How to Start Your Exciting Career as a Travel Agent with MainStreet Travel Agency
Picture yourself waking up every morning excited about your work. You're helping families plan their dream Disney vacations, sending couples on romantic getaways, and maybe even scoring some incredible travel perks for yourself along the way. Sound too good to be true? It's not—and MainStreet Travel Agency might just be your ticket to making it happen!
If you've been scrolling through travel photos on social media wishing you could turn your passion for travel into actual income, you're in the right place. Becoming a travel agent isn't just about booking flights anymore. It's about creating memories, building relationships, and yes, earning money while doing something you genuinely love.
Let's talk about how MainStreet Travel Agency can help you launch your travel career—even if you've never sold a single vacation package before!
Join us today with either our Free Membership or Travel Plus Membership for only $99! No monthly fees or annual dues, and no minimum booking requirements!
Why Now is the Perfect Time to Become a Travel Agent
Here's something that might surprise you: travel agents are making a massive comeback! While everyone thought the internet would kill this career, the opposite is happening. People are craving that personal touch, expert advice, and someone who actually has their back when travel plans go sideways.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that travel advisor careers will grow by about 20 percent over the next decade—that's way faster than average for most jobs. Why? Because travelers are tired of spending hours researching destinations, comparing prices, and stressing about whether they're getting the best deal. They want an expert, and that's where you come in!
Plus, with MainStreet Travel Agency, you don't need some fancy degree or years of experience! If you love travel and enjoy helping people, you've already got the foundation you need!
What Makes MainStreet Travel Agency Different
Let's be real—there are tons of host agencies out there. So what makes MainStreet stand out from the crowd?
Freedom to Build Your Business Your Way
MainStreet gets it. Maybe you're a teacher looking for summer income. Maybe you're a stay-at-home parent who needs flexible hours. Or maybe you're ready to dive in full-time and build something big. Whatever your situation, MainStreet doesn't box you in with crazy requirements or minimum booking quotas.
You work when you want, how you want. No boss breathing down your neck. No mandatory office hours. Just you, your laptop, and the freedom to create your own schedule.
Training That Actually Works
Starting something new can feel overwhelming, but MainStreet has your back with comprehensive training programs that make sense. They offer online courses covering everything from how to book travel to understanding different destinations. You'll learn about Disney properties, cruise lines, all-inclusive resorts, and so much more.
The best part? You're not just thrown into the deep end. MainStreet provides ongoing support with webinars, supplier training sessions, and a community of other agents who've been exactly where you are right now.
Commission Rates That Let You Actually Profit
Here's where things get exciting! MainStreet offers industry-high 70/30 commission rate, meaning you keep more of what you earn! While commission structures can get complicated in the travel world, MainStreet keeps it straightforward. New agents earn between 70% commission, which is pretty solid when you're just starting out!
Standard travel agent commissions range from 10-15% of the total booking cost. So if you book a $5,000 vacation, you're looking at $500-750 in commission—and with MainStreet's split, you'd pocket $300-600 of that. Book just a few trips per month and you can see how the money adds up quickly!
Real Support When You Need It
Ever tried calling customer service and gotten stuck in endless phone trees? Yeah, MainStreet isn't like that. They offer seven-day-a-week online help, quick responses to your questions, and a team that actually wants you to succeed!
Plus, they've got this amazing agent community where you can connect with other travel agents, share tips, swap client stories, and get advice when you're stuck. It's like having thousands of coworkers cheering you on—minus the awkward water cooler conversations.
What You Actually Need to Get Started
One of the biggest myths about becoming a travel agent? That you need years of school or some special certification. Let's bust that myth right now.
Education Requirements
You don't need a college degree to become a successful travel agent! Seriously. Not even a high school diploma is expected, if you’re 18 years or older and are interested in booking travel for yourself, family, or friends, you’re welcome to join!
What matters way more than degrees? Things like customer service skills, attention to detail, good communication, and a genuine passion for travel! If you're the friend everyone comes to for vacation advice, you've already got what it takes!
Skills That Make You Successful
The most successful travel agents share some common traits:
People skills: You need to enjoy talking with clients, understanding what they really want, and making them feel heard.
Organization: Keeping track of bookings, dates, client preferences, and details is crucial.
Sales ability: At the end of the day, you're running a business. You need to be comfortable recommending travel packages and closing sales.
