Associate Retail Travel Agent

AAA Club Alliance; Gaithersburg (MD); On-site; USD 41,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

IATAN cards for travel discounts

Paid educational trips

No Sundays

37.5-hour work week

Training & growth

Free AAA Membership

Continual learning reimbursement

AAA benefits page access

Job summary

AAA Club Alliance in Gaithersburg, MD is seeking enthusiastic, sales-driven individuals to join our AAA Retail Travel Agent team. Craft unforgettable domestic and international travel experiences, using your own travel adventures to guide clients, and build lasting relationships while achieving sales goals.

We offer comprehensive training, opportunities for advancement to Travel Agent and Senior Travel Agent, perks like exclusive travel discounts, paid educational trips, Sundays off, and a

Qualifications

• Education: High school diploma or equivalent; associate degree or travel school preferred.
• Experience: at least 1 year of retail experience; 1 year in travel agent role preferred.
• Skills: excellent communication and customer service; strong organizational ability; familiar with travel booking systems.
• Certifications: CTA designation required within 2 years of hire; company covers costs.
• Background checks: satisfactory pre/post-employment screening including criminal and drug tests.

Responsibilities

• Craft unforgettable domestic and international travel experiences.
• Use personal travel experiences to inspire clients.
• Build long-term relationships and turn first-time clients into loyal travelers.
• Process bookings, payments, and travel documentation per ARC, DOT, and AAA policies.
• Educate clients on AAA benefits and travel perks.
• Attend promotional events, training, and familiarization trips.
• Leverage AAA’s travel strategy to meet sales goals.
• Resolve client concerns under management guidance.

Skills

Excellent communication

Customer service

Strong organizational ability

Travel booking systems

Web-based applications

Geography knowledge

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Associate’s degree or travel school

Job description

Bring Your Sales Expertise to an Exciting Career in Travel!

Do you love exploring new places and sharing your experiences? At AAA Club Alliance , we’re looking for enthusiastic, sales-driven individuals who want to help others create unforgettable travel experiences. Whether you’re a seasoned travel professional or just starting your journey, if you excel in sales and customer service, have a passion for learning, and embrace new technology, this role is for you!

For over 100 years, we’ve been the go-to travel experts as we’ve continued to evolve to meet the needs of modern travelers. Join a dynamic sales team known for providing world-class service , while you make our clients’ travel dreams come true.

What You’ll Do as a AAA Retail Travel Agent

• Craft unforgettable domestic and international travel experiences-cruises, land tours, flights, hotels, and more.
• Use your personal travel experiences to inspire and guide clients.
• Build long-term relationships, turning first-time clients into loyal travelers.
• Leverage AAA’s established travel strategy to maximize success and achieve your sales goals.
• Process bookings, payments, and travel documentation while ensuring compliance with ARC, DOT, and AAA policies.
• Educate clients on AAA benefits, including exclusive travel perks and the AAA-branded credit card.
• Resolve client concerns under management guidance.
• Attend promotional events, training, and familiarization trips to stay ahead in the industry.

Why AAA? Your Career, Your Adventure!

• Training & Growth: Whether you’re new to the industry or an experienced pro, we invest in your success with expert-led training and coaching. This position offers a path for career growth. Through structured training, mentorship, ongoing learning, and required certification, you can advance to a Travel Agent role. Beyond that, we also offer a Senior Travel Agent level, providing continued opportunities for professional development.
• Exclusive Perks: Company-sponsored IATAN cards for travel discounts + personal travel opportunities at exclusive rates.
• Paid Educational Trips: Explore destinations firsthand and build your expertise.
• No Sundays: Enjoy a consistent schedule with Sundays off!
• Convenient Hours: Monday–Friday, 8 AM–6 PM, and Saturday, 8 AM–5 PM (37.5-hour work week).

Store Location: 16045 Shady Grove Rd. Gaithersburg, MD 20877

Competitive Pay & Comprehensive Benefits

• Base Salary: The starting base compensation for this position is $18.82 to $24.00/hourly. Actual pay will be adjusted based on experience, geographic location, and other job-related factors as permitted by law.
• Monthly Incentives: This position is eligible to earn incentive pay with an average payout of $550 - $1,100 per month, after approximately 6 months of employment.
• Paid Time Off: 3+ weeks accrued in your first year.
• Full Benefits Package: Medical, dental, vision, retirement plans, and more.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: High school diploma or equivalent (Associate’s degree or travel school graduate preferred).
• Experience:
  • At least 1 year of retail experience required.
  • Minimum of 1 year of experience as a retail/leisure travel agent (or other comparable travel experience) preferred.
• Skills: Excellent communication and customer service skills, strong organizational ability, proficiency with travel booking systems and web-based applications, and working knowledge of geography.
• Certifications: Certified Travel Associate (CTA) designation required within 2 years of hire. The company covers the cost of the program and testing and provides paid time to complete the certification.
• Satisfactory Background: Satisfactory pre-employment and post-employment screening results including criminal, drug, and state and/or vendor specific screenings. This may include ability to obtain necessary Membership license (or others) as required to perform the essential functions of the position.

Full time Associates are offered a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision plan options
• Up to 2 weeks Paid parental leave
• 401k plan with company match up to 7%
• 2+ weeks of PTO within your first year
• Paid company holidays
• Company provided volunteer opportunities + 1 volunteer day per year
• Free AAA Membership
• Continual learning reimbursement up to $5,250 per year
• And MORE! Check out our Benefits Pagefor more information

ACA is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local employment practices laws. At ACA, we are committed to cultivating a welcoming and inclusive workplace of team members with diverse backgrounds and experiences to enable us to meet our goals and support our values while serving our Members and customers. We strive to attract and retain candidates with a passion for their work and we encourage all qualified individuals to apply. It is ACA’s policy to employ the best qualified individuals available for all positions. Hiring decisions are based upon ACA’s operating needs, and applicant qualifications including, but not limited to, experience, skills, ability, availability, cooperation, and job performance.

Job Category:

Sales