Requirements

Travel agency manager or proprietor - requirements

As a travel agency manager or proprietor, you’ll use your management, marketing and people skills to run a successful business that sells travel and holiday products. Read on to find out more about working in this area, see what it involves and what you might study or do to get a role.

Know what you'll need to land a job below.

What qualifications do you need to be a travel agency manager or proprietor?

There’s a wide range of relevant HNDs, foundation degrees or degrees that could help you succeed in your career.

Subjects to consider include:

Graduate training programmes are offered by some larger travel companies and are a great way to kickstart a career, gaining relevant knowledge and skills while you build practical experience.

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Do you need a postgraduate qualification to be a travel agency manager or proprietor?

You don’t need a postgraduate qualification to enter or progress in this field, but they can be helpful when applying for more senior or competitive roles.

Examples of taught master’s degrees at postgraduate level include MAs in:

Leisure and tourism management
Culture, heritage and leisure management
International hospitality and tourism management
International events, leisure and tourism management

What skills do you need to be a travel agency manager or proprietor?

As a travel agency manager or owner, you’ll need to show strong sales skills, along with effective communication and customer service skills.

Hard skills usually include:

Business management
Business development
Health and safety regulations
Recruitment and training
Managing people

Soft skills include:

Customer service
Sales
Communication
Management and leadership
Planning skills

Do you need work experience to be a travel agency manager or proprietor?

Work experience in sales, marketing or retail environments is very helpful if you’re looking to move into travel agency work from elsewhere. Experience in travel or in any kind of managerial role is beneficial and will help you stand out to employers.

Experience of travel or working abroad, or work experience in parts of the travel industry like hotels or airlines is also valued by employers in this area.