National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2011

A

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6 - Sales and service occupations

65 - Service representatives and other customer and personal services occupations

652 - Occupations in travel and accommodation

6521 - Travel counsellors

Travel counsellors advise clients on travel options and tour packages, make bookings and reservations, prepare tickets and receive payment. They are employed in travel agencies, transportation and tourism firms and hotel chains.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • reservation agent - travel agency
    • travel agent
    • travel consultant

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • Airline ticket agents (See 6523 Airline ticket and service agents)
    • Convention co-ordinators (See 1226 Conference and event planners)
    • Travel agency managers (See 0621 Retail and wholesale trade managers)
  • Main duties

    Travel counsellors perform some or all of the following duties:

    • Provide travel information to clients regarding destinations, transportation and accommodation options and travel costs, and recommend suitable products
    • Plan and organize vacation travel for individuals or groups
    • Make transportation and accommodation reservations using computerized reservation and ticketing system
    • Sell single fare tickets and package tours to clients
    • Promote particular destinations, tour packages and other travel services
    • Investigate new travel destinations, hotels and other facilities and attractions
    • Provide travel tips regarding tourist attractions, foreign currency, customs, languages and travel safety.
  • Employment requirements

    • Completion of secondary school is usually required.
    • A college diploma or vocational training in travel or tourism is usually required.
    • Certification with the Canadian Institute of Travel Counsellors (CITC) may be required. This certification is granted after completion of a 60 credit requirement obtained through any combination of work experience, training and education, and successful completion of the advanced exam.
  • Additional information

    • Progression to managerial positions is possible with experience.
6522 - Pursers and flight attendants

Airline pursers and flight attendants ensure the safety and comfort of passengers and crew members during flights. Ship pursers attend to the safety and comfort of passengers aboard ships. Airline pursers and flight attendants are employed by airline companies. Ship pursers are employed by tour boat or cruise ship companies.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • flight attendant
    • flight service director
    • passenger service director - water transportation
    • purser, airline
    • ship purser

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • Food and beverage servers on trains (See 6513 Food and beverage servers)
    • Passenger service attendants - except air travel (See 6721 Support occupations in accommodation, travel and facilities set-up services)
  • Main duties

    The following is a summary of main duties for some occupations in this unit group:

    • Flight attendants greet passengers, explain and demonstrate safety procedures, check the general condition of the aircraft cabin, ensure that all necessary supplies are on board, attend to safety of passengers during take-offs, landings and emergencies, serve food and beverages to passengers and make flight announcements.
    • Flight pursers, customer service directors and passenger service directors co-ordinate the activities of flight attendants, provide service to passengers during flight and complete reports.
    • Ship pursers supervise ship attendants, arrange activities for passengers and conduct ship's business, such as signing on crew, maintaining payroll records, assisting passengers in preparing customs declarations and supervising baggage storage.
  • Employment requirements

    • Flight attendants and flight pursers require the completion of secondary school and a training program approved by Transport Canada.
    • Flight pursers/customer service directors require experience as a flight attendant.
    • Ship pursers may require experience as a ship attendant.
    • Flight attendants and ship pursers usually require experience working with the public.
  • Additional information

    • There is little mobility between airline pursers and ship pursers.
    • It is an advantage for pursers and flight attendants to speak more than one language.
6523 - Airline ticket and service agents

Airline ticket and service agents issue tickets, provide fare quotations, make reservations, conduct passenger check-in, trace missing baggage, arrange for cargo shipments and perform other related customer service duties to assist airline passengers. Airline ticket and service agents are employed by airline companies. Load planners, who plan the positioning of cargo on aircraft, are also included in this unit group.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • airline baggage agent
    • airline cargo agent
    • baggage tracer, airline
    • client service representative - airline
    • counter services agent, airline
    • customer service agent, airline
    • load planner, airline
    • passenger agent, airline
    • passenger service representative
    • reservation agent, airline
    • station agent, airline
    • ticket agent, airline

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • Airline cargo and baggage handlers (See 7534 Air transport ramp attendants)
    • Ground and water transport ticket agents, cargo service representatives and related clerks (6524)
    • Supervisors of airline sales and service agents (See 6313 Accommodation, travel, tourism and related services supervisors)
    • Travel counsellors (6521)
  • Main duties

    The following is a summary of main duties for some occupations in this unit group:

