With so many career options and earning opportunities available in the travel industry, a lot of people are opting to become a travel agent. Moreover, digitisation is making it easier for travel agents to start their own travel agencies, run the travel business and make money sitting at their homes. Commissions are the most common way a travel agent makes money. When a customer books a trip or vacation through a travel agent, the agent receives a commission from the airline, host travel agency or travel company, or any other vendor. It’s easy and hassle-free.
But did you know that there are other affordable ways to make money as a travel agent? In this blog post, we will see how to make money as a travel agent other than commissions. These alternative travel business ideas will not only provide new earning opportunities but also maximize your earning potential and help you become a successful travel agent.
How to make money as a travel agent other than commissions?
1. Advertising
The first way a travel agent can explore earning extra money is through advertising or promotions. Travel agents can advertise or promote the products or services of other travel companies, or host agencies, airlines, hotels, resorts, etc. on their website or social media. They can earn a good amount of money by doing this as they are selling an advertising space to other businesses. Apart from online advertising, travel agents can also do offline advertising or promotion. This is done by putting promotional materials such as banners, leaflets, travel magazines, and travel packages in their branches or offices.
2. Sell Value-Added Services
Along with selling tickets, booking hotels and offering holiday packages, consider selling additional value-added services to customers. This will definitely attract more customers to your travel agency as they will get all travel-related services in one place. These add-on services include travel insurance, special on-ground customer support, visa processing, passport application, airport transfers or exclusive local activities and attractions. Providing all travel-related needs under one roof will generate extra revenue while improving customer satisfaction.
3. Show Off Your Travel Expertise & Earn Money
Organise educational workshops or online webinars to make the most of your skills and experience in the travel and tourism industry. You can charge an admission fee for these events, and provide attendees with valuable insights showcasing your expertise, eventually leading to client conversions. You can partner with local community centres, schools, colleges or travel organisations to deliver presentations on travel planning, budgeting, destination highlights, or sustainable travel.
4. Group Tours
This avenue will not only help you earn extra money but also expand the reach of your travel agency business. You can plan treks, religious tours, group tours or corporate tours for your customers. And for these, you can negotiate bulk discounts with airlines, hotels, resorts, etc. Moreover, charging a fee per participant allows you to earn additional income while providing top-notch service.
5. Offer Loyalty Programs to Customers
In an industry such as travel, a travel agent must build an emotional connection with customers and encourage them to choose your company and stay loyal to your brand. By creating loyalty programs for your customers, you can ensure huge discounts on trips for a longer period of time. You can create subscription plans for frequent travellers that not only help them get the most attractive deals from you but also they will stay with you, enhancing customer retention.
While commissions are still the primary source of earnings for travel agents, exploring other sources of income could significantly boost your earning potential. By advertising and promotions, selling value-added services, arranging group tours, showing off your travel industry expertise through webinars and creating exclusive customer loyalty programs, a travel agent can create many sources of income and establish themselves as an expert in the travel and tourism industry.
Visit Riya Connect, a platform built exclusively for our travel agents to start your travel business. Follow our blog for more helpful guidance on how to run and grow your travel business.
