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What makes Career Quest different from other travel schools?
Career Quest is an ASTA Travel School Member and CLIA Affiliate. We specializes only in travel training. Our curriculum focuses on today's travel market and our advisors have over 30 years of experience in the travel industry. Career Quest works closely with travel organizations ( ASTA, CLIA and the OSSN), major host agencies (Travel Planners, Nexion, Mtravel, Coral Sands) and preferred suppliers (Royal Caribbean, Holland America Cruise Lines, Sandals, Club Med, Travel Guard and many more) which allows the student body to familiarize themselves with the travel industry even before they graduate.
How does an online program work?
You will receive textbooks to work with but your assignments, supplemental reading and exams are all online. We have a Virtual Classroom that keeps you aware of changes in the travel industry and we conduct weekly instructional chat rooms that allow you to network with fellow students and grads and meet some of today's preferred suppliers.
As a distance education program, you set the pace, study when you want and where you want. For most programs, you have up to a year to complete but many can be completed in 4-6 weeks if you have the time to devote to your studies.
How do I communicate with my instructors?
Instructors are available either via e-mail or by calling our toll-free number.
Does the tuition have to be paid all at once?
Career Quest does offer students the opportunity to pay their tuition over several months and there is no interest charged. If you go to our Registration Form and scroll down to Programs - click on the program you are interested in and there is a pull down showing you the payment plans available. Keep in mind, we can not graduate you until your tuition is paid in full.
How do I know which program to take?
Advisors are available Monday through Friday 8am-5pm CST to discuss the direction you want to go and will be able to recommend the right program.
How do I register?
You can enroll online via our secure site or call our office at 1-800-452-3198 and we will enroll you over the phone.
After I register, how soon can I start the program?
Once our office receives your registration, you will be given immediate access to the online study guide so you can start viewing the Virtual Classroom or participating in a chat room. Your materials will go out Priority Mail within 2-3 days of receipt of your registration.
How does a home-base agency operate?
As a home-based agency, you will link with a host agency which is your ARC approved ticketing center. You will book reservations via the host agency's booking engine or by calling the supplier directly using the host agency's identification numbers. You are not an employee of the host agency but an affiliate.
What does a host agency do for me?
Host agencies, due to their size and sales volume, earn the home-based agent a higher commission rate and override commissions. You have access to their Marketing Department, Automation and Quality Control to ensure your documents from the suppliers are correct. They will provide continuing education programs and FAM trips on their preferred suppliers.
How do I pay the Host Agency?
Depending on which host agency you go with, their packages will vary. Some have an initial membership fee and then split the commission with the home-based agent. The split is normally 70/30, 80/20 or 90/10 (of course the home-based agent is getting the higher percentage of the split. Others have a monthly fee and you get 100% of the commission. There are pros and cons to both - you need to compare all the hosts you are considering to see who will work best for you.
How do I find a host agency?
Be very careful, there are a lot of scams out there. Career Quest has a list of preferred host agencies we provide our graduates. These are all very good companies who work with new agents and offer a great deal of support. If you find a host agency on your own, please contact our office to check it out.
Do I need a host agency?
Career Quest recommends new agents go with a host agency for a minimum of one year. Since you have never worked in this industry, it takes time to learn the ropes and know who to contact and where to go especially if something goes wrong with your client's trip. After you have some experience, it is possible to work without a host agency by having your own CLIA Number or TRUE Number. We encourage our graduates to contact our office for guidelines when they feel they want to go out on their own.
I've seen ads that say I can become a travel agent in a week. Is this true?
Yes, you can become a referral agent in a week but not a professional travel agent booking your own reservations. A referral agent simply provides the host agency with names of people interested in traveling. This type of host agency contacts your lead, sells them on a vacation and handles all the arrangements. The only compensation you receive is a referral fee.
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