    • Airline passenger and ticket agents help customers plan travel time and routes, prepare and issue tickets, assign seats, prepare boarding passes, check baggage, attend boarding gates, assist pre-boarding passengers and provide information on fares and flight schedules and routes.
    • Airline baggage agents trace lost, delayed or misdirected baggage for customers.
    • Airline cargo agents weigh cargo and compute freight costs, calculate charges for services and insurance, process bills of lading, cargo manifests and other documents, trace lost or misdirected cargo and maintain shipping and other records.
    • Airline reservation agents reserve seats for tour companies, travel agencies, wholesalers and the general public using computerized systems, provide information on airline passengers and process mileage points.
    • Airline station agents complete pre-flight documents regarding passenger and cargo load, catering count, special requests and other flight information and relay operational messages to operations control and downline stations. They also perform duties of ticket, baggage and cargo agents.
    • Airline load planners calculate load weights for compartments of aircraft using charts and computers and plan load to distribute and balance cargo.
  • Employment requirements

    • Completion of secondary school is usually required.
    • Several weeks of on-the-job and classroom training are provided for all occupations in this unit group.
    • Airline station agents usually require experience as a ticket, baggage or cargo agent.
    • Load planners require a restricted radio operator's licence and usually require airline operations experience.
  • Additional information

    • Depending on the size of the airline or airport, the duties of workers in this unit group may overlap.
    • Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.
6524 - Ground and water transport ticket agents, cargo service representatives and related clerks

Ticket agents, cargo service representatives and related clerks (except airline), quote fares and rates, make reservations, issue tickets, process cargo shipment, check baggage and perform other related customer service duties to assist travellers. They are employed by bus and railway companies, freight forwarding and shipping companies, boat cruise operators and other public transit establishments and by travel wholesalers.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • bus ticket agent
    • cargo customer service representative - railway
    • counter service agent, railway
    • railway passenger agent
    • reservations clerk - cruise line
    • reservations clerk, railway
    • ticket agent (except airline)

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • Airline ticket and service agents (6523)
    • Supervisors of ticket and cargo agents and related clerks in this unit group (See 6313 Accommodation, travel, tourism and related services supervisors)
    • Travel counsellors (6521)
  • Main duties

    Ticket agents in this unit group perform some or all of the following duties:

    • Answer customer inquiries, quote fares and assist clients in planning travel times and routes
    • Reserve seats for tour companies, travel agencies, wholesalers and the general public
    • Issue tickets, handle cash transactions and check baggage
    • Receive and record bookings for package tours from retail travel agencies and supply information regarding available vacancies when working for wholesale travel companies.

    Cargo service representatives in this unit group perform some or all of the following duties:

    • Quote fare and rates for cargo shipment
    • Compute shipment costs including charges for services and insurance using rate tables and schedules and prepare and maintain shipping and other documents
    • Check in passenger baggage and sort for loading by baggage handlers or may load baggage directly into buses, railway cars or cruise ships
    • Trace lost or misdirected passenger baggage or cargo shipment.
  • Employment requirements

    • Completion of secondary school is usually required.
    • Up to 10 weeks of training may be provided.
  • Additional information

    • Ticket agents and cargo service representatives may perform the same duties depending on the size and location of the operations.
    • Progression to supervisory positions is possible through experience.
6525 - Hotel front desk clerks

Hotel front desk clerks make room reservations, provide information and services to guests and receive payment for services. They are employed by hotels, motels and resorts.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • guest services agent - hotel
    • hotel front desk clerk
    • night clerk
    • reservations clerk - hotel
    • room clerk

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • Supervisors, hotel front desk clerk (See 0632 Accommodation service managers)
    • Travel counsellors (6521)
  • Main duties

    Hotel front desk clerks perform some or all of the following duties:

    • Maintain an inventory of vacancies, reservations and room assignments
    • Register arriving guests and assign rooms
    • Answer enquiries regarding hotel services and registration by letter, by telephone and in person, provide information about services available in the community and respond to guests' complaints
    • Compile and check daily record sheets, guest accounts, receipts and vouchers using computerized or manual systems
    • Present statements of charges to departing guests and receive payment.
  • Employment requirements

    • Completion of secondary school or equivalent is usually required.
    • Completion of a two-year apprenticeship program, or a college program in front desk operations or hotel management may be required.
    • Guest service trade certification is available, but voluntary, in all provinces and the Yukon from the Tourism Education Council.
  • Additional information

    • Progression to senior positions such as accommodations manager is possible with additional training and experience.
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