A travel agency manager plans, organizes, directs and controls the operations of travel-related organizations. They also co-ordinate and direct the activities of staff, overseeing not only the day-to-day tasks, but the hiring, training and evaluating of staff members as well. Agency managers may also research new products and destinations, often by traveling to them and experiencing first hand the services available.
Responsibilities:
- Use operations management skills, such as establishing work plans and objectives
- Use financial management skills, such as overseeing budget
- Manage human resources, such as hiring and training staff
- Use sales and marketing skills, such as determining potential markets
- Co-ordinate merchandising functions through retail buyers
- Research new products
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Proven sales and marketing abilities
- Organizational and planning skills
- Customer service skills
- Human resource management skills
- Financial management skills
- Marketing and selling skills
- Research skills
- Travel and/or management experience
- Strong leadership and team-building skills
- Time and risk management skills an asset
- Second language an asset
- Secondary school diploma is required
- Several years of related retail sales experience with increasing levels of responsibility is required
- Diploma or degree in tourism, business or management may be necessary
- Certification as an ACCESS Certified Travel Manager, provided by the Canadian Institutes of Travel Counselors (CITC) or the Association of Canadian Travel Agents (ACTA), may also be required
Possible Future Career Path:
- Tour Operator
- General Manager
- Regional Manager
- Agency Owner/Operator
Information provided by Discover Tourism.
