Travel & Tourism Classes

To prepare students for entry-level employment in the travel and tourism field.

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:

• Comprehend details of accommodations, travel tickets, tours, and/or packages containing two or more passengers, and details of selling these elements to business/leisure clients
• Understand the main categories of travel, including air, rail, cruise and lodging and interpret vendor information to arrange and book appropriate travel for client
• Apply knowledge of travel costs including fees, taxes, discounts and other factors to calculate cost of travel accommodations for clients
• Determine one's own commission rate for any sold product using commissionable and non-commissionable fees
• Prepare or request transportation carrier tickets, and book transportation and hotel reservations, using a computer reservation system
• Comprehend international customs, points of interest, and foreign country regulations
• Compare accommodations, tickets, itineraries and travel packages to determine which will better suit clients
• Understand the process for starting a travel business including any professional development necessary to work in the travel field

The advantages of learning at home; types of study materials; types of examinations; accessing and using the features of our website; determining what kind of learner you are; establishing a study schedule; using study tips; preparing for and taking examinations.

Overview of travel and tourism industry; regulatory agencies; trade organizations; types of transportation companies; receptive travel services: lodging, food, local attractions; the future of the travel industry; employment opportunities.

Basic terminology of air travel; computer reservation systems (CRS) codes; frequent-flyer programs; types of airlines and flights; classes of services; passenger services: meals, infant and child travel; health concerns; passenger’s rights.

Air fares, electronic rules, handling reservations over the phone; reservations terminology; flight services; flight schedule resources; fare-calculation principles; discounted fares; taxes and surcharges; airline ticketing; careers in the airline industry.

Overview of geography; continents and oceans; latitude and longitude; time zones; maps; climate and weather.

Physical geography in North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia, and the Pacific Islands.

Requirements for international travel: passports, visas, tourist cards, immunizations, International Driver’s Permit (IDP); customs regulations; money matters: market exchange rates, where to exchange, Value-Added Taxes (VAT); international arrival and departure procedures; international taxes and surcharges; international fare structures.

Key tourist destinations throughout the world: cultural capitals, key resort areas, special-interest areas, unique geographical features; optimum travel times; planning an itinerary; covers North America, Central America, and South America.

Key tourist destinations throughout the world: cultural capitals, key resort areas, special-interest areas, unique geographical features; optimum travel times; planning an itinerary; covers Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

Key tourist destinations throughout the world: cultural capitals, key resort areas, special-interest areas, unique geographical features; optimum travel times; planning an itinerary; covers Asia and the South Pacific.

Examination Booklet: Exploring the World

Leisure and business travel accommodations; types of hotels and affiliations; qualifying the traveler for the best accommodation; sources of information; automated reservations procedures.

Definitions of tour and vacation package components; who operates tours; types of tours; package benefits; selling tours; transmitting payments and documentation.

Examination Booklet: Hotel and Resorts/Tours Vacation Packages

Cruise industry terminology; types of vessels; passenger markets; prices and discounts; on-board staff; accommodations and dining; services, activities, and excursions; resources; selling cruises.

Car rentals; services and equipment; fee options; insurance; benefits of renting; qualifying clients; renting via computer; rail travel categories, seating and accommodations, client markets, booking, and documentation; rail services and requirements; major U.S. routes, fares, and schedules; rail lines in North America and throughout the world.

Examination Booklet: Cruises/Rail Cars

Hardware, software, and general PC capabilities.

Hands-on, in-depth introduction to commonly used Windows®-based productivity software packages, including word processing, spreadsheet, and database packages.

Terminology; major players; selecting a CRS; communicating through CRS; required information and fields; passenger information and fares; automated ticketing.

Browsers; search engines; service providers; useful sites; Internet vs. intranet; how travel agents and customers use the Internet.

Examination Booklet: Computer Reservations Systems/Travel and the Internet

Reference Letter: Apollo® or Sabre® Training Component

Complete training in the Apollo® or Sabre® system. You will use a live database-emulation product accessed via the Internet. Lessons covered include airline reservations, airline fares and ticketing, and car and hotel reservations.

Study Guide: CRS Apollo® or Sabre®

Supplement: CRS Apollo® or Sabre®

The corporate market: travel arrangements, meetings, and incentive events; corporate travel dynamics; corporate services provided by agency and suppliers; group business travel meetings and incentives; careers in corporate and group travel.

Selling travel, including niche marketing, telephone sales, and direct and cross-selling techniques; identifying and qualifying clients, overcoming objections, closing the sale, follow-up; written and oral communication skills; presentation skills.

Examination Booklet: Corporate and Group Travel/Business Communications