Trend: Travel Agents in Comeback Mode

(Tuesday May 27, 2008 - Travel Trade) -- The traditional travel agent appears to be making a comeback, according to Ypartnership’s 2008 National Leisure Travel Monitor report. In fact, according to the findings, leisure travelers have been more likely to use a traditional travel agent this year - to obtain travel information and prices, or to make a reservation - than last year.

In 2008, nearly two in 10 leisure travelers used a travel agent to obtain information and prices, or to make a reservation. Among those seeking information/reservations for airlines and hotels, the number of travelers who used a traditional agent is even higher - three in 10.

In addition, three in 10 airline/hotel travelers are planning to use a traditional travel agent during the next 12 months.

These findings represent a significant increase of five percentage points over last year.

Travel agents are also very influential on travelers’ decisions. Six in 10 airline/hotel travelers who used a traditional travel agent perceived the agent to be influential on their travel decisions. More than four in 10 leisure travelers felt their travel agent influenced their decision regarding a vacation package, tour or cruise line.

Reasons for using a traditional travel agent vary. Nearly nine in 10 airline/hotel travelers find a travel agent’s ability to find the best available fares or rates extremely or very important when selecting an agent. But more than eight in 10 also cited the importance of an agent’s product knowledge.

Other factors important to choosing a traditional travel agent include: agents’ ability to provide alternatives and assistance while on a trip (six in 10); convenience of agency’s location (nearly five in 10); plus the recommendation of a friend and an agency’s affiliation with a recognizable national agency brand or franchise.

Other key findings of the 2008 National Leisure Travel Monitor:

The number of American adults who have taken a trip of at least 75 miles from home requiring overnight accommodations during the past 12 months decreased to 57% this year, from 63% in 2007.

More than one-half of all leisure trips fall into the weekend trip category.

One-third of leisure travelers took a last-minute trip last year; on average, leisure travelers planned such trips approximately 15 days in advance of their departure.

Nearly three in 10 grandparents have traveled with their grandchildren during the past 12 months.

Nearly six in 10 leisure travelers are planning to take the same number of leisure trips next year as they did last year.

Just over eight in 10 leisure travelers are interested in taking an international trip during the next two years, and only two in 10 have actually taken an international leisure trip during the past 12 months.

Approximately two-thirds of leisure travelers have used the Internet to obtain travel information and prices, for an average of 2.8 trips and nearly six in 10 have booked a reservation online, for an average of 2.5 trips.

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