Problem-solving: Flights get cancelled. Hotels mess up reservations. You need to stay calm and find solutions.
Tech comfort: You'll work with booking systems, customer relationship management (CRM) tools, and various online platforms.
The good news? These are all skills you can develop and learn as you go!
Investment and Startup Costs
Let's talk money. How much does it actually cost to become a travel agent with MainStreet?
Startup costs for joining a host agency like MainStreet range from FREE to $100! They’re not like other agencies that charge you high startup fees and annual dues. Lots of agents really enjoy their Travel Plus Membership which gives you access to their CRM and other benefits! Things that come with both their memberships:
Training
Booking for Commission
Community Access
Ongoing Support
MainStreet keeps costs reasonable because they understand you're just starting out! Most agents make back their initial investment (if they chose the Travel Plus) after their first booking!
Your Step-by-Step Path to Success
Alright, you're sold on the idea. Now what? Here's exactly how to get started with MainStreet Travel Agency!
Step One: Apply and Get Accepted
First things first—head to MainStreet's website and fill out their application. They'll want to know about your travel experience, why you're interested in becoming an agent, and what you hope to achieve.
Don't stress if you're brand new to this. MainStreet welcomes agents at all experience levels! What they're really looking for is enthusiasm, commitment, and a genuine desire to help people travel!
Step Two: Complete Your Training
Once you're accepted, it's time to dive into training. MainStreet offers a structured online schooling program that covers all the essential knowledge you need. You'll learn:
How to research and book different types of travel (cruises, resorts, Disney vacations, international trips)
Customer service best practices
Sales and marketing strategies
Using booking systems and CRM tools
Understanding commission structures and payments
The training is self-paced, so you can work through it on your own schedule. Most new agents complete the basic training within a few weeks to a couple months.
Step Three: Choose Your Niche
Here's where things get fun. While you can book any type of travel, many successful agents choose to specialize in a particular niche. This helps you stand out, build expertise, and attract clients who are looking for exactly what you offer.
Popular niches include:
Disney and theme park vacations: Perfect if you're already a Disney fanatic who knows the parks inside and out.
Cruise travel: Great for agents who love the cruise experience and want to become cruise specialists.
Luxury travel: If you enjoy high-end resorts and exclusive experiences, this could be your calling.
Family and multigenerational travel: Helping families create memories together is incredibly rewarding.
Destination weddings and honeymoons: Romance sells, and these bookings often come with higher commissions.
Adventure travel: For the adrenaline junkies who want to help others explore off the beaten path.
You don't have to pick just one niche, but having a specialty helps you market yourself more effectively and builds your credibility.
Step Four: Build Your Client Base
This is where the rubber meets the road. How do you actually find clients and start booking travel?
Start with your warm market—friends, family, coworkers, and social media connections. Let people know you're now a travel agent and would love to help plan their next trip. Don't be shy about it. You'd be surprised how many people are already planning vacations and would love expert help.
Create a Facebook page or Instagram account for your travel business. Share destination photos, travel tips, money-saving advice, and client testimonials. Engaging content attracts potential clients naturally.
Join local groups and get involved in your community. Maybe sponsor a local sports team or participate in school events. Building relationships in person translates to bookings.
Ask happy clients for referrals. Word-of-mouth marketing is incredibly powerful in the travel industry. When someone has an amazing vacation, they can't wait to tell everyone about it—and about you.
Step Five: Keep Learning and Growing
The travel industry changes constantly. New resorts open, destinations become trendy, travel restrictions shift, and suppliers update their offerings. The most successful agents commit to ongoing education.
Take supplier training courses. Companies like Disney, Royal Caribbean, Sandals, and countless others offer free training programs for travel agents. These courses help you understand their products better and often come with perks like discounted familiarization trips.
Attend FAM (familiarization) trips when possible. These are special trips designed for travel agents to experience destinations and properties firsthand. There's no better way to sell a resort than to have actually stayed there yourself.
Stay connected with the MainStreet community. Other agents are incredible resources for tips, advice, and support.
Understanding How You Get Paid
Let's talk about everyone's favorite topic—money. How exactly do travel agents earn income?
Commission Structure Explained
Travel agents primarily earn money through commissions paid by travel suppliers—hotels, cruise lines, tour operators, etc. When you book a client's vacation, the supplier pays you a percentage of the total cost.
