easiest way to get started as a travel agent is to take a training course.

Experience in a related field, like wedding or event planning or marketing can also help you get started.

To be a successful travel agent in Minnesota, you’ll need to have strong customer service skills and be highly organized.

Attention to detail, marketing skills, and a passion for travel are also essential for success.

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