Top Travel Agency POS Software Picks | Increase Sales

(Last Updated On: 02/14/2023)

Written by Business Expert Wale Ameen 

Affiliate Disclaimer: Our product review team dedicates hours of research, fact-checking and testing to recommend the best solutions to business owners. We earn from qualifying purchases through our links, but this does not influence our evaluations. Why trust our reviews?  

A reliable POS system will help every travel agency deliver the best possible service and increase sales. These best travel agency software products are recommended based on my analysis of their features and how well they meet the demands of travel agency operations.

Our Experts’ Choice Loyera POS
Loyera Point of Sale Software The best travel agency POS software is Loyera POS. Specifications include:

  • White Label Service Option
  • Feedback Management
  • Loyalty Management
  • Easy to Use
  • Hardware Independent – Install on Any Device

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Why Travel Agencies Need An Ideal POS Solution

According to Airlines Reporting Corp. (ARC), travel agency air ticket sales totaled $39.8 billion in 2021, while the market size of the global online travel sector, according to Statista, reached about $432 billion in 2020. This trend is expected to grow to as much as $691 billion by 2026. 

This essentially shows that the travel agency business is a big boom business and one that is expected to remain profitable for the foreseeable future. As such, the goal of every travel agency is to secure more clients with each passing day and, by doing so, secure more bookings, which will in turn lead to more revenue.

A reliable and efficient travel agency POS software will help you better manage your business relationships as well as improve your clients’ experience with you. This will in turn lead to customer satisfaction, which will lead to retention and growth.

Travel agency POS software or systems should help you in a number of areas. You should look for a system that comes with payment processing and customer relationship management (CRM) capabilities. With this, you can track all of your client interactions to present a truly customizable package for each person. 

You should also look out for solutions with online billing, quote management, and accounting tools. The most important feature for a travel agency is the ability to create a custom itinerary and view documents online. 

Most modern POS systems can make the entire business management process more efficient and flexible. They automate most core business processes and enable business owners to focus on higher-value tasks. A number of these POS systems have offline capability and are mobile with apps, thus making them an easy to use solution on the go.

I have researched all the top systems, and found that in terms of features required by travel agencies, Loyera POS comes out on top as the best travel agency POS system. It starts out as a free platform, with the ability to add more features for a fee. You can manage multiple products and reservations from within the system, as well as accept online payments. It automatically adds new customers to the database, allows you to create discounts and rewards, and sends promotions through multiple channels. 

Travel Agency Software Price

The price range for travel agency software is, to a large extent, not too far from those of other business types, such as restaurants. 

Pricing for travel agency POS systems runs from free, all the way up to as much as $169 per month. There are also payment processing fees, which vary from system to system. As you look for the best platform for your travel agency, I am here to help. Read on to learn about the three top travel agency POS systems. We hope it helps you choose the right one for your specific business needs.

Best Travel Agency POS Software Compared

POS System  Hardware Cost  Software Subscription Fees 
Loyera  Free plan + Paid plans, starting from $9/Mo Quote-Based
Armada  Quote-Based Depends on your preferred payments processor 
LightSpeed Retail  Starting from $69/Month per register At least 2.6% + 10¢ with the card present and 2.6% + 30¢ when the card is absent.

1. Loyera POS – The Best Travel Agency POS System Overall 

Loyera POS is a point of sale solution that is designed for retail businesses and is adaptable to the travel agency business. With Loyera, you can allow your travel agents to offer an array of travel-related services with its industry-specific POS system. The system enables travel agents to receive orders online and over the counter, process those orders swiftly, as well as access payment logs and manage staff. 

The software is easy to install and run on any computer or mobile device. Other aspects that make Loyera one of the best travel agency POS systems include: 

Features of Loyera POS

Product Management 

Loyera POS DashboardThis feature allows you to add all your services and their variations, prices, tags, attributes, and discounts to the POS system. The solution also makes it easy for travel agents to include seats, availability, and discounts on various products and service offers. 