Commission rates vary by supplier and product type:
Hotels and car rentals: typically 10% commission
Disney properties: flat 10% commission
Cruise lines: 10-16% depending on your sales volume
Tour operators: 10-15% commission
All-inclusive resorts: 10-15% commission
Some suppliers use tiered commission structures, meaning you earn higher percentages as you book more with them. This is where being part of a host agency like MainStreet really helps—they combine bookings from all their agents, giving everyone access to higher commission tiers.
Your Take-Home Pay
After earning that commission, you split it with your host agency. MainStreet offers competitive splits where agents typically keep 60-80% of the commission earned. As you build your business and hit certain sales milestones, your split often improves.
So let's do some quick math. Say you book a $10,000 cruise that pays 12% commission. That's $1,200 in total commission. With a 70% split, you'd pocket $840. Not bad for helping someone plan their dream vacation, right?
Income Expectations
How much can you realistically expect to make as a travel agent? It varies wildly based on how much time you put in and how quickly you build your client base.
Part-time agents (working 10-20 hours per week) might earn $10,000-25,000 in their first year. As you gain experience and clients, that can grow to $30,000-50,000 annually.
Full-time agents who treat this as their primary career often earn $44,000-66,000 in their first few years. Mid-level agents with established client bases frequently make $66,000-79,000 per year. Top performers? Many six-figure earners exist in this industry!
The key is consistency! Every trip you book builds your reputation, adds to your client list, and creates opportunities for repeat business and referrals.
Making Your Travel Business Thrive
Starting is one thing. Building a sustainable, profitable business is another. Here are the strategies that separate successful agents from those who struggle.
Master the Work-Life Balance
One of the biggest challenges for home-based travel agents is setting boundaries. When your office is your home, it's easy to let work bleed into every hour of the day. But burning out helps nobody.
Set specific work hours and stick to them. Let clients know when you're available and when you're off the clock. Use auto-responders for emails received outside business hours. Create a dedicated workspace separate from your living areas if possible.
Remember to take breaks. Step away from the computer. Go for walks. Actually enjoy your own life—it'll make you a better travel planner.
Use Technology to Your Advantage
MainStreet provides CRM tools that help you manage clients, track bookings, send quotes, and collect payments. Learn these systems inside and out. They'll save you countless hours and prevent things from slipping through the cracks.
Leverage social media scheduling tools so you can plan content in advance rather than constantly posting in real-time. Use email marketing platforms to stay in touch with past clients and prospects.
The right technology doesn't replace the personal touch—it enhances it by freeing up your time to focus on actual relationship-building. Check out our News & Guides section for others ways to help build and maintain your agency career!
Provide Exceptional Service
This might sound obvious, but it's worth emphasizing again and again: your success depends on making clients happy! Go above and beyond! Remember their preferences. Follow up after their trips. Send birthday cards or anniversary reminders. Keep a list of their kids names and things they might enjoy or take part in. All these things really bring a human element to the relationship and show how committed you are to them!
When problems arise (and they will), handle them professionally and quickly. Be your client's advocate. The agents who build long-term success are the ones who turn clients into raving fans.
Market Consistently
You can be the best travel agent in the world, but if nobody knows about you, you won't book anything. Marketing isn't optional—it's essential.
Post regularly on social media with valuable content. Share destination guides, travel tips, packing lists, money-saving strategies, and client testimonials. Show behind-the-scenes glimpses of your work. Make it personal and authentic.
Consider starting a blog or email newsletter where you share travel insights. This positions you as an expert and keeps you top-of-mind with potential clients.
Network both online and in person. Join local business groups. Attend chamber of commerce meetings. The more people who know what you do, the more opportunities come your way. Remember, content is key!
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a college degree to become a travel agent?
Nope! While education never hurts, you don't need a college degree to succeed as a travel agent. Most host agencies, including MainStreet, welcome agents with just a high school diploma. What matters more is your passion for travel, customer service skills, and willingness to learn. Many successful agents come from completely unrelated careers—teachers, nurses, retail managers, you name it!
How long does it take to start earning money?
This varies by person, but most agents book their first trip within the first month or two of getting started. However, there's a lag between booking and receiving commission. Most suppliers pay commissions after the client travels, which could be weeks or months after the initial booking. So while you might book trips quickly, expect a few months before that commission money actually hits your account.
