Books for Travel Agents
Travel agents have an ongoing need for good information about the travel industry and how to become more successful as a travel agent. Of course, the first thing I would recommend is my Home Study Course for Home-Based Travel Agents.
On this page are other recommendations for books that travel agents will find especially useful. Some of them are available through HomeTravelAgency.com. Others are available through the links provided.
As you can see, many of these books are outrageously expensive, so I have provided you with links to Amazon.com, where you can often find used copies in excellent condition at a much more reasonable price.
How I Made A Small Fortune as a Home-Based Travel Agent by Anita Pagliasso.
Anita Pagliasso has been a home-based travel agent since 1992. She has since built a flourishing, successful business by standing out from the crowd and getting noticed. This book was written to share the secrets of her proven techniques.
Now it’s been released in a brand new edition!
The Travel Agent’s Complete Desk Reference, 5th edition, by Kelly Monaghan
The information travel agents need to have at their fingertips every day in one convenient location. Here is just a sample of what you will find in this 380-page large format reference work: Domestic airports and their codes, hotel and rental car codes, countries and currencies and their codes, toll-free supplier contact numbers, sources of tourist information (domestic and foreign), glossary of industry terms.
This new, fifth edition has been completed revised and updated!
Devils on the Deep Blue Sea by Kristoffer Garrin. This highly readable book is a history of the explosive growth of the US-based cruise business, with special attention given to Carnival. Not only is it a lot of fun to read, but it gives you a terrific insight into how the cruise industry really works. An eye-opener and a must-read for anyone selling cruises.
Group Travel
Martha Sarbey deSouto, CTC
©1993, 320 pages. Revised second edition
The award-winning guide to making big money in group travel.
Here’s everything you need to know to design, negotiate, book, price, sell, and conduct your own specialized tours and earn money outside the commission structure.
This second edition contains all new chapters on the latest developments in the group travel marketplace.
This book is not cheap but it is, hands down, the best book on the subject. That must be why we sell more copies of this book than any other travel agent book featured on this page. Highly recommended!
Cruising: Guide to the Cruise Line Industry
Dr. Marc Mancini, West Los Angeles College
©2004, 216 pages
If you’ve ever considered becoming a cruise-only agent, this is the book you need!
This comprehensive new guide, written in conjunction with the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), explains cruising in detail, the fastest growing segment of the travel industry. Chapters cover everything from who cruises and why to how to successfully market and sell cruises to
the public.
Detailed information is provided on cruise history, ship types, the cruise experience, where to cruise, how the industry operates, and promotional materials. The variety of activities — including Internet activities — found throughout reinforces concepts through practical application of learned material.
Information on how to obtain Cruise Lines International Association certification is included.
Discussion questions and activities help you test your understanding of the material Workbook format facilitates practical application of presented material. Photos, graphs and sidebars expand the content of each chapter. Contains appendices, glossary and index.
Selling Destinations:Geography for the Travel Professional
Dr. Marc Mancini, West Los Angeles College
©1999, 520 pages
Professor Marc Mancini approaches geography from a travel industry perspective.
He provides a complete look at the world’s leading centers of tourism and shows how a realistic knowledge of geography can translate into sales. Thorough and well organized, this fascinating book explains how to match clients to destinations and services, the key to travel industry success. In
addition to providing complete information about traveling, destinations, lodgings, and things to do, each chapter concludes with review activities that let you apply the information to hypothetical travelers and situations.
Geography of Travel and Tourism, Fourth Edition
Lloyd E Hudman and Richard H. Jackson
©2003
If you are adventurous in your travel or are interested in knowing more
than what is found in travel brochures, this book makes for interesting
reading. It gives a basic geographic overview of the world and each
major geographic region, providing insights about the geographic character
of specific regions to show how it establishes a setting for tourism.
All regions or countries have a brief overview of the cultural, physical,
and tourism characteristics of the region or country. The cultural
characteristics are in the form of cultural capsules pertaining to
the people and some tips as to personal actions that are acceptable
and others to be avoided. Following the analysis of the geographic
character the text discusses the tourist attractions in each of the
regions, focusing on the geographic features that are important for
creating a desire to visit that region.
