I’m sure you must have heard of “a dying breed” from one of the national dailies. This isn’t far from the exact words people use to describe the future of corporate travel agency. The influence of social, political, economic, and technological changes poses new and unseen challenges daily, which is a great threat to the travel industry. A clear example is an article written by a Yahoo contributor titled “Five dead-end jobs, and how to escape them” Shortly after this article was published, the president of America Society of Travel Agents replied to him with clear facts.
In his response, He said, 8,000 US travel agencies that were labeled dead, yet employed over one hundred thousand agents (100,000) and sold above $100 with billion worth of travel deal.
While most people think the future of corporate travel agency leads nowhere, it may be accurate judging from the previous offline nature of travel agency. However, the opportunities and future of travel agencies don’t end with local town travel agents closing their storefronts. It is a fresh beginning because the travel industry has taken bold steps towards an online office, where travel agents can work from home using different travel tools and software.
More revealing is the fact that some agents close their shops to work while they travel the world. This broadens their knowledge of different destinations so they can easily share these experiences with their clients. All thanks to online travel agency tools. Different business and technology experts are finding more ways to grow the travel industry.
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The past, present, and future of the travel agency industry
No doubt the travel industry has witnessed tremendous changes over the years, and this is seen in most modern businesses. The presence of online technologies gave both local and international travel a new perspective. However, these changes didn’t take place without serious challenges from consumers empowered to get their demands, and when they want it.
The future of travel agents is making a quick comeback. Before now, people think they can plan their trip alone, without the help or interference of a corporate travel consultant. They go online to search for the best travel deals, only to discover overloaded information with different opinions. If you go with this kind of information, you will surely get it wrong. This makes the whole idea of going without a corporate travel agent invalid. They prefer a competent travel agent to handle the job while they go about spending time on their normal activities.
It doesn’t matter the obstacles currently facing the travel agency business, one thing is certain: Travel agency must survive, especially with the use of the latest online technology and techniques like social media. This is a great way to make more people interested in their services and personalizing their audience. With this, I strongly believe the travel agent industry has a huge responsibility for self-empowerment via travel tools and software for trade and communication with the top expert in the travel industry.
Welcome to the brighter future of the travel agency industry, where everything seems to have changed, because of advanced platforms travel agents can use to safeguard their future services. People barely travel for a holiday trip, business meetings, or even solo-travel without a corporate travel agent. This is fast becoming a norm among travelers.
How well is the present-day travel agency growing?
Online travel bookings didn’t start with hotels.com or Airbnb, but it was directly from travel agents to their clients. These online platforms of booking flights and accommodation pose a serious challenge to the personalized services. Consumers have been empowered by these platforms to search for travel deals with few clicks and at the comfort of their homes.
Despite this level of technology and consumer empowerment, they are being faced with so many responsibilities. Consumers book for flights and luxurious accommodation, only to board the flight and arrive at their destination disappointed. They have realized planning a trip is more than flashy hotel rooms and airlines they see online.
One sure thing about the travel agency business model is that travel agent are aware their services are always needed, despite the challenges brought by any latest or special self-booking apps that are being launched daily.
What makes the travel agent industry special?
From the onset of the travel agency business, travel agents always leverage on their personal skills to promote their business. They are good at crafting the best travel deals that will suit your needs. They also have advantages of booking affordable travel deals, due to the existing personal relationships with their suppliers. E.g. Special discounts by hotels and airlines for booking in bulk.
What is the future of travel agency industry with technology
The travel agency business model and its technological impact from our comprehensive research are fast changing. The more specialized role has been created, which requires the highly technological mind to function appropriately. With this level of technology provided in the travel industry, top managers were able to prove their worth to CFOs through positive changes and profitability in business trips for their employees.
This huge benefits of technology in different travel agencies is wonderful. It gives travel agents the positive vibes to compete with other digitalized industry, and secure more clients for themselves. The use of online streaming travel management platforms removes the previous guest when using a free online booking tool. So, if you are so much interested in finding a more convenient way to travel on a budget, locate a travel agent that can easily communicate things with data-based evidence.
For business travelers, going without the help of a travel agent is completely unacceptable. It’s crystal clear how draining planning a business trip can be, especially when you are going away with your business team. You might fall victims of uncertainties ranging from changes to itineraries and new travel restrictions.
The future of travel agents is sure because they possess a top travel management tool for specialized services that can’t be done using the do-it-yourself approach.
If you have been traveling for years using travel agents, let’s have your say on the nearest future of travel agency. Your contribution is highly appreciated via our comment session below.