Can I really do this part-time?
Absolutely! Many MainStreet agents start part-time while keeping their full-time jobs. The flexibility is one of the biggest perks. You can work evenings, weekends, or whenever fits your schedule. Some agents stay part-time indefinitely, using travel planning as a side hustle for extra income. Others grow their business over time and eventually transition to full-time.
What if I don't have travel experience?
Don't let lack of personal travel experience stop you. Yes, visiting destinations firsthand is helpful, but it's not required to get started. You can learn about destinations through research, training programs, and talking with suppliers. As you grow in the business, you'll have opportunities for FAM trips where you can experience properties and destinations for yourself. Start where you are and build from there.
How much does it cost to join MainStreet Travel Agency?
MainStreet offers a free membership for those who might not want to spend a lot of money upfront. They understand that not everyone has the money to spend when starting a new job, that’s why they offer their Travel Plus Membership for only $99! Other costs could include a laptop or computer to work on, a decent internet connection, and anything else to help you work from home. MainStreet doesn’t charge you any other fees or dues, and they don’t require any minimum booking requirements, so you can work at your own pace!
Do I need special licenses or certifications?
In most states, you don't need a special license to work as a travel agent under a host agency's accreditation. MainStreet handles the licensing and accreditation pieces, allowing you to book travel under their IATA or CLIA numbers. However, some states have additional requirements, so check your local regulations. Certifications like CTA (Certified Travel Associate) or CTC (Certified Travel Counselor) aren't required but can boost your credibility with clients.
What happens if my client has problems during their trip?
This is where having a host agency like MainStreet really shines. You'll have support to help resolve issues. Many problems can be fixed with a quick call to the supplier. For more complex situations, MainStreet's team can step in to assist. The key is being responsive and proactive in helping your client. Your job is to be their advocate and make sure things get sorted out.
Can I specialize in just Disney vacations?
Yes! Specializing in Disney and theme park vacations is actually one of the most popular niches in travel. MainStreet works with Disney and Universal, giving you access to book these properties for clients. If you're already a Disney expert, this is a natural fit. Just know that while specializing helps you stand out, you don't have to limit yourself only to Disney—you can book other types of travel too.
How do I compete with people booking their own travel online?
Great question. Here's the thing: you're not really competing with online booking sites. You're offering something completely different—expertise, personalized service, problem-solving, and that human touch. Many travelers get overwhelmed trying to research everything themselves. They want someone knowledgeable to guide them. Focus on the value you provide rather than trying to beat online prices. Often you can offer better deals through supplier relationships anyway.
What makes a travel agent successful?
Successful agents share several key traits: they're organized, they communicate well, they're proactive about marketing, they provide exceptional customer service, and they never stop learning. They also treat their business like a real business—not just a hobby. They show up consistently, follow through on commitments, and genuinely care about their clients' experiences. Success doesn't happen overnight, but with persistence and the right approach, most dedicated agents can build profitable businesses.
Your Exciting Journey Starts Now
Here's the truth about becoming a travel agent: it's not always easy, but it's absolutely worth it. You'll work hard, especially in those first months as you build your foundation. You'll question yourself sometimes. You might even book your first few trips at a loss just to get experience and testimonials!
But you'll also get to wake up every day doing something you actually enjoy. You'll help families make memories that last a lifetime. You'll become the go-to travel expert in your circle. And you'll build a business that gives you freedom, flexibility, and income on your own terms.
MainStreet Travel Agency gives you the tools, training, and support to make it happen. They've helped thousands of agents just like you launch successful travel businesses. People who started with zero experience. People who were scared. People who weren't sure if they could really do this.
And they did it anyway!
The travel industry needs passionate agents who genuinely care about clients. It needs people who will go the extra mile, who stay curious about destinations, and who treat every booking like it matters. Because it does.
So if you've been thinking about this—if you've been scrolling through travel photos wishing you could turn that passion into something more—stop waiting. Apply to MainStreet Travel Agency today. Start the training. Book your first trip. Join the community of agents who've walked this path before you!
Your exciting career in travel is waiting. All you have to do is take that first step!
Ready to begin your journey as a MainStreet Travel Agency agent? Visit their website, fill out the application, and start building the travel business you've been dreaming about. The world is waiting to be explored—and you're about to help people experience it in ways they never imagined!
