Definition

Noun: An agency that arranges personal travel. A business that provides services related to planning, booking, and organizing trips for individuals or groups. Its primary function is to act as an intermediary between travelers and travel suppliers like airlines, hotels, and tour operators.

Usage

The term "travel agency" refers to the business entity itself. It is typically used to describe the company's physical location or its service offering. - You book a vacation through a travel agency. - You go to a travel agency for advice. - A travel agency arranges or organizes your travel.

Examples

• Noun:
  • We used a travel agency to book our honeymoon package to Italy.
  • The travel agency on Main Street helped us find the best cruise deals.
  • Many people now use online travel agencies instead of visiting a physical office.

Advanced Usage

• "to operate/run a travel agency": To own and manage this type of business.
  • After years as a tour guide, she decided to operate her own travel agency.
• The concept can be implied in adjectival forms describing related services.
  • She works in the travel agency industry.

Variants and Related Words

• Travel Agent (n): The professional who works for a travel agency and provides the travel planning services directly to clients.
  • Our travel agent found us a great last-minute deal.
• Tour Operator (n): A company that creates and operates package tours, often sold through travel agencies.
• Online Travel Agency (OTA) (n): A travel agency that operates primarily over the internet (e.g., Expedia, Booking.com).

Synonyms

• Travel Bureau: A less common, more formal term for a travel agency.
• Tourist Agency: Emphasizes services for tourists specifically.

Related Phrases

• "to go through a travel agency": To utilize the services of a travel agency for booking.
  • For a complex multi-city trip, it's easier to go through a travel agency.

Noun

1. an agency that arranges personal travel