How to Start a Corporate Travel Agency

Before we start our very own corporate travel agency, we need to know what type of services we will provide our clients.

Will it be just home based, within the country or will it be offshore as well. Here are some basic ways of starting our own corporate travel agency.

Finding a corporate travel agency that will assist companies for their travel needs are very competitive and very in-demand now a days. Organization is looking for services that will help them trim down their expenses for their corporate travel and will help them plan the travel itself.

Basic Requirements for Your Corporate Travel Agency Business

First, you may want to start this business as an individual or you may choose to have a partner who is well trained. And in the future you may hire and train some staff. You may start by simply having directory of different companies and may contact the person in-charge for their corporate travel needs, by this way you can have strong relationship with them and have the chance of discussing the travel packages that you can offer and also an access to a computer for your booking needs will also help you.

You will also need to have connections with airlines specially the major ones, know their schedule of flights. Have relationship with hotels for your accommodation needs and also with rent- a - car companies, and of course you need to ask your clients for their travel policy so you would know what are the guidelines of the travel, how much budget was allotted. This will also help you and your customer manage the cost of travel.

As a corporate travel agent you should have good interaction skills. You should know how to communicate and provide information to your clients such as airport location, countries and their major cities, different places. This are basic skills that you should have in order for you to gain the clients confidence. In addition, aside from having good communications skills you also need to be good with negotiating for hotel reservation, car rental fees and other discount you may have as would become as repeated customer as well.

Lastly, you also need to be on guard, incase emergency will occur and be able to assist the travelers. Our job is to ensure that the employees will be compliant with the travel guidelines that are set up by the company as you will be providing a detailed report of their travel including the destinations, cost and the travel experience they have.

