19 tasks, each one witnessed by the sources that watched the job — and behind every one, a prompt you can use tonight.
A day often starts by checking bookings and emails in Microsoft Outlook and your GDS (Amadeus or Apollo). You review flight schedules, confirm hotel and ground transport reservations, and print or request carrier tickets using the reservation system.
Afternoons usually mean building or updating client itineraries in Colibri PMS or SAP Concur, handling cancellations or refunds, and calling suppliers for changes. Evenings can include preparing brochures, updating fare deals, and joining a Zoom training or supplier call.
Learn one GDS right away: Amadeus or Apollo. Those are used daily to book flights, print tickets, and link to carriers. Basic tasks use common Microsoft Office apps: Outlook for email, Excel for rates, and Word or PowerPoint for brochures.
You will also see reservation management tools like Colibri PMS and expense/travel tools like SAP Concur. Zoom is used for supplier meetings. Employers expect practical, not expert, skill at these systems when you start.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports 55,110 people employed in this role with a median annual wage of $50,160. The lowest 10% earn about $34,610, and the top 10% about $76,660 per year, according to BLS 2025 data.
Pay varies by region, employer (airline GSA vs. travel agency), and experience with GDS, negotiation, and corporate travel tools like SAP Concur. Use the BLS numbers to set realistic expectations.
A Travel Coordinator focuses on planning and managing itineraries, corporate or group logistics, negotiations with hotels and carriers, and paperwork like refunds and carrier ticketing—often using GDS and SAP Concur.
A Travel Agent sells packages and retail bookings to the public; a Station Agent works at the airport handling check-in and boarding. Coordinators often act as general sales agents for airlines and deal more with supplier contracts and corporate travel systems.
AI can draft emails, summarize itinerary changes, or draft brochures in PowerPoint. Use it to save time composing standard messages or creating versions of itineraries for clients.
Avoid entering PNRs (passenger name records), payment card details, or any private client data into public AI tools. Always verify AI-generated booking details against Amadeus/Apollo and confirm changes with carriers before telling the client.
Attention to detail is the single most important skill: wrong dates, fares, or ticket numbers create big problems. You need to check schedules, carrier rules, and visa/medical notes carefully when building itineraries.
Strong communication and negotiation skills follow — you will call hotels and airlines daily to secure rates, handle complaints, and arrange refunds. Comfort with GDS like Amadeus or Apollo and tools like SAP Concur speeds everything up.