Travel Consulting and Sales (5855)

Program Overview

The Travel Consulting and Sales (5855) program leads to a Diploma of Vocational Studies (DVS). It aims to train travel consultants capable of informing, advising, and assisting clients in the planning and purchase of tourism products and services. The program develops competencies in needs analysis, itinerary design, reservation of tourism services, air ticketing, and consultative sales, while ensuring customer service that meets industry standards.

Training Objectives

The Travel Consulting and Sales program aims to train travel sales consultants. The job consists of interacting with customers, determining needs and expectations and describing travel offers and the agencies’ services. The consultant will be able to offer information on destinations, modes of travel, lodging and the costs associated all with the goal of selling travel products and services. The consultant will perform administrative tasks such as reservations, billing as well as coordinating payment for products purchased and prepare travel documents. Excellent customer service skills are expected.

The consultant will be expected to sell travel packages as well as customized travel products (such as sun, cultural, health, adventure, sports, ecological, etc. destinations), cruises, business and tourist plans. He or she will also offer transportation and lodging packages, and travel insurance. The range of travel products and services proposed by agencies is forever evolving.

The role of the travel consultant also consists of informing the client on travel conditions such as requirements to enter and exit a country, foreign currency and exchange rates, traveller security, etc.

To exercise their profession, a travel consultant must have a certificate issued by the Consumer Protection Office.

Training Content

The program includes 19 competencies required to practice as a travel consultant:

• Determine their suitability for the occupation and the training process
• Understand the global geographical context
• Interpret customers’ consumer behaviour
• Provide customer service
• Analyze travel offerings to Central and South American destinations
• Analyze travel offerings to European destinations
• Interact with customers and suppliers
• Perform administrative tasks
• Sell travel packages
• Sell cruises
• Perform activities related to travel agency sales
• Describe North American destinations
• Describe Asian destinations
• Describe African and Oceanian destinations
• Sell customized travel products
• Communicate in French at work
• Sell business travel
• Provide after-sales service
• Enter the work force

Duration and Schedule

The total duration of the program is 1,185 hours, delivered full-time according to the schedule established by Collège April-Fortier. The program is offered on campus and may include certain online learning components depending on academic organization.

Admission Requirements

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND PREREQUISITES

To be admitted to the Travel Consulting and Sales program, students must meet the following conditions:

• Persons holding a Secondary School Diploma or its recognized equivalent, for example, an Attestation of Equivalence of Secondary V studies, or a postsecondary diploma such as the Diploma of College Studies or a Bachelor’s degree

OR

• Persons who are at least 16 years of age on September 30 of the school year in which their training is to begin and have earned Secondary IV credits in language of instruction, second language and mathematics in the programs of study established by the Minister, or have been granted recognition for equivalent learning

OR

• Persons who are at least 18 years of age upon entry into the program and have the following functional prerequisites: the successful completion of the General Development Test (see the follwing table), or recognition of equivalent learning

OR

• Persons who have obtained Secondary III credits in language of instruction, second language and mathematics in programs established by the Minister are required to pursue general education courses, concurrently with their vocational training, in order to obtain the Secondary IV credits they lack in language of instruction, second language and mathematics in programs established by the Minister

FUNCTIONAL PREREQUISITES

A person who has reached the age of 18 can be admitted to a program of study leading to a Diploma of vocational studies (DVS) based on functional prerequisites. These prerequisites, in place for those aged at least 18 years at the start date declared for the vocational training program, are: successful completion of the general development test (GDT) and obtaining and passing the tests relative to the specific prerequisites in the language of instruction and mathematics, if applicable.

This table indicates the new course codes for common core basic education (CCBE) and diversified basic education (DBE) required for the specific prerequisites in language of instruction and mathematics for the targeted program of study. In the cases where the new course codes for the CCBE and the DBE are in progressive implementation, the old codes are indicated in parenthesis and are still valid. The equivalent course codes in basic education in the youth sector are also indicated in the table. When a DVS does not require any specific prerequisites in language of instruction or in mathematics, a (-) will be displayed in the appropriate field. Please note that the functional prerequisites do not apply to attestation of vocational specialty (AVS) programs.

Academic Pathway

The academic pathway ensures structured progression from the acquisition of fundamental knowledge in tourism and sales techniques to mastery of professional tools and practical workplace application during the internship. Learning combines theory, simulations, and real-world applications in a professional context.

Career Opportunities

Graduates may pursue various positions, including:

• Travel Consultant;
• Reservation Agent;
• Travel Package Specialist;
• Air Ticketing Agent;
• Tourism Product Representative;
• Self-employed travel professional.

Employment prospects are favorable due to the sustained recovery of the travel sector and the growing demand for personalized and specialized services.

Training Location

Courses are offered on campus (with certain components available online) at Collège April-Fortier, located in downtown Montreal, near Sherbrooke metro station.

Diploma and Certificates of Excellences

Upon successful completion of the program and fulfillment of all requirements, graduates will receive a Diploma of Vocational Studies (DVS).