Reservation Management 

It helps you undertake various activities related to inventory management, customer management, and reservations. This feature allows you to add unlimited services to your Loyera POS system, including flights, hotels, travel activities, and taxi bookings. 

It allows for efficient reservation or order processing and management while automating the addition of customer information to the database. The system will also record and analyze your travel agency’s sales and customer data. By doing so, it will facilitate and support important business decisions. 

White Label Service

Loyera offers a white label service that brands can tap into to create a complete and penetrative brand awareness and marketing. By opting for the white label service, travel agencies can have their business name and logo on the loyalty software to deepen brand awareness and visibility.

Feedback Management

Loyera offers users the ability to maintain communication with their clients as it enables the sending of messages within the client app. This helps agencies to collate feedback from their customers and maintain an open channel to interact on services.

More Loyera Features At A Glance

  • Loyalty Management
  • Referral Tracking
  • Activity Management
  • Feedback Management
  • Analytics
  • Transaction Management
  • Member Portal
  • Customer Advocacy Manager
  • Device management
  • Feedback Collection

L:oyera POSPros and Cons of Loyera POS

Pros

  • Easy to install and run
  • It is hardware independent as it can be installed on any device
  • Supports promotions and discounts
  • Comes with integrated payment processor
  • Comes with a free plan especially suitable for small businesses
  • Mobile compatible – supports Android and iOS 

Cons

  • Software has been reported to lag at times

Is Loyera POS Easy to Use?

Loyera POS is an intuitively designed solution with attractive colors and menus. The fact that it is essentially a mobile compatible POS solution that supports Android and iOS operating systems makes it a top rated option for me. 

What Type of Businesses is Loyera POS Ideal For?

Loyera is particularly ideal for small businesses just starting out. Small travel agencies will find the POS brand’s free plan a great option to start with. It is also ideal for businesses at different levels, mid-size and large alike. It is my top pick for travel agent system software.

How Much Does Loyera POS Cost?

Loyera offers a range of software subscription plans to suit different agency sizes and budgets. For instance, small business owners can exploit the benefits of the software cost-free with the basic plan. The provider also offers white-label loyalty services to retailers and merchants. 

Regardless of your specific business requirements, you can rest assured that Loyera offers some of the best rates in the industry. Here are the three main Loyera travel agency POS subscription plans you should consider: 

  • Basic (Free) 

Suitable for small and startup businesses that only require basic POS capabilities. The plan of the software is offered free of charge and only offers basic features. With this plan, you will get such capabilities as loyalty programs, unlimited members and a Merchant App. 

  • Core ($9/Mo)

In addition to the features and capabilities offered by the Basic plan, the Core plan will also offer you Web Access, and detailed reporting functionality. 

  • Complete ($99/Mo)

It offers all the features and capabilities of the Basic and Core subscription plans discussed above. Additionally, this plan will also offer you loyalty cards and an NFC device. 

2. Armada POS – The Best Travel Agency Retail POS

The Armada Travel Agency POS software is a specialty solution that automates sales, marketing, operations, inventory, and finances. It is specifically designed to enhance the retail operations of your agency. 

It comes powered with different capabilities such as customer relationship management (CRM), ecommerce, analytics and a whole lot more.

It will keep an eye on your inventory, manage supplier contacts, and issue purchase orders from the same interface. Other aspects you will come to like about this travel agency POS system include:

Armada pos systemFeatures of Armada POS

Inventory Management

Armada offers smart inventory control capabilities for growing retailers, ranging from importing and re-ordering to centralized product administration. The system also offers store replenishment, stock transfers, and fulfillment functionality.

Advanced Sales Tools 

It gives your staff powerful sales assistance, allowing them to provide even better customer service. Relevant product recommendations will help you increase the basket size. In this regard, the solution applies artificial intelligence and machine learning to deliver meaningful product suggestions based on previous purchases.

The system will also present you with a powerful search engine for multiple data sources. The system also supports serial number tracking and many types of promotions, including mix and match, multi-buy, and automatic discounts.

