Photo Credit: Tourism Vancouver / Suzanne Rushton

A travel counsellor advises clients on travel options and tour packages, makes bookings and reservations, prepares tickets and receives payment. They are enthusiastic about travel, and have good research and organizational skills. In addition to salaries, travel counsellors also may be offered commissions and travel benefits. They are employed in retail travel agencies, wholesale tour companies and in corporate offices that have enough business travel to warrant their own booking divisions.

• Provide travel information and itineraries to clients
• Counsel clients on terms and conditions of travel, e.g. cancellation policies
• Sell tickets/tours and make reservations
• Process payments and keep accounts
• Promote destinations, tour packages and other services
• Provide travel tips on currency, language, safety, health, etc.
• May also sell special event tickets or travel insurance

• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Customer service skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Aptitude for selling
• Ability to work under pressure
• Sales and marketing experience
• Computer experience
• Monetary transaction skills
• Proven research, organizational and time management skills
• Travel experience an asset
• Second language an asset
• Secondary school diploma is required
• Related college diploma is usually requested
• Certification with the Canadian Institute of Travel Counsellors may be needed (This certification requires completion of a knowledge exam, having 1000 hours work experience and passing a practical evaluation of performance)

• Senior Travel Counsellors
• Travel Agency Manager
• Agency Owner/Operator