Travel Agents Still Needed: New Research Reveals

[peter991]

Travel agents still needed: new research reveals

Tuesday, 29 April 2008

Travel agents are not headed for extinction according to new research revealed by PhoCusWright, a leader in travel industry research and intelligence have reported.

According to PhoCusWright's Travel Agency Distribution Landscape: 2006-2009, travel agencies account for nearly US$110 billion in sales or equivalent to 41 per cent of all travel booked in the United States.

The report which included a survey of nearly 1900 agents, showed that travel agency business remained dynamic, and accounted of a large share of major travel product segments including air, hotel, car and tour operators.

"The agency distribution landscape is large, complex and dynamic. There are critical differences across leisure agencies, corporate agencies and home-based agents -- the types of products they sell, the technologies and channels they use to research and book travel, their business models and strategy," Douglas Quinby, PhoCusWright's senior director, research, and report author said.

"Companies seeking to engage with this important distribution channel must understand which segments of the agency landscape are relevant for their business, and what are the key dynamics driving product selection and booking within those segments."

Peter

Hmmm ... only 41% (less than half) of all travel booked in USA is through a travel agent. I take this to mean that more than half was booked either online or by visiting/phone an airline office or a hotel directly. Ten years ago you had to book and pay a travel agent. Assuming they have lost 59% in 10 years, will they be extinct in another 9 years? (Interesting how you can manipulate statistics ...)