Travel Agent Lesson Plan: How to Create the Perfect Itinerary

Engage students with this complete project-based lesson plan that turns them into a travel agent for a day. This hands-on activity guides learners through the entire process of trip planning, from taking a client call to presenting a final, detailed itinerary. Students will develop essential real-world skills such as active listening, research, customer service, and persuasive communication. This lesson includes a client call script, a customer inquiry form, and an itinerary template, making it easy to implement in any travel and tourism, business, or life skills classroom.

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Lesson Plan: Travel Agent for a Day - Crafting the Perfect Itinerary

Materials Needed

  • Computer with internet access
  • Notebook and pen or a word processing document
  • Printer (optional, for printing templates)
  • Headphones for the listening activity
  • A pre-recorded audio file or a script for the teacher to read (script provided below)
  • Customer Inquiry Form (template provided below)
  • Itinerary Template (optional, provided below)

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

  • Identify different holiday types and match them with appropriate activities.
  • Listen actively to a client's request and accurately record key details on a customer form.
  • Verify and confirm client information to ensure accuracy.
  • Research and design a detailed, logical, and appealing 3-day travel itinerary.
  • Confidently present the proposed itinerary, explaining your choices and persuading the "client."

Lesson Activities

Part 1: The Travel Consultant Warm-Up (15 minutes)

Goal: To understand how different activities appeal to different types of travelers.

Activity: Holiday Match-Up

On a piece of paper or in a document, create two columns. In the left column, list these Holiday Types:

  • Adventure & Thrill-Seeking
  • Relaxation & Wellness
  • Cultural & Historical Exploration
  • Family Fun
  • Budget Backpacking

In the right column, list these Activities:

  • All-day spa package and yoga retreat
  • Hostel stays and public transportation routes
  • Theme park tickets and a trip to the zoo
  • Zip-lining through the jungle and whitewater rafting
  • Guided museum tours and visiting ancient ruins

Your Task: Draw a line connecting each Holiday Type to its most fitting Activity. Discuss your choices. Are there any activities that could fit into more than one category? This exercise helps you think like a travel agent, categorizing client desires.

Part 2: The Client Call (25 minutes)

Goal: To practice active listening and accurate note-taking.

Activity: Taking the Brief

Imagine you work for a travel agency. A potential client is calling to inquire about a trip. Your job is to listen carefully and fill out the Customer Inquiry Form below. You may need to listen to the audio twice to catch all the details.

(Teacher: Read the "Client Call Script" aloud in a natural, conversational pace, or play a pre-recorded version for the student.)

Client Call Script:

"Hi there, my name is Alex Romero. That’s R-O-M-E-R-O. I’m hoping you can help me plan a surprise trip for my partner’s 30th birthday. We’d like to go away for about three days, maybe a long weekend. Our budget is around $1,500 for the two of us, not including flights. We’re open to destinations, but we’re based in Chicago, so somewhere in North America would be great. We definitely want a mix of things to do. My partner loves art and history, so a good museum or some historical sites would be perfect. I’m more into food and music, so I’d love to include a food tour and maybe see some live music. We’re not really into intense hiking or anything too physically demanding, but we do enjoy a scenic walk. Oh, and one very important detail: my partner is a vegetarian, so we need to make sure the food options are great. My phone number is 555-123-9876. Could you put something together for us? Thanks!"

Customer Inquiry Form:

  • Client Name: _________________________
  • Contact Number: _________________________
  • Occasion for Travel: _________________________
  • Number of Travelers: _________________________
  • Trip Duration: _________________________
  • Budget (excluding flights): $_________________________
  • Client Interests: __________________________________________________
  • Activities to Avoid: _________________________
  • Dietary Requirements: _________________________
  • Key Request Summary: __________________________________________________

Activity: Information Check-Back

After filling out the form, practice checking the information. Verbally summarize the client's request back to the teacher as if you were speaking to Alex on the phone. For example: "Okay, Alex, just to confirm, you're looking for..." This is a crucial step for real-world travel agents to avoid errors.

Part 3: The Itinerary Creation (60 minutes)

Goal: To research and create a detailed, persuasive, and practical itinerary based on the client's needs.

Activity: Destination Research & Itinerary Writing

Based on the client brief for Alex Romero, choose one of the following destinations (or one of your own approved by the teacher) and create a 3-day itinerary.

  • New Orleans, Louisiana
  • Mexico City, Mexico
  • Montreal, Canada

Your Task: Use the internet to research your chosen city. Your final itinerary should be well-structured and include:

  • A Catchy Title: (e.g., "A Weekend of Culture & Cuisine in New Orleans")
  • Daily Schedule: Break down each of the 3 days into Morning, Afternoon, and Evening.
  • Specific Activities: Name the museums, restaurants (with vegetarian options!), music venues, and historical sites.
  • Logistical Details: Include estimated times, addresses, and brief notes on why you chose each activity (e.g., "This museum features modern art, which you'll love...").
  • A Personal Touch: Add a short, welcoming introduction and a concluding sentence.

Optional Itinerary Template:

Trip Title: _________________________

Destination: ______________ Duration: 3 Days / 2 Nights

Client: Alex Romero

---

Day 1: Arrival & Artistic Immersion

  • Morning:
  • Afternoon:
  • Evening:

Day 2: [Theme for the Day]

  • Morning:
  • Afternoon:
  • Evening:

Day 3: [Theme for the Day] & Departure

  • Morning:
  • Afternoon:

Part 4: The Presentation (15 minutes)

Goal: To practice communication skills and present your work professionally.

Activity: Pitching the Trip

Present your completed itinerary to your teacher as if they were the client, Alex. Your presentation should be 5-7 minutes long.

Be sure to:

  • Start with a friendly greeting.
  • Walk them through the itinerary day-by-day.
  • Explain why you chose specific activities, directly referencing their interests (art, history, food, music) and constraints (vegetarian diet, no intense hiking).
  • End with enthusiasm and ask if they have any questions.

Assessment & Feedback

Your work will be evaluated based on the following:

  • Accuracy: Was the Customer Inquiry Form filled out correctly?
  • Relevance: Does the final itinerary perfectly match the client's requests from the phone call?
  • Creativity & Logic: Is the itinerary well-paced, creative, and logistically sound?
  • Presentation: Was your presentation clear, confident, and persuasive?

Extension & Challenge Activities

  • Add a Budget: Create a simple spreadsheet that estimates the cost of all activities in your itinerary to see if you stayed within the $1,500 budget.
  • Create an Alternative: Briefly outline a second itinerary for a different city, giving the client another option to choose from.
  • Write a Follow-Up Email: Draft a professional email to Alex Romero that includes your itinerary as an attachment and asks for feedback.