56 Comments

  • nicole akinboboye said on September 13, 2010
    nigeria; i will like to start a corporate travel agency in warri, delta state. can you explain better to me what i will need
  • priya niveriya said on October 25, 2010
    Hi i want to start a new travel agency can someone pls. let me know what is the procedure for it & how can i go about it.
  • simon musyoka said on January 28, 2011
    am in need of advice on how to start a travel agency. your assistance would be of much help. thank you.
  • Famusi olumide said on March 29, 2011
    Hi,i will like to start to travel agency in Lagos pls can give me procedure, cost, what i will need and also do we have the same process for corporate travel agency thx pls reply to via my email address
  • Lyndall said on November 17, 2011
    Is there an agency in South Africa that can come to our offices to take us through opening an in-house corporate travel agency who will cater for all our staff's travel needs. We are a large company, so want to do something similar to the likes of Rennies and American Express Corporate Travel.
  • Roberts Okwuchi said on July 11, 2012
    I need to start a corporate travel agency business. what first step should i take.
  • TUNDE said on November 29, 2012
    Please, am interested in building a carrier as travel consultant, how do i start my own travel agency in lagos nigeria.
  • greg said on April 2, 2013
    i want to start travel consultant what do i need to know best?
  • Sophy Sithole said on April 5, 2013
    i want to start a travel consultant. how do i start my own traveling agency in south Africa, around North west and gauteng and Limpopo,pls help me as now i did make a reservations for a group of people
  • ayman said on April 27, 2013
    Hi Ladies Gentlemen I am the local tour operator that base camp in Jordan, I am looking for the travel agency share business partner. we specialize in customize adventure tour, search as cycling, trekking, camping and dirt-bike tour.. here is my email add: info@jordanviapetra.com
  • Lindiwe Madi said on April 29, 2013
    I have recently opened my own Corporate Travel Agency in Johannesburg and I am in need of a corporate company that needs assistance with their travel needs. It can be a company that needs an in-house as well. Please contact me on my email address: lindiwe@mankatravel.co.za
  • Pulkit jain said on May 18, 2013
    Hi anyone or any company's staff want to came goa (india). we provide all facilities like accommodation, sight seeing, guiding, food, vehicles, etc in cheapest rates and good service for more detail. Mo. 91-8982977155 Email-pulkit.1313@gmail.com
  • Eshmarelda said on June 25, 2013
    Hi, I am looking into starting a home based travel agency in South Africa, Northern Cape. Where do I start? Are there any good host agencies? Please help
  • Nadine said on June 29, 2013
    I am in Johannesburg, SA need to start my Travel agency, can you help me by telling me what I need and where to go to register my company if is different with the CK. Regards
  • francina said on August 6, 2013
    i am having a ck and i want to start my travel agency at home. do i need to change my ck name into traveling agency. can you tell me the procedure to follow?
  • Nadine said on August 22, 2013
    I would like to know how do I go about opening my own corporate travel agency in johannesburg south, as have notice there not that many travel agencies that side, as well as the travel locations, please help me in this regard!
  • Nadine said on August 22, 2013
    Johannesburg South, Gauteng, South Africa. I really desire to open up my corporate Travel Agency. What does this competition look like in the locations I'm looking at?
  • Paulus N Chilela said on September 22, 2013
    Hi! will you please be so kind and help me i want to open my travel agency and tour but i real dont have any experience in the this industry i need advice from you. Chilela n Paulus Namibia Windhoek
  • ntosh said on June 25, 2014
    Hai. I reside in east London, Eastern cape and would like to start a travel agent but need an advice on where and how do I start, please help.
  • Barbara said on July 7, 2014
    Hi, I am based in Gauteng but soon to relocate to the Western Cape. I want to start my own travel agency, I studied the basics of tourism and need advice on how and where to start when establishing a travel agency. Kind Regards, Barbara
  • joanne said on July 28, 2014
    Hi. I would like to start a travel agency...what is the procedure? what are the licenses that i require? should i have to study course even though i have experience? would be really grateful for the help. Thanks.
  • lamees said on August 2, 2014
    Hi! I would like to start my own home base travel agency! Can anyone tell me were to start or help me! I'm a mature lady I'm studying travel an tourism/travel! I'm in cape town. I got some of the equipment already! I need guidance or a manor! Please help! Email address: lamees2@cellc.blackberry.com. Hope to get respond soon! Many thanks Lamees
  • Boitumelo said on September 3, 2014
    Good day, I am making inquiries for my father. He has a vw tdi caravella and a quantum, he wants to make it an airport shuttle. How do we go about this?
  • Emmanuel Mmopane said on September 22, 2014
    I found the information very helpful to me so will you please send me more info on my email on how to start a travel agency business, which procedures should I take?
  • zakiyah said on November 11, 2014
    Hey would like to start my own travel agency. I need information on where to start with the registration process please assist.. South Africa
  • Camy said on February 10, 2015
    Hi, I would like to start a home based travel agency, does one require a Travel Agent license in SA? I need some guidance please.
  • Mildred said on February 15, 2015
    Hi! I would like to start home based travel agency, and I don't much about it. How and where one can make application to be licensed.
  • Tonase said on February 19, 2015
    Hi! I would like to start travel agent and I don't have enough information, could you please help.
  • Tonase said on February 19, 2015
    Presently I don't have any business, but I would like to have one around north west and Gauteng
  • Thembisile said on May 14, 2015
    Hi, I would like to start my own travel agency but don't have much information how to start and what to. All I have is a travel and tourism diploma is more that I need besides the diploma please help with more information
  • Imtiaz Ahmed Vania said on September 28, 2015
    Hi and greetings from the QuantumTravels team. I hope this finds you well. QuantumTravels is a Home-Based Travel Agency located in Johannesburg South Africa. We are a partnership consisting of 3 directors and we are also a registered company. We would like your assistance to get going if i may say so, one Director has insight on the basic guidelines to help us get things organized. Please do get back to me if you can assist us accordingly. From the desk of Imtiaz Vania(Director) +27764874129/+27118300455 QuantumTravels
  • Chukwu Modesty said on September 28, 2015
    Dear, We have interest in this Corporate travel Agency business (Local and International)and We are looking at Abuja Nigeria as our base. How do we go about it? please we need insight. Thanks
  • Ada said on December 8, 2015
    Good Day,Please I want to start a Travel Agency here in Port Harcourt Nigeria. can you please give me a guide on how to start?
  • James expert adviser said on December 8, 2015
    @Ada, good to know that you would like to start your travel agency but how far you have gone with the preparation? Have you done a market survey? Did you interview any of your local travel agency owners? Do you want to have it work from home type or with an office at the central location? How tight you are on the budget? Let me know the answers to help you better.

    Jestin James
    Startup Biz Hub - Senior Advisor (Staff)

