1. Home: Explore careers
  2. Travel agency manager

Travel agency manager

Alternative titles for this job include Travel manager

Travel agency managers are responsible for the day-to-day running of travel agencies, meeting sales targets and promoting travel products.

Average salary (a year)

£20,000 Starter

to

£40,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

43 to 45 a week

You could work

weekends flexibly

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become a travel agency manager

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role
  • applying directly

University

You could do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in a subject like:

  • travel operations
  • tourism management
  • retail management
  • business management

You could join a travel company as a trainee manager once you finish your course.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

More Information

College

You could do a college course, which may help when you start to look for work as a trainee manager. Courses include:

  • Level 4 Diploma in Travel and Tourism Management
  • Level 4 Diploma in Tourism Management

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 1 or 2 A levels, a level 3 diploma or relevant experience for a level 4 or level 5 course

More Information

Apprenticeship

You could start by doing a travel consultant advanced apprenticeship, then take further on-the-job training to become a manager.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

More Information

Work

You could join a company as a travel agent and work your way up to become an assistant manager then manager, as you get more experience. You could also do training on the job.

Direct Application

You could apply to be a travel agency manager if you've got experience in retail management or sales.

More Information

Further information

You can get more advice about working in travel from the Institute of Travel & Tourism.

What it takes

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • customer service skills
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • the ability to sell products and services
  • active listening skills
  • a desire to help people
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • ambition and a desire to succeed
  • the ability to work well with others
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

What you’ll do

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

You could:

  • recruit and train new staff
  • set sales targets and monitor staff performance
  • work with tour operators to buy travel packages
  • organise staff rotas
  • control budgets
  • manage travel accounts for corporate clients
  • advise customers about travel products and destinations
  • provide sales reports for head office

Working environment

You could work in an office.

You may need to wear a uniform.

Career path and progression

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

Career path and progression

With experience you could become a regional manager, with responsibility for several travel agency branches.

You could also work as a business travel manager with a multinational company.

You could set up your own travel business.

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

Travel Consultant Apprentice

  • Wage: £10,158.72 to £20,048.08 Annually
  • Location: GROUND FLOOR MAINGATE, KINGSWAY NORTH, TEAM VALLEY TRADING ESTATE

TUI Retail Apprentice

  • Wage: £11,302.00 Annually
  • Location: Poole

Courses In England

DIPLOMA IN TRAVEL & TOURISM

  • Provider: NORTHAMPTON COLLEGE
  • Start date: 02 September 2024
  • Location: DAVENTRY

Travel and Tourism Diploma

  • Provider: LUTON SIXTH FORM COLLEGE
  • Start date: 05 September 2024
  • Location: Luton

Jobs In the United Kingdom

The Find a job service can help you with your search for jobs and send alerts when new jobs become available.

Skills assessment

Take an assessment to learn more about your skills and the careers that might suit you.

Is this page useful?

Yes No

Thank you for your feedback.

Thank you for your feedback. Click here if you'd like to let us know how we can improve the service.