Maximise revenue with confident travel agents providing first-class customer experiences
Travel consultants play a key role in delivering exceptional customer service by managing complex travel arrangements, accommodation bookings and creating tailored services that ensure travellers not only enjoy their journeys but also have their expectations exceeded.
The Level 3 Travel Consultant apprenticeship is designed to equip travel teams with the expertise and confidence to handle high-value, multi-step itineraries. It covers essential areas such as legal requirements, customer preferences, and the specific needs of both business and leisure travel.
KEY INFORMATION
- Strengthen capability in itinerary planning, customer service and destination knowledge
- Drive revenue through upselling and personalised travel solutions
- Exceed client expectations with memorable journeys that build loyalty and trust
APPRENTICESHIP DETAILS
Our Travel Consultant apprenticeship supports staff in designing and booking complex travel arrangements for leisure or corporate clients, ensuring a seamless and personalised experience. Develop skills in communication, sales consultation and use of technology to deliver tailored travel solutions that exceed customer expectations.
- Open cohorts start in September/October and March/April
- Closed cohorts can start at any time
- Hybrid, online and in-person delivery
- Practical experience balanced with theoretical learning
The Level 3 Travel Consultant apprenticeship is designed for junior staff selling travel services for both businesses and leisure, with exposure to travel sales, client interaction and booking systems. This apprenticeship helps learners develop core skills in itinerary planning, customer service and destination knowledge.
Level 3 Travel Consultant apprentices also gain commercial awareness by learning to maximise revenue through upselling, tailored travel solutions and effective sales techniques.
This programme provides travel consultants with transferable skills and knowledge, whether they work in corporate or leisure travel. On completion, businesses benefit from consultants who stay current with trends, use technology effectively and deliver personalised experiences that exceed client expectations. This creates a culture of professionalism and client focus, boosting individual careers and organisational growth.
The Level 3 Travel Consultant apprenticeship costs £7,000 per learner which includes End-Point Assessment.
Funding
Apprenticeships can be funded from your Apprenticeship Levy or by Government Co-Invest. If you do not pay the Levy, the Government will fund 95% of the programme, meaning you pay as little as £350 per person you enrol. We are also able to offer privately funded places for any employees not eligible for apprenticeship funding. For further information about funding options, eligibility and costs, please contact us.
Cost Includes:
- Bespoke off-the-job learning plan
- Programme Manager overseeing the learner journey and apprentice experience
- Delivery of the programme by retail experts
- Blend of sessions including online learning, webinars, in-person workshops, and individual coaching and support
- Preparation and support for End-Point Assessment
- Dedicated Client Manager
- Access to resources including WGSN, LinkedIn Learning, Global Data, Business of Fashion, Fashion/Beauty Monitor and Drapers
- Online e-Portfolio
- Monthly progress report
Duration: 12 months
The Level 3 Travel Consultant apprenticeship typically takes 12 months to complete, followed by a period of end-point assessment of approximately 3 months.
Open Cohort Intakes
September/October
March/April
Enquire now to secure places for your team
Closed Cohorts
We can begin a closed intake apprenticeship at any time that suits your brand. We require a minimum of 10 learners to offer a closed cohort for Level 3 Travel Consultant.
For our closed-access programmes, we can devise a flexible programme and delivery model to support the needs of your business – please get in touch to find out more about the options available.