  • victoria said on January 25, 2016
    Hi,I have been in the travel industry working in the hospitality industry as well as making travel booking for people. However I am looking to start my own home based corporate travel business specifically aimed at contractors and individuals. How do I go about starting this and do I need a license even of I am a one woman band at home? Am I able to start by creating a website, seeing some corporate and negotiating rates with suppliers?
  • kgomotso said on February 3, 2016
    Good day, I have developed interest in opening a travel agent in the north west province, South Africa. I need to know what is needed. I only have a diploma and I have worked in the tourism industry. I need a business partner to open the business, more information what is needed to operate and where I can get funding.
  • Thandi said on February 17, 2016
    Assistance in starting up a travel agent. Need also information on companies that I can associate with while still trying to be IATA compliant.
  • Bulelani Ntsizi said on March 30, 2016
    Good day,I am Bulelani Ntsizi in the Western Cape and I would like to start a Travel Agent but I do not know where to commence.Kindly assist with comprehensive information.
  • Lynne Paki said on April 11, 2016
    Hi, I am in PNG (Goroka) and am interested in starting up a corporate travel agent, {a home base type} How do I go about starting one? How much money should i have to start up one? Please advice.thank you. Lynne
  • Tshepo said on May 5, 2016
    Good Day, we starting a travel agency business and we need a partner who has the qualifications and experience in tourism. A female based in Gauteng is preferred. Send me an email at tsheponage2@gmail.com
  • kamogelo said on July 13, 2016
    hi i'm kamogelo, i'm interested in starting up a corporate travel agency in gauteng, please advise me where to start and what needed. kamogelo.nkomo@yahoo.com
  • Jacqui Yikwani said on August 22, 2016
    Hi, Am planning to start up a home-based travel company. I'm based in Cape Town. If you could kindly provide me with guidance/direction of how to get that idea off the ground, would be great. Thank you.
  • reneilwe said on September 29, 2016
    Hello my name is Reneiloe I'm staying in Johannesburg I want to start travel agency please send me ideas
  • Smah said on January 5, 2017
    Hello m Smah from South Africa i would like to start a traveling agency please send me ideas.
  • Mahlatse said on January 19, 2017
    Good day. I am passionate about traveling and have gone on numerous holidays in and around South African. I bought travel packages from travel agencies like Kulula. com, Travel affordable and have also made my own hotel and bus bookings. Now I have fallen in love with the idea of making travel exciting for other people because already people come to me for advise on how they should book and which attractions to visit. I have already done my research and have engaged my target market in an informal survey about their interests, challenges on travel and also about what they would expect from a travel agent. I have surfed the net for assistance and need clarity on how to establish my own home-based travel agency in S.A. What are the laws, where do I register, and how do I calculate commission.
  • Ulanda Mfeya said on January 31, 2017
    Hello, my name is Ulanda from SA in Johannesburg, I want start my own travel agency.. I have been doing my own research but it seems very confusing. Kindly provide with the details/guidance or direction on how I can start my own travel agency, what I need, Budget is not a problem. ulandam@rakoma.co.za. Thanks
  • Bronwyn said on February 7, 2017
    Hi I am Bronwyn. Currently staying in Australia but originally from the Eastern Cape in South Africa. I am setting up a home based travel agency in South Africa which i have partnered up with a friend. I am wanting advise on with regards to registration with IATA and the cost involved. I have tried to search the net for the costing. Could you please advise me.
  • mary said on March 2, 2017
    hie my name is Mary and I would like to start a home based travel agency but I have no idea on costs things involved and processes please help.
  • Mothibedi said on April 11, 2017
    Hi there, I have just bought Hyundai H1 and would like to start corporate travel agency, please advise on how to go about it. email address is mothibedi2@icloud.com
  • Mal said on May 5, 2017
    Hi, I would like to stat up a travel agency, can you please assist malefairal@gmail.com
  • Hannelie van Wyk said on December 6, 2017
    I want to start a corporate travel agency business in South Africa. What are the first steps that I should take?
  • Terry said on June 5, 2018
    Hi, I need assistance in starting a travel agency. what are the requirements? I have been in the industry for 10 years and have a business partner with the client base and the money to invest in this project. I just don't know where to begin. Please assist with advice.
  • Siphiwe said on July 30, 2018
    Hello, my name is Siphiwe From pretoria i want to start my own travel agency, that is more concentrated in mass or group travel... I have been doing my own research but it seems very confusing. Kindly provide with the details/guidance or direction on how I can start my own travel agency, what I need, Budget is not the problem. Or any school around pretoria can train me thanks in advance
  • Irene said on August 30, 2018
    Hi, I would like to stat up a travel agency, can you please assist.
  • SALMINA said on September 15, 2019
    hello, I would like you to help me with ideas and info on how to open MY TRAVEL AGENCY around Gauteng, I have an international diploma in travel and tourism, Galileo and Amadeus certificates. I would need 1 partner to support me.
  • Sanjul said on April 6, 2020
    Hi, My name is Sanju, I am working with a travel consortium in Johannesburg since 2014, and now I have got a nice clientele who is ready to support me and I would now like to open my own travel agency. Can anyone help me with how I register as I am not an SA citizen but I have a critical skills permit? Thanks.

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