The authors highlight the most significant attractions, which combine
with the geographic facts of the region to form the uniqueness of the
area for visitors.
In some cases there are differences of opinions concerning which are
the major attractions, but those presented in the text provide an
overview of the character of each specific tourist destination region.
Tourists themselves also create geography. An area with few tourists
is different in character from an area with large numbers of visitors.
The origin of tourists also affects the environment; as for example
visitors from Great Britain create a different environment than those
from France because of their differing expectations and resultant services.
- Expanded use of graphs and maps illustrate major tourism
destinations provide a visual overview of decade patterns and markets. - Country profiles and Cultural capsules provide background
information about the character of the country and interacting with
the locals. - Physical geography descriptions provide the character of
each area and increases understanding of attractions and seasonality. - Internet addresses and suggested assignments give the
reader an opportunity to explore a region or country’s web page(s)
to discover various attractions, define itineraries and explore tourism
infrastructure.
A Practical Guide To Fares & Ticketing, Third Edition
Jeanne Semer-Purzycki
©2001, 436 pages
Airline ticketing is one of the most complex areas of the travel
business. That’s why this comprehensive book is so terrific.
It’swritten in an easy-to-use, understandable manner that will
get you up to speed quickly. The text adheres to the “ARC Industry Agent’s Handbook,”
the industry standard for the sale of airline transportation
in North America. It includes the most current information and
practices, including sales, promotion, booking, pricing, and
ticketing of airline travel.This is a useful guide for the practicing professional, but
it has also been designed with the growing number of home-based
travel agents in mind. It provides all the information required
to sell and book airline travel.
Benefits:
- Explores the expanding role of the Internet and
how it can be used as a research tool - Includes a comparison of manual airline transactions
with automated forms and displays from the agency’s computer
reservations system - Includes the most current information available,
including electronic tickets and passenger rights - Real-life examples prepare readers for the realities
of the workplace - Emphasizes air transportation resources including
desktop OAG, travel planners, computer reservation systems,
and the Internet.
Conducting Tours
Dr. Marc Mancini, West Los Angeles College
©1996, 304 pages
Get out of the office and on the road!
Packed with practical information for those seeking careers as tour
guides, this book also provides invaluable insights for other
travel professionals.
Mancini provides the basics of escorting and tour planning and then
moves on to such complex subjects as cross-cultural sensitivities,
group behavior, diplomacy, and dealing with emergencies.
Selling Tourism
H. Kenner Kay, CTC
©2003
This comprehensive new book was written for anyone striving to build a
successful career in the tourism industry. From the student to the
seasoned professional, this how-to guide offers specific steps on
approaching and closing potential sales, improving technique by focusing
on attitude and problem solving, and providing expert customer service.
The reader will find the material widely applicable, as it addresses
all sectors of the tourism industry, including adventure and recreation,
tourism services, attractions, transportation, events and conferences,
travel trade, accommodations, and food and beverages. Offering thorough
coverage of the tourism sales process, this book is the perfect on-the-job
resource.
- Tourism sales process presented in 12 points, providing
step-by-step instruction on how to approach and close a potential
sale. - Presented material can be utilized for all sectors of the
tourism industry, making it widely applicable. - Role-playing exercises provide practical situations to
learn from. - Offers instruction on how to increase sales by focusing
on attitude and problem-solving skills.
Selling Cruises, 2nd Edition
Claudine Dervaes
©2003
Selling Cruises gives you a thorough understanding of cruise travel, from
freighters to luxury cruising. Knowledge of geography and cruise destinations
is emphasized, with all world ports identified on maps and described
with marketable appeal. The book also presents key information on
applying effective sales skills, qualifying clients for selecting
the right cruises and nautical terminology, and references on cruise
lines and ferry services offer useful introductions to this unique
industry in travel.
- Includes Web site addresses
- New information on freighter services
- New marketing and promotional ideas
- Teaches advantages and disadvantages of cruise travel
- Explains cruise charts, pricing procedures, booking terms,
and defines cruise terminology from A to Z
And Don’t Forget . . .