Analytics

With Armada’s analytics tools, you can easily monitor your travel agency’s progress, identify sales patterns, and use this information to make smart and informed business decisions.

Customer Relationship Management

Armada’s customer relationship management module helps you document your customers, their contact details, purchase history, and as such, create follow up targeted promotions.

More Features of Armada POS At A Glance

  • Offline Mode Support
  • Customizable
  • Customer Loyalty
  • Ecommerce
  • Multi-Store
  • Retail Management
  • Multicurrency
  • Cash Management

Armada POS Pros and Cons of Armada POS

Pros

  • Comes with free demo
  • Multi store support
  • Easy to learn and use
  • Loyalty program
  • Features advanced sales tools 
  • Accepts multiple payment types and split payments
  • Supports offline mode
  • Offers personalized onboarding and support

Cons

  • No free trial

Is Armada POS Easy to Use?

From my analysis of the point of sale solution, it is a modern, well designed solution that is easy to use and learn. It comes packed with features that travel agency owners will find useful in managing their day to day operations. It is another top travel agent system software.

What Type of Business Is Armada POS Ideal For?

Both small scale and medium travel agencies will find Armada POS an ideal option to adopt as it is customizable and can be adapted to suit different use cases.

How Much Does Armada POS Cost? 

According to the providers, the Armada travel agency POS system has a relatively low cost of ownership. However, the provider does not display any pricing details on its official website. You need to contact the provider directly to get a quote. 

3. Lightspeed Retail –  Best iPad Travel Agency POS System

This retail POS system will help you run all your travel agency operations more efficiently. It is designed to help both small and medium-sized travel agencies optimize stock, make sales and learn from their data to grow. 

The Lightspeed Retail POS is an iPad based solution that is hugely customizable to fit into different use cases. As such, it makes it to the list of POS solutions that can be considered for travel agent system software.

Here are other things that make LightSpeed stand out from other travel agency POS systems:

Features of Lightspeed Retail POS

Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

This feature will help you offer the service and recommendations your customers are expecting. It will keep you informed through sales history logs and customer profiles. You may then use this customer insight to create an impactful loyalty program with Lightspeed Loyalty.

From the customer insight dashboard, you will be able to keep track of customer spending habits. The system will also help you create tiered rewards programs to encourage repeat purchases online and in-store. Easily create promotional campaigns with a drag and drop email builder.

Flexible Payments 

Offer fast and secure transactions, accept all popular payment methods and speed up your checkout with LightSpeed Retail POS and integrated payments solution. This solution allows your customers to swipe, dip, and tap credit, debit, and gift cards as a method of payment. 

It allows you to offer easy refunds in a matter of seconds. When you sign up, the provider will offer you an EMV-compatible terminal. The payments processor is PCI-compliant to help protect customer data. 

Easily Manage Inventory

With Lightspeed, you can easily manage your agency’s inventory and track your progress on a continuous basis.

Lightspeed Retail Features At A Glance

Lightspeed Point of Sale Hardware

  • Activity Dashboard
  • Accounting
  • Customer Relationship Management
  • Cash Management
  • Customizable Branding
  • Credit Card Processing
  • Inventory Management
  • Automation of Marketing
  • Online Booking Management
  • Supports Integration

Pros and Cons of Lightspeed Retail

Pros

  • Easy POS system
  • For iPad devices
  • Supports third party apps integration
  • Rich report visualization
  • Offers 14 day trial
  • Responsive customer care
  • Option to choose desired payment processor

Cons

  • It can be somewhat expensive for small businesses
  • User interface can be difficult to learn for new and fresh users

Is Lightspeed Retail Easy to Use?

While this solution is intuitive and beautifully designed and will be an easy walk through to understand for experienced users, it might take a while for new users to get accustomed to it. That is not to say that it is out rightly difficult, but there could be a steep learning curve for some users, especially freshers.

What Type of Business Is Lightspeed Retail Ideal For?

