If you plan a lot of business travel, you know how valuable it is to have a good working relationship with a Florida travel agency. Florida travel agents can save you money on airfare, get you upgrades at hotels and plan the difficult details of an international business trip.

Making the most of travel agencies in Florida means you will want to choose a corporate travel agency in Florida that can best meet your company's needs. So ask yourself, do you want to find:

1. FL travel agencies that specialize in domestic travel?

2. International travel agents in Florida?

3. Travel agents in Florida that handle a lot of business travel?

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Choose a reputable Florida travel agency that handles domestic travel needs

With so many Florida travel agencies that specialize in domestic travel, picking one can seem overwhelming. Start by getting a list of local travel agents, then research their credentials and take a moment to interview a few of the top candidates.

I recommend: The St. Augustine Record explains the best way to chose a Florida travel agent. Tips include choosing an agent that is experienced, knowledgeable and not pushy. Tripology is a free service that helps you select the right Florida travel agent for you needs.

Locate travel agents in Florida that specialize in international travel

International travel requires an extra level of expertise. Additionally, when traveling overseas on business, no detail, from the travel documents to the currency conversion, can be overlooked. So whether you have a business meeting in Europe or in the Caribbean, you'll want to book the trip through Florida travel agents who know the ins and outs of traveling abroad.

I recommend: Yunique International Travel Agency, which is based in Miami, specializes in booking international trips. It offers a variety of travel packages for corporations and groups. To be sure you are making the most of travel agencies in Florida, team up with a company such as Odyssey Travel. Odyssey caters to international business travel and even has a destination specialist for corporate excursions.

Find business travel agencies in Florida

Most Florida travel agencies have some sort of specialization, and many specialize in corporate customers. Corporate travel agencies must be organized, helpful and willing to offer the extra services that businesses demand, such as after-hours assistance and trip accounting.

I recommend: The Travel Insider goes through all the details of finding a good Florida travel agency. The three-part series explains the importance of teaming up with agents that provide good corporate travel management, 24-hour emergency help and the lowest airfares and rates. Williamsville Travel Management, with offices in Tampa and Jacksonville, offers a number of enhanced travel services for its business clients.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Above all, when choosing Florida travel agents, rely on advice from your experienced colleagues and business partners. If they are located in your area, they can probably give you honest opinions about local FL travel agents.

Travel agencies in Florida are a great convenience to both individuals and businesses alike. They provide travel arrangements that can range from simple airline tickets, to the entire trip including lodging, rental cars, activities, dining and entertainment.

Many travel agents in Florida operate solely over the Internet. Even though this is an easy and time saving way of making the needed reservations, at times it is nice to have an agent that you can talk to face to face.

From all of the choices you may have in selecting a Florida travel agent, it is best to narrow down the services that you require to help you select the type of Florida travel agency to use. Consider the following:

1. Service that is available day or night can be found through Internet travel agencies in Florida.

2. For one on one personalized service select a local Florida travel agent.

3. When traveling abroad, choose from several international travel agents in Florida.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Work with Florida travel agencies that are Internet based

The appeal of Internet based travel agencies in FL is the fact that customers can access their services literally 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

I recommend: CruiseBrokers and TourBrokers are two Internet-based travel agencies in Florida.

Work with small local Florida travel agents

Even though many of the large agencies offer quick service, ultimate convenience and many great package deals, the smaller travel agency organizations in Florida offer a more personal touch. These agencies get to know you as a person and get to know your business.

I recommend: Atlas Cruises and Tours offers guided tours, cruises and sports destinations travel packages. If it is a quick weekend getaway that you have in mind contact Grande Island Vacations for rentals in Sanibel Island, Captiva Island and Boca Grande. Sunsplash offers luxury vacation homes with entertainment arrangements made in the nearby resorts and theme parks in Central Florida.

Consider working with international travel agencies in Florida

Many Florida travel agents specialize in a particular travel genre. The international travel agents in Florida know what is required for traveling abroad and insure that all details are handled properly.

I recommend: Work with LorraineTravel for international travel arrangements. As a corporate travel agency in Florida they make travel easy. Bowen-Keppie Travel also arranges travel destinations around the world and has the American Express Travel Representative label as a guarantee of quality service.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Insure that when you use any Florida travel agent or Florida travel agencies, you are able to contact them at anytime to resolve problems that may arise during your travel.

Even in times of economic downturn, business is still good for travel agencies in Florida: About 80 million tourists travel to the state every year. Since there is so much to do there, many folks opt to use a travel agent to help them plan their vacations. By becoming a travel agent or opening up your own travel agency, you stand to make a lot of people happy while making some hefty commissions for yourself.

However, you can't just walk in and expect to get a job at travel agencies in Florida. Education and training are important to landing a job at the agency you have in mind. And if you want to start your own agency, you'll need even more training since you won't be able to fall back on your boss's expertise. Before jumping in head first, consider the following:

1. Take college courses to gain a strong background in tourism. Florida travel agencies will appreciate this on your resume.

2. Enroll in a vocational school designed specifically for Florida travel agents. FL travel agencies are familiar with these programs and know that they provide valuable training.

3. Take classes from Florida travel agency associations periodically. This will keep you at the forefront of the industry.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Take college courses designed specifically for FL travel agents

Enrolling in tourism classes will help you immensely when it comes to finding a job or opening your own travel agency. These classes teach the ins and outs of understanding fares, making reservations and putting together the best travel packages for clients.

I recommend: Find a school that fits your location and schedule on EdRef.com. Or consider the Recreation, Parks, and Tourism degree at the University of Florida.

Jumpstart your career as a Florida travel agent by enrolling in a vocational course

If you're not interested in a college degree, you can still take a tourism class through a specialty or vocational program. These programs are shorter and much less expensive than a college degree. Just make sure to do your research and find a reputable program for Florida travel agents.

I recommend: ASTA, the American Society of Travel Agents, maintains a list of ASTA member schools in Florida and throughout the country. CityTownInfo.com has a school locator as well as employment statistics by Florida metro area. RWM offers a list of vocational travel schools both online and in Florida.

Take advantage of training offered by travel agency organizations in Florida

Local chapters of travel agent associations often host seminars and training for agents. These range from teaching business practices to focusing on popular travel destinations. Cruising is especially popular in Florida due to the fact that it's so close to the Caribbean islands that quite a few cruise lines operate from the state's many ports. Familiarizing yourself with different cruise lines will definitely come in handy.

I recommend: Beef up your business knowledge by participating in the training offered by the Central Florida Business Travel Association. If you're interested in offering some of the many cruises that leave out of Florida, check out the different training programs offered by the Cruise Lines International Association. You can request group training if you would prefer to obtain education for your entire agency.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Reading magazines geared toward travel agents in Florida is a good way to keep up-to-date with current industry trends. These have informative articles as well as advertisements for helpful classes.