Travel agents can earn money through commission and service fees.
Commissions are payments made by travel suppliers, such as hotels and tour operators, to travel agents for selling their products. The commission rate varies depending on the supplier and the amount of business that is booked to that supplier. Commissions are paid after travel which means travel agents may be paid 1-2 years after they do the work. If a trip is cancelled, in most cases, travel advisors lose their full wage for that trip. Most commission is already built into the normal cost of a trip so the cost of using or not using a travel agent is often the same. Using a local travel advisor means that some of your vacation dollars are kept within the community.
Some travel agents charge service fees. They may charge a planning fee which guarantees they are paid for providing quotes. Some may charge cancellation fees so that they earn some money for the work spent on cancelled trips. Many airlines do not provide commission to travel agents so some agents charge fees for booking flights. Some fees may be flat fees and others may be a percentage of the trip. Contact your travel agent directly to find out if they charge any fees. Adventures by Amaris does not charge fees at this time.
Overall, travel agents make money by providing valuable services to their clients and earning commissions and service fees. By working with a travel agent, clients can save time and money while receiving expert advice and personalized recommendations for their travel needs.
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