Travel Agent Interview Questions & Answers

Travel agents sell transportation, lodging, and entertainment activities to individuals and groups planning trips.

Interviewers look for candidates that demonstrate excellent skills such as:

• Communication skills
• Organizational skills
• Customer-service skills
• Adventurousness
• Attention to detail
• Sales skills

In this blog, we discuss commonly asked interview questions during job interviews for Travel Agent positions. We also discuss the qualities that interviewers look for in successful candidates. In other words, we’re here to help you out!

Also, read more about frequently asked job interview questions here and check our job interview preparation checklist.

Skills Interviewers Look For In Successful Candidates

Below we discuss the skills you can highlight in your answers to demonstrate that you’re qualified for the job.

Adventurousness

Why interviewers are interested in your adventurousness:

Travel agencies that specialize in exotic destinations or particular types of travel, such as adventure travel or ecotourism, may prefer to hire travel agents who share these interests.

Related: What Does a Car Rental Agent Do?

Communication skills

Why interviewers are interested in your communication skills:

Travel agents must listen to customers, understand their travel needs, and offer appropriate travel advice and information.

Learn more about communication interview questions and how to answer them!

Customer-service skills

Why interviewers are interested in your customer-service skills:

When customers need to make last-minute changes in their travel arrangements, travel agents must be able to respond to questions and complaints in a friendly and professional manner.

Learn more about customer-service interview questions and how to answer them!

Attention to detail

Why interviewers are interested in your attention to detail:

Travel agents must pay attention to details in order to ensure that the reservations they make match travelers’ needs. They must make reservations at the correct dates, times, and locations to meet travelers’ schedules.

Related: What Does a Passenger Service Agent Do?

Organizational skills

Why interviewers are interested in your organizational skills:

Travel agents often work on itineraries for many customers at once. Keeping client information in order and ensuring that bills and receipts are processed on time is essential.

Related: Travel Coordinator vs. Travel Agent – What’s The Difference?

Sales skills

Why interviewers are interested in your sales skills:

Travel agents must be able to persuade clients to buy transportation, lodging, or tours. Sometimes they might need to persuade tour operators, airline staff, or others to take care of their clients’ special needs. Earnings for many travel agents depend on commissions and service fees.

(source: bls.gov)

Travel Agent Job Interview Questions & Answers

During a job interview, the hiring manager wants to discuss several things. Think of your:

• Employment history
• Skills and abilities
• Accomplishments
• Job qualifications
• Educational background
• Career goals
• Personality

Below you find a list of commonly asked interview questions.

Examples Of General Travel Agent Interview Questions

1. Tell me about yourself.
2. How would you describe yourself?
3. Why do you want to work here?
4. What interests you about this position?
5. Walk me through your resume.
6. What motivates you?
7. Why are you leaving your current job?
8. Describe your work ethic.
9. What is your greatest strength?
10. How does your experience qualify you for this job?
11. What is your greatest weakness?
12. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
13. Tell me about a challenging work situation and how you overcame it.
14. What are your expectations for this position?
15. What are your career goals?
16. Why should we hire you?
17. What did you like most about your last position?
18. What did you like least about your last position?
19. How do you handle stress?
20. What is your greatest accomplishment?

Learn how to answer these common job interview questions!

Examples Of Specific Travel Agent Behavioral Interview Questions

Learn more about answering behavioral interview questions by using the STAR interview technique.

1. What is your experience creating tour packages for clients? Can you give me an example of what you look for when creating a package?
2. How do you approach cold calling potential clients about booking vacations, trips, and events? Can you give me an example?
3. What requirements would you discuss when you need to plan a romantic getaway for a couple?
4. Describe a time you had to deal with an unhappy client. What happened? How did you resolve the situation?
5. Tell me about a time you provided excellent customer service to a client.
6. How do you evaluate success as a travel agent? What would you do differently if you noticed you were not meeting sales targets?
7. Walk me through the process of how you create a tour package for corporate trips and events.
8. What would you do if a client is not able to afford the travel package you offered them? Can you give me an example?
9. Tell me about a time you had to deal with a difficult client. How did you deal with the situation?
10. How do you plan, organize, and prioritize your tasks on a typical workday as a travel agent?

Learn more about questions to ask the interviewer during your job interview.