Travel Agent

Jennifer Loicht

A love of adventure travel was instilled in Jodie Priest from a young age by her father, who took her on her first round-the-world trip at the age of three. Priest went on to train as a hairdresser but then the travel bug bit again, leading to a new career.

After her apprenticeship 15 years ago, she spent about 10 years hairdressing on cruise ships before throwing herself into the travel industry by applying for a team leader’s position with Intrepid Travel three years ago, whereupon she was sent to India and Nepal.

Learning on the job while leading those first tourist trips was “scary”. “It was tough … a very steep learning curve,” she says. Priest now manages the recently opened Intrepid concept store at Paddington, where she encourages people to have adventures while enjoying the natural and social environment of the country they are exploring.

She gives talks to would-be travellers to educate them about specific trips and destinations, as well as being involved in the everyday running of the store. The concept store deals only in Intrepid’s brand of adventure travel and the flights that go with the trips. Slide nights, drumming demonstrations and other events are also held in-store.

“We have slide and presentation nights to show people our style of travel, where we go and what we do,” Priest says. “We also have fun events such as cooking demonstrations, African drumming and cultural dancing.”
Priest loves her work and says the new Intrepid store is a world away from other travel agencies


HOW TO BE A … TRAVEL AGENT


Course: Tourism (International Retail Travel Sales) — Certificate III (AQF). National code THT30302. TAFE NSW Course Number 7018.

Costs: $300 for one semester/$600 per year. As a trainee or apprentice your 2007 TAFE NSW fee is capped at $384 per year.

Entry requirements: NSW School Certificate/equivalent.

Course description: This course covers everything from tour guiding to international travel sales and marketing. There are short courses and high level Advanced Diplomas which qualify you for management. The Certificate III is for people who want to work as a retail travel consultant. You’ll develop practical retail travel skills and the knowledge to carry out a consultant’s duties in travel agencies, airlines, car hire or rail and shipping companies. If you’re after a management qualification, you can then articulate into a Diploma in Tourism (Operations Management) or Advanced Diploma in Tourism Management.

From the inside: Jodie Priest (pictured) says working for an adventure travel company like Intrepid is not your average consultant’s job. “To have that kind of background is definitely a benefit but we are looking for outgoing, adventurous people that have travelled the Intrepid style of travel,” says Priest, who manages the company’s recently opened Paddington agency. “We can teach them the rest.” She also advises anybody thinking of a career in travel to do it for love. “Be prepared to not earn so much but love what you’re doing and that makes it all worthwhile,” she says.


More information:131 601, tafensw.edu.au