Amadeus survey: 700 North American travel agents reveal what they need most in today’s challenging marketplace
Travel professionals report more revenue, best fares, and online capabilities among their top “must-haves” now
When asked to rank what they needed most now from a list of choices, 20% of travel agents responded that making more money was their number one priority, and 19% chose access to the best fares as their second priority need. In a very close tie at 15% each, competing online and access to easy-to-use solutions came in as third and fourth priorities, respectively. Rounding out fifth place was reducing costs which came in around 13%.
“Travel agents have spoken and Amadeus is listening,” said Tom Cates, Chief Commercial Officer, Amadeus North America. “Today it is no longer good enough to simply focus on cost cutting. It is about finding new and innovative ways to increase earning power, guaranteeing the best deals, staying competitive online, and accessing user-friendly tools and technology so agents can focus on doing what they do best.”
Cates said the full results of Amadeus’ survey explore in even greater detail what travel agents say they need most now, but simply looking at the top-line results is very telling.
Cates said it is not surprising that the need to “make more money” showed up at the top of the list. However, it was interesting to see that “reduce costs” was not named among travel agents’ top three current priorities. According to Cates, at this point travel agents have likely gone as far as they can in cutting costs. The opportunity now lies in addressing the other side of the equation – finding ways to earn more revenue and grow their business.
Cates said the survey results also reveal that travel content and commissions continue to be top priorities, and travel agents are looking for ways to offer a more comprehensive total travel experience to their clients. The survey also showed that travel agents are clearly doing business online and want to do more, said Cates.
Survey respondents represented a cross-section of the North American travel agency community, including Amadeus customers, other GDS users, and non-GDS users.
The majority of survey respondents described themselves as home-based agents (31.9%), travel agents (25.9%) or travel agency owners (24.9%). The repondents focus primarily on leisure/destination travel (68.2%) and work in the
Cates said the survey asking travel agents to tell Amadeus what their needs are is only the beginning of Amadeus North America’s agent engagement approach for 2009. Amadeus is also in the midst of a four-city travel agency roadshow series, “Talk With Amadeus 09.” This interactive event gives travel professionals the opportunity to talk in person with Amadeus, while also providing an up-close look at the latest in travel technology solutions and services.
In 2009, Cates said Amadeus will also be rolling out a new travel agent website where industry professionals can engage one-on-one with Amadeus and explore Amadeus’ new and enhanced packages, solutions, and services for their specific business type and needs. Also planned for later this year is an Amadeus thought-leadership webinar series and a new online e-support center for agency customers in
“Now more then ever, we see a two-way dialogue and direct engagement with the North American travel agency community -- and the travel industry at large -- as the way forward in uncertain times,” said Cates.
To download a copy of the full travel agency survey results, visit: http://tinyurl.com/amadeusagentsurvey
For further details or to RSVP for an upcoming “Talk With Amadeus 09” event, travel professionals should visit: http://tinyurl.com/talkwithamadeus09.
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Notes to the editors:
About Amadeus
Amadeus is the chosen technology partner for providers, sellers, and buyers of travel. The company provides distribution, IT and point-of-sale solutions to help its customers adapt, grow and succeed in the fast changing travel industry. Customer groups include travel providers (airlines, hotels, car rental companies, railway companies, ferry lines, cruise lines, insurance companies and tour operators), travel sellers (travel agencies) and travel buyers (corporations and travelers). Solutions are grouped in four solution categories – Distribution & Content, Sales & e-Commerce, Business Management and Services & Consulting.
Amadeus has central sites in
The company is majority owned by WAM Acquisition, whose shareholders are BC Partners, Cinven, Air
More information about Amadeus is available at: http://www.us.amadeus.com.
