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HOW TO GET STARTED - INFO FOR NEW TRAVEL AGENCIES
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Looking to start your own Travel Agency?
Opening a new business can be a daunting task. Here are a list of things that may come in handy when preparing to open up your travel agency doors for business:
1. Write the Travel Counsellor Exam with the Canadian Institute of Travel Counsellors (CITC). Travel Counsellor, Supervisor or Combined Exams are available.
For more information, visit their website at: www.citc.ca.
2. Register your travel agency with your local government agency (ie. Business Registration and Tax #) and/or Travel Council. ie. Travel Industry Council of Ontario
3. Sign up for a Global Distribution System (GDS) which allows you to make travel reservations on behalf of your clients. ie. ATA can help. Get Amadeus GDS in your office.
4. Computers. Make sure your computers meet the minimum requirements for Amadeus Selling Platform and Amadeus Pro Printer Installation. Minimum Requirements
5. Printers. Laser or Dot Matrix? Your Choice. Read what we think here.
6. Learn how to use Amadeus Selling Platform. Click here for Training Resources.
Remember, knowing how use the Amadeus Selling Platform and knowing how to sell travel products are two entirely differently things. Make sure you learn both!
7. Travel Suppliers. If you have registered with Amadeus, you will have access to many Tour Operators such as Air Canada Vacations, Sunwing, Sunquest, Air Transat, etc... .
But before you can use this access and claim commissions, you will need to register with each Tour Operator by calling their respective offices and notifing them of your Amadeus Office ID and other pertinent Business info. In many cases, tour operators may require you to have a Travel Industry Designator Service Number (TIDS #).
8. Getting a TIDS # will require you to contact IATA (International Air Transport Association) For more info, visit their website: www.iata.org
This should give you a basic idea of what is required in order to start your very own Travel Agency.
