Students and career seekers, welcome to the exhilarating world of the travel industry. 

With a multitude of entry-level options and strong prospects for growth, it's highly possible to turn your wanderlust into a fulfilling profession. It's fun, rewarding, and full of opportunities to meet people from diverse backgrounds, explore different cultures, and even travel to new destinations. 

It's worth remembering that the travel, tourism, and hospitality industries are fundamentally linked. With tourism at the core, hospitality offers the experiences and services that cater to travellers. At the same time, the travel sector acts as an intermediary, connecting travellers with destinations and accommodation by facilitating, booking, and managing the logistics of these trips. 

An outgoing personality, attention to detail, and excellent organisational skills are 'good-to-haves' in a fast-moving industry that requires passion, flexibility, and continuous learning. Experience can help too but, just like your passport, upskilling is your gateway to getting you where you want to be easier and quicker. 

ServiceIQ offers a range of shorter specialist online courses and comprehensive training programmes in travel, travel management and supervision, that covers all the essentials. From customer service and visitor experience upskilling to travel consultancy, contact centre and business management and leadership programmes, we help travel professionals get the nationally and industry-recognised qualifications and critical expertise they need for a successful career. 

Thinking about becoming a travel agent? Undoubtedly, the rise of the internet has made it simpler for travellers to manage their own arrangements online. However, according to a 2023 IBS Software survey, 38% of US millennials and Gen Z travellers are booking holidays through traditional travel agencies. Travel consultancy is showing all the signs of growing, to cater to the needs of discerning travellers seeking a more personalised and expert experience. 

Today’s travel agent is evolving, needing to be well-versed in all kinds of tech, from booking software to social media and AI tools, plus possess those all-important people skills to excel and keep customers coming back trip after trip. 

The ServiceIQ New Zealand Certificate in Travel – Level 4 is ideal for aspiring travel agents. The industry benchmark qualification for travel agents and the Travel Agents Association of New Zealand can be achieved quickly and easily online, on-the-job and in the office. It covers customer relationship development, product advice, sales, acts and legislation compliance, and more.

The next step is to upskill tomorrow's managers by preparing them to lead and manage teams. The ServiceIQ Team Lead Savvy Award – Level 3 helps travel employers develop in areas like team contribution, presenting and communicating, assessing staff performance and problem-solving. 

The New Zealand Certificate in Business (Introduction to Team Leadership) – Level 3 introduces participants to what’s required to lead a team successfully, from report writing and legal compliance issues to gaining confidence in instilling teamwork, leading for effective team performance and communicating effectively in a bi-cultural and multi-cultural workplace. 

The New Zealand Certificate in Contact Centres – Level 3 is suitable for individuals in customer service, support, contact centre or related roles. Product knowledge, query resolution, and familiarity with contact centre technology and systems, combined with learning people-facing skills, enable your team to meet the demands of one of the most critical touchpoints for travel customers – answering questions and potential problems with courtesy and professionalism. 

Employees can learn at their own pace and, as training typically takes place in the workplace, earn as they learn. ServiceIQ’s travel programmes build confidence and expertise in daily roles and provide a toolkit to work more effectively and develop a deeper understanding of the industry. 

For employers, it’s a strategic way to create a highly skilled and engaged workforce. If your staff have good qualifications, you can rest assured that your customers are being looked after by staff who know what they're doing. 

With so many programmes available, entry-level employees can take their skills and qualifications to new heights. With the travel sector in robust recovery mode and surpassing pre-pandemic levels, there’s never been a better time to launch your future in travel. 

Explore nationally recognised training in travel today. Grow your travel career and your business with affordable on-the-job travel training. ServiceIQ, the workplace training specialist for the hospitality, retail, tourism, aviation, travel, and museums sectors, New Zealand wide.