The Websites Every Travel Agent Should Have Bookmarked

The internet is among the most powerful tools today's travel advisors have at their disposal, especially during the time of coronavirus. There are countless websites that the industry's most successful agencies and advisors rely on to elevate their business. While no two agents are the same, these 13 websites are an excellent place to start building your bookmarked list.

Travel Agent Academy is your one-stop shop for online training courses and certification. The immersive programs expand advisors' expertise on a variety of destinations and suppliers so they can increase bookings and get rewarded in the process.

It's nearly impossible to be a successful travel advisor without a website in 2020 and Agent Studio offers all of the marketing tools you'll need to build a professional website in a matter of minutes. Users will also benefit from automated email marketing.

The U.S. Department of State's website, specifically the travel advisories page, is a great resource for advisors, keeping them in the know when it comes to the latest travel advisories for destinations all over the world. The website is also full of information that can quell any concerns your client might have about visiting a particular place outside of the U.S.

TravelPulse keeps agents up to date on the latest travel industry news and is also a great source for travel tips and other consumer-focused content that agents can share with their clients to get them excited about travel and help educate them ahead of their next trip. Users will also find travel deals, video interviews and feature and advice pieces from industry experts ranging from fellow agents to supplier CEOs.

VAX VacationAccess boasts a community of over 118,000 travel agents and has won multiple gold Travvy Awards for Best Travel Agent Reservation System and Best Travel Technology Provider. The leisure travel marketplace provides agents with a slew of tools, including the latest travel industry insights, training programs and personalized vacation packages for their clients.

Travel Weekly has established itself as the most influential B2B news resources for the travel industry, providing agents with breaking news coverage, analysis and enlightening research as well as leadership events to keep them on the path to success.

"I create itineraries in Travefy when I am quoting trips for clients so that they can see and feel what their trip is going to be like," said Miki Taylor, Founder and CEO at Taylor & Co. Travel "Once they approve the trip and book all confirmation numbers and documents are added to the itinerary providing the travelers with everything they need at their fingertips including an in-app chat which allows clients to easily reach me before, during and after their trip."

TripAdvisor is a solid resource for gaining additional insight into a hotel, attraction or destination from someone who's already experienced it. While you can't trust every review, there's valuable information to be gained. "It isn't just for guests and travelers," says Hannah Nowicki of Sunset Travel & Cruise. "I get a ton of good recommendations and ideas from others' travel experiences and opinions."

Promo's marketing video maker is another great way to grow your travel agent business. Users can quickly and easily create professional-quality videos to market their agency and showcase destinations around the globe.

Another trusted voice for the travel industry, TravelAge West is a fantastic resource for agents looking for the latest happenings throughout the industry as well as those hoping to find tips on ways to boost their business, whether it's managing stress or implementing new social media strategies to attract more clients.

Another Travvy Award winner, airline consolidator Centrav is a phenomenal resource for agents who might otherwise waste their time being put on hold by airlines. "It's important for agents to sell air even if they don't think they have to," Greg Rholi, vice president of business development for Centrav, Inc. told TravelPulse in 2017. "Clients, especially high-end ones, will drift somewhere else to get their air and then to book the rest of their trips. An agent should never tell clients to book the air themselves; they will lose them."

TravelJoy is all but guaranteed to assist agents in running their business more effectively. "This is a great tool to track communications with clients, send invoices, securely collect credit card information, process payments, track commissions, monitor tasks and create group booking pages," added Taylor.

A favorite of VIP Vacations Inc Groups Manager Ryan Doncsecz, WorldAgent Direct from Delta Vacations provides travel agents with convenient one-stop shopping, planning and booking as well as a plethora of benefits, including commissions on all airfares and land components, incentives with opportunities to earn cash, travel and other rewards, training and marketing tools as well as flexible payment, change and cancellation policies.