Book excerpt: Manual of Travel Agency Practice introduces the role and functions of the travel agent to students intending to work, or already working, in a travel agency. This second edition of the Manual for Travel Agency Practice is thoroughly updated taking into account such things as recent currency changes and other alterations in the travel trade. It demonstrates correct methods for processing travel reservations, identifying business client needs and suitable documentation. The manual also shows key facts for the profitable planning, organization and operation of the retail travel agency. Each chapter contains excercises pertinent to the topics covered, which have been revised for the new edition. Students on any of the large number of courses in travel and tourism (ICM, City & Guilds/ABTA, IATA/UFTAA, BTEC, SCOTVEC, University of Oxford Certificate, Diploma of Vocational Education) will find this book invaluable. Gwenda Syratt has extensive experience in the travel industry, having worked for several of the major travel agencies over a period of twenty years, and is a Fellow of the Institute of Travel & Tourism. At present she is a freelance lecturer in travel and tourism and runs her own distance learning courses for `International Training for Tourism'.