Several home-study courses provide a basic understanding of the travel industry. These computer skills are required by employers to operate airline reservation systems. Travel experience is an asset since personal knowledge about a city or foreign country often helps to influence clients' travel plans. Experience as an airline reservation agent also is a good background for a travel agent. Travel agents need good selling skills they must be pleasant and patient and able to gain the confidence of clients.
Some employees start as reservation clerks or receptionists in travel agencies.
With experience and some formal training, they can take on greater responsibilities and eventually assume travel agent duties. In agencies with many offices, travel agents may advance to office manager or to other managerial positions. Experienced travel agents can take an advanced course, leading to the designation of Certified Travel Counselor, offered by the Institute of Certified Travel Agents. It also offers certification, called designation of competence, in North American, Western European, Carribbean, or South Pacific tours. The CMP exam is administered by the Convention Liaison Council.