Generally, Lightspeed Retail, just as the name suggests, is a retail focused point of sale solution which can be adopted by businesses within the retail verticals. It is, however, very customizable and can be adapted to fit the needs of travel agencies.

How Much Does Lightspeed Retail Cost? 

Despite being one of the most powerful retail solutions for travel agencies, LightSpeed offers a number of affordable price plans. Here are some of the LightSpeed Retail price plans you should consider:

  • Lean ($69/Mo)

This plan charges $69 a month for a single register, which is billed annually. If you are to be billed on a monthly basis, you will be charged $89/month. Additional registers are priced at $29/month each. The plan includes integrated payments and even comes with a free terminal. 

  • Standard ($119/Mo)

If you would like to sell online, you should upgrade to the standard plan for $119/month billed annually. If you prefer monthly billing, you will be charged $149/month. The plan offers all features of the basic plan, in addition to eCommerce functionality. 

  • Advanced ($199/Mo)

In addition to the features and capabilities of the starter plan, this plan will also offer you automated accounting capabilities. It is priced at $99 per month, which is billed annually. If you decide to opt in for its monthly plan, then you’ll be paying $269/month. Additional registers are charged at $29/month each. 

  • Enterprise

This is a quote based plan and as such you need to reach out based on your specific need.

  • Payment Processing

Lightspeed charges a flat fee of 2.6%+ 10 c per card payments

Buyers Guide: Things You Need to Consider Before Buying A POS For Your Travel Agency

Travel agencies and tour operators need a POS system that automates marketing, sales, inventory, finance, and operations management. Basically, you need to go for software solutions that give you visibility, clarity, and enhanced control over the entire operation. 

With the best travel agency software and POS system, you will be able to save valuable time and money. The right travel agency management software will also streamline inventory management and elevate the customer experience in your business. 

While shopping for the best travel agency POS system, here are some of the important considerations you need to make:

Online Booking 

Online Booking Your preferred travel POS system should support integration with the appropriate online booking portal or come with one. This allows your travel planners the opportunity to reserve flights, rooms, and other activities on offer from your travel agency official website. 

The system should also allow for easy customization of online menus. It should feature all the tools you need to customize the widget and brand it as you like. For instance, you may customize and brand your online booking portal to blend with the rest of your travel website. 

Central Reservation System (CRS) 

This feature works much like a central Reservation system in hotels. In most of the leading travel agency POS systems, the CRS functionality is designed to manage an assortment of product inventories. It should be capable of managing all the products and services you offer, including cars, flights, hotel rooms, vacation packages, activities, buses, and other travel services.

Additionally, the CRS feature in your travel POS software should allow for connection to the Global Distribution Systems. Alternatively, it should allow you to connect to a network of travel service providers.  This connection allows you to view and compare your inventory to that of other vendors across the globe. 

a picture of a travel agent working on organizing her work in her binderQuote Management 

With the quote Management capability, your travel agency will be able to manage a wide range of reservation combinations required by your customers. The system should also be capable of generating accurate quotes on-the-fly. 

Some of the best travel agency POS systems will also allow your agents to offer multiple options for similar packages. This is often done in accordance with hotel, airlines  and activity suppliers’ inventory and pricing. 

Customer Relations Management (CRM) 

Just as is the case in other businesses, CRM capability in your tour and travel POS software will help you know your customers better. The system should automatically collect important customer details, such as contact information, loyalty program participation, as well as travel and purchase history.

The information collected by your POS system is also helpful in segmentation for hospitality organizations. The CRM feature should help you identify your frequent and most lucrative travelers. This will, in turn, help you optimize your marketing efforts. 

Itinerary Creation

With this capability in your travel POS software, your customers will be able to browse and view an array of documents online. However, the feature will prevent them from saving and printing the documents. 

Marketing Management

Marketing Tools In addition to improved customer service for the existing customers, the system should allow you to reach out to more travelers. In this regard, it is advisable to go for a solution that is packed with specialty marketing tools for your travel business. 