Off-the-job learning is delivered through a combination of full day and half day group workshops approximately every 2-3 weeks, which may take place online or in person.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & UNDERSTANDING
Geography
- Know a varied range of world-wide geography and popular travel destinations to help inform customers’ travel plans
- Source and provide reliable and relevant geographical information that will help inform enquiries, support customers’ travel decisions and close sales
- Proactively keep up to date with worldwide geography and current affairs that could impact on customers
Travel information
- Know travel information including: passport and visa requirements, diversity for example local cultures, customs and tradition, differences in time zones, climate, medical safety information, foreign office advice and foreign exchange information
- Source and provide accurate and relevant travel information that will ensure customers have a positive travel experience
- Proactively keep up to date with travel information according to the customer profile of the business and the ever-changing dynamics of the industry
Industry practice
- Know the travel industry and the systems that support it, including those for reservations and booking, the importance of booking the correct product / service and key information such as travel terminology, abbreviated industry codes, preferred operators’ current fare and ticketing rules, and travel regulations
- Carry out transactions, using a range of reservation and booking systems, according to standard industry practices and the procedures of the business, ensuring that customers are offered travel options that will meet their individual needs within agreed deadlines
- Take a keen interest in travel industry developments to keep professional knowledge current and up to date
Travel options
- Know the variety and alternative combination of travel options that are available to customers including modes of transportation, types of accommodation and how to produce an itinerary that will meet customers’ precise needs
- Source travel options, work with relevant industry suppliers and produce detailed itineraries that best meet customers’ needs
- Demonstrate commercial awareness and consideration for customers’ unique needs when selecting and combining different elements of customers’ travel plans
Product and service
- Know the unique selling points of travel products and services and understand how to match their features to benefit the customer and provide an enhanced competitive proposition
- Match customer needs to products and services and identify opportunities to upsell, suggest alternatives, introduce an enhanced competitive offer when appropriate and always aim to maximise profit when closing the sale
- Promote confidence in customers by demonstrating a passionand belief in the products and services being sold
Customer
- Know different customer profiles, including sole travellers and groups, how to recognise and identify their requirementsand individual needs, their preferred method(s) of booking travel, the need for providing a flexible service to support the process, and how to meet the increasing demand for an enhanced travel experience
- Engage customers by building rapport and take opportunities to adapt communication styles to match their needs and deliver an enhanced service which encourages repeat business and consistently aims to exceed their expectations
- Respond positively and imaginatively to customers’ requirements, demonstrating an enthusiasm to inspire and delight them
Legal and compliance
- Know how to keep customers’ details safely and to lawfully process business transactions, recognising the connection with travel industry regulations, business compliance and relevant legislation
- Conduct the business transaction in compliance with travel industry regulations, approved codes of practice and business policy and continuously monitor the process to ensure accurate information and advice is given to customers
- Be diligent in upholding protocols and business reputation to ensure customers receive the best quality service and advice and communicate and explain emerging issues and updates
Industry technology
- Know how to utilise technology in line with customer and business requirements and the scope of technology used within the business and the industry as a whole
- Use technology effectively and efficiently and input data accurately in accordance with business procedures
- Use technology responsibly and embrace developments in travel technology
Business
- Know the business vision, objectives and brand standards, the market it competes in, external factors that affect customer behaviour and business performance and understand the importance of meeting customers’ needs profitably
- Actively support business performance by meeting agreed targets and providing travel solutions for customers varying needs and budgets in a way that is profitable to the business
- Engage with the culture and ethos of the business and be a positive advocate and driver for high quality performance and achievement
Sales
- Know how to operate commercially with the aim of exceeding sales target, how to calculate complex travel costings, understanding the difference between turnover and profit, and how own targets contribute to achieving the overall sales budget
- Achieve and exceed commercial targets by applying selling techniques that are appropriate to all customer types, take opportunities to maximise sales for example by selling promotions and preferred supplier programmes and maximise financial performance by upselling, cross-selling and calculating fares and refunds accurately
- Proactively seek ways of engaging customers to increase and enhance sales
Team and personal performance
- Know and understand the factors that both motivate and impair individual and team performance and recognise how own and team dynamics impact on the experience of the customer and ultimately business success
- Work constructively with team members to deliver travel plans and experiences that meet customer needs and recognise opportunities for self and team development to improve performance
- Evaluate own personal performance in a consistently positive and professional manner, take on feedback and welcome personal development opportunities
Communication
- Understand how to professionally communicate to different audiences using a variety of methods, including available digital resources
- Select and use appropriate methods of communication including digital technologies according to the customer and the nature of the travel details being conveyed, ensuring quotes and prices are presented accurately
- Be clear and coherent to effectively communicate accurate and complex information professionally and confidently to a diverse audience, in line with business expectations
Sustainability
- Understand the impact that the business activity has on the environment and the organisation’s approach to operate in a more responsible and sustainable manner
- Adapt working practices to minimise the negative effect on the environment
- Demonstrate an on-going commitment to reducing impact on the environment in all work activities
End-point assessment
For the Level 3 Business Administrator apprenticeship, end-point assessment typically takes 3 months to complete.
It’s a true collaboration between two organisations that have in common creating opportunities and opening doors for young people.
Andy, Director of Buying Operations, TJX Europe