Best institutions to study Tourism and Travel Services Marketing Operations
A program that prepares individuals to provide direct retail services to hotel and motel clients and customers in a variety of settings.
15 U.S. institutions graduated 141 Tourism and Travel Services Marketing Operations students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 52.1905, a specialization of Specialized Sales (CIP 52.19), and leads most directly to the Travel Agents occupation (BLS SOC 41-3041).
About Tourism and Travel Services Marketing Operations programs
A program that prepares individuals to provide direct retail services to hotel and motel clients and customers in a variety of settings. Includes instruction in the principles of hotel/motel operations, customer sales and assistance operations and techniques, telephone operations, and basic office management.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Tourism and Travel Services Marketing Operations program, part of the Specialized Sales field, prepares individuals to deliver direct retail services to hotel and motel clients in diverse settings. This program is ideal for those interested in pursuing a career in the travel industry, focusing on customer service and sales techniques tailored to the hospitality sector.
Students will gain essential skills in active listening, critical thinking, and customer service, along with knowledge in sales and marketing, geography, and administrative tasks. Coursework includes instruction in hotel and motel operations, customer assistance techniques, and basic office management.
Credentials awarded
What Tourism and Travel Services Marketing Operations graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year76 graduates / yr · 8 institutions54%
- Award of less than 12 weeks24 graduates / yr · 2 institutions17%
- Associate's degree19 graduates / yr · 7 institutions14%
- Bachelor's degree18 graduates / yr · 2 institutions13%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years4 graduates / yr · 1 institution2.8%
Graduates over time
Tourism and Travel Services Marketing Operations completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 289 |
| 2013 | 264 |
| 2014 | 261 |
| 2015 | 281 |
| 2016 | 269 |
| 2017 | 278 |
| 2018 | 253 |
| 2019 | 266 |
| 2020 | 276 |
| 2021 | 176 |
| 2022 | 143 |
| 2023 | 185 |
| 2024 | 144 |
| 2025 | 141 |
Top 15 institutions for Tourism and Travel Services Marketing Operations, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gateway Technical College Kenosha, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 44 | 51% | — | — |
| 2 | Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico - Ponce Ponce, PRPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sAssociate's | 17 | 49% | $13,112 | — |
| 3 | Dallas College Dallas, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 14 | 32% | — | — |
| 4 | Madison Area Technical College Madison, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 12 | 29% | — | — |
| 5 | Chippewa Valley Technical College Eau Claire, WIPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 12 | 50% | — | — |
| 6 | Northwood Technical College Rice Lake, WIPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 12 | 56% | — | — |
| 7 | Edmonds College Lynnwood, WAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 8 | 29% | — | — |
| 8 | El Paso Community College El Paso, TXPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 6 | 24% | — | — |
| 9 | Saddleback College Mission Viejo, CAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 4 | 48% | — | — |
| 10 | Cypress College Cypress, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 3 | 37% | — | — |
| 11 | Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, MIPublicBachelor's | 3 | 58% | — | $28,765 |
| 12 | Mid - State Technical College Wisconsin Rapids, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 2 | 52% | — | — |
| 13 | Inter American University of Puerto Rico - Fajardo Fajardo, PRPrivate not-for-profitAssociate's | 2 | 38% | $11,242 | — |
| 14 | Los Medanos College Pittsburg, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 41% | — | — |
| 15 | College of DuPage Glen Ellyn, ILPublicAssociate's | 1 | 25% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Specialized Sales field (CIP 52.19) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 7 states & territories
Where Tourism and Travel Services Marketing Operations graduates come from. Each state links to all Specialized Sales programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | 5 | 82 | Gateway Technical College44 / yr |
| Texas | 2 | 20 | Dallas College14 / yr |
| Puerto Rico | 2 | 19 | Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico - Ponce17 / yr |
| California | 3 | 8 | Saddleback College4 / yr |
| Washington | 1 | 8 | Edmonds College8 / yr |
| Michigan | 1 | 3 | Western Michigan University3 / yr |
| Illinois | 1 | 1 | College of DuPage1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 41-3041, Travel Agents, and its national outlook.
Graduates of this program can pursue careers as travel agents or market research analysts and marketing specialists. The job outlook is about as fast as average, with an expected growth rate of 2.2% and approximately 7,100 annual openings. The median wage for these roles is $48,450, typically requiring a high school diploma or equivalent.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 52.1905
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Travel Agentsprimary SOC 41-3041 | $50,160 | +2.2% About as fast as average | ~7,100 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists SOC 13-1161 | $78,760 | +6.7% Faster than average | ~87,200 | Bachelor's degree |
Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Tourism and Travel Services Marketing Operations programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Collect payment for transportation and accommodations from customer.
- Plan, describe, arrange, and sell itinerary tour packages and promotional travel incentives offered by various travel carriers.
- Converse with customer to determine destination, mode of transportation, travel dates, financial considerations, and accommodations required.
- Compute cost of travel and accommodations, using calculator, computer, carrier tariff books, and hotel rate books, or quote package tour's costs.
- Record and maintain information on clients, vendors, and travel packages.
- Book transportation and hotel reservations, using computer or telephone.
Tools and technology used
Other Specialized Sales specializations
The 10 other 6-digit CIP codes under Specialized Sales (CIP 52.19).
- Fashion MerchandisingCIP 52.19022,552 graduates / yr84 institutions
- Special Products Marketing OperationsCIP 52.1909partial data204 graduates / yr8 institutions
- Specialized Merchandising, Sales, and Marketing OperationsCIP 52.1999partial data195 graduates / yr5 institutions
- Apparel and Accessories Marketing OperationsCIP 52.1904partial data74 graduates / yr8 institutions
- Hospitality and Recreation Marketing OperationsCIP 52.1910partial data56 graduates / yr8 institutions
- Vehicle and Vehicle Parts and Accessories Marketing OperationsCIP 52.1907partial data46 graduates / yr4 institutions
- Business and Personal/CIP 52.1908
Financial Services Marketing Operations partial data33 graduates / yr4 institutions - AuctioneeringCIP 52.1901limited data17 graduates / yr1 institutions
- Tourism Promotion OperationsCIP 52.1906partial data16 graduates / yr4 institutions
Show 1 more CIP codes with no U.S. programs reported+
- Fashion Modeling52.1903
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
Common questions
What types of credentials can I earn?+
You can earn an award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year, an award of less than 12 weeks, an Associate's degree, or a Bachelor's degree.
How many colleges offer this program in the U.S.?+
There are 15 colleges offering the Tourism and Travel Services Marketing Operations program in the U.S.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in active listening, speaking, critical thinking, and customer service, along with knowledge in sales and marketing.
What is the typical career path after graduation?+
Graduates typically work as travel agents or in marketing roles, with a median wage of $48,450.
What is the CIP code for Tourism and Travel Services Marketing Operations?+
Tourism and Travel Services Marketing Operations is CIP 52.1905 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Specialized Sales (CIP 52.19). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to provide direct retail services to hotel and motel clients and customers in a variety of settings. Includes instruction in the principles of hotel/motel operations, customer sales and assistance operations and techniques, telephone operations, and basic office management.
How many institutions offer Tourism and Travel Services Marketing Operations programs?+
15 U.S. institutions reported Tourism and Travel Services Marketing Operations graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 7 states & territories, awarding 141 credentials in the year. That is 4.2% of all Specialized Sales graduates.
How much do Tourism and Travel Services Marketing Operations graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Travel Agents occupation, which Tourism and Travel Services Marketing Operations most directly leads to, pays a median of $50,160 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Specialized Sales field report median earnings of $28,765 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card