INDEPENDENT travel consultants in the US are reducing their traditional dependence on cruise sales in favour of other revenue streams.
Findings of the 2011 NACTA Independent Agents Report released by the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) and the National Association of Career Travel Agents (NACTA), reveal an increasing number of US consultants specialising in a specific destination (nine per cent), tours (six per cent) and honeymoon sales, luxury travel or family travel (five per cent each).
Trends in the US are usually a harbinger of the shape of the travel trade communities elsewhere. Commission cuts, for example, started in the US, moved to Europe and then Asia.
While cruise sales remains a primary income source for 57 per cent of consultants, it was a significant decrease from the year before, when 75 per cent said they were cruise specialists. For the second consecutive year, 57 per cent of 1,762 independent consultants surveyed reported an increase in business in 2011.
“Independent agents are strong generators of new business, especially group travel,” said Ann van Leeuwen, NACTA vice president. “This growing segment is not only changing the way travel agents conduct their daily business, but how travel is promoted and sold.”
ASTA CEO Tony Gonchar said: “As this sector of travel agents continues to grow, we want to ensure suppliers are able to get an in-depth understanding of what drives the independent travel agent community.”
According to the survey, 70 per cent of independent consultants do not use a Global Distribution System, up from 67 per cent in the year prior.
Royal Caribbean emerged as the top cruise supplier among consultants in 2011. Globus was crowned the top escorted tour operator, Sandals was the top choice among resort suppliers, while Marriott was ranked the top hotel supplier.
The 2011 NACTA Independent Agents Report was an email survey conducted among NACTA members in June 2011.