For instance it should allow you to market your products by sharing marketing materials on social media platforms. It should also allow you to optimize your site with a myriad of search engine optimization tools. It should also be capable of managing targeted SMS and email campaigns. You may use these capabilities to advertise discounts and promotions more effectively. 

Accounting Tools 

Some of the leading travel agency POS systems offer basic counting capabilities as well. Such a solution will make it possible for you to manage the financial health of the agency. It should feature accounts payable and accounts receivable management tools. 

The travel agency software you choose should allow for easy and fast creation of quotes and invoices. These features make it possible for you to offer quick responses to your customers with accurate information.  This, coupled with beautiful itineraries, has been proven to boost sales for travel agencies. You will also need a solution that can track invoices for your customers as well as for the suppliers. 

Specialty Reporting 

Get a POS system that features the right reporting capabilities for a travel agency. It should be designed to generate reports on important business processes, such as inventory, sales, financial data, and customers, automatically. 

Your preferred system should also allow you to customize the various reports to meet your specific business needs. It should also feature analytic tools that make it easier for you to spot important trends and business performance.  In this regard, most of the best travel agency POS systems have templates for common report types, speeding up report generation. 

Automated Reselling and Upselling 

This feature allows your travel agency to send customized and automated emails to your customers, offering them a chance to enjoy additional products during their travel. By doing so, the system will boost sales in the business. 

In order to optimize revenue generation, the system should also let your sales agents follow up on leads. As such, you should go for a system that can send out follow-up emails as well as other marketing and sales automation tools. 

Automated reselling and upselling software can help you increase your sales by providing more information and resources to your reps. For example, when customers are looking for a burger, you can offer them extra cheese, pickles, and bacon for a little extra. Upselling works best when the price difference between the original and an upgraded version of that product is not very large.

Upselling and cross-selling can be tricky, but it’s essential for your business to make the most of every sale. Selling to existing customers is easier than attracting new ones, so you want to encourage them to spend more money with you. The easiest way to do this is to offer them a product that they already want. In addition, you can upsell them on related products or higher-priced items that are related to what they bought.

Typically, upselling and cross-selling are used together, as both are effective in increasing revenue. Upselling encourages customers to buy higher-end products, while cross-selling encourages customers to purchase complementary products. Both have their own benefits, but they are very different. If used together, the two can generate more revenue without incurring recurring costs.

Automated reselling and upselling software uses a customer database to target the best products. It also includes gated content and upsell features. It can target people in your database based on past purchases and behaviors, which allows you to offer them additional products.

Conclusion

As a travel agent, it is important to stay abreast of industry trends and developments in order to remain profitable and competitive. This is especially important given the fact that the tourism landscape is an ever evolving one. An important move you should make is to have the best travel agency software.

For the best results, it is advisable to go for travel software that features specialty capabilities for the industry. For instance, with automated upselling and reselling to the central reservation system, the three solutions reviewed above have everything you need to succeed. I hope that this guide has provided a clear overview of the options you have in terms of the best travel agency software out there on the market. Get started now with our experts pick for the best travel agency POS software by getting a free quote from Loyera POS

FAQs

What platform do travel agents use?

One of the major platforms used by travel agents is the Global Distribution System (GDS) which is a popular solution among travel agents for booking airline tickets and other items.

Which company is best for a travel agent?

Some of the most popular online travel agencies include: Expedia, Booking.com, and Lastminute.com.

How do I start an online travel agency?

Here are some tips on how to start an online travel agency:
1. First, conduct market research to know your niche
2. Know the legal requirements you need to meet before starting out
3. Source for funding
4. Choose a location and hire needed staff
5. Launch!

What does a travel agency do?

The job of a travel agency is to provide clients with advice and expertise on their travel adventures including making trip arrangements, itineraries, and more.

How to travel agents make money?

Travel agents make money through commissions through trip arrangements such as flights, trip accommodations, car rentals, trip insurance, entertainment tickets, and more.