Clients Return to Travel Agents

USA Today recently published a fantastic article reminding readers of the benefits of using a live human travel agent as opposed to taking on the responsibility of booking your trip independently online. 


Here are a few of my favorite quotes from the article:

• For some travelers, do-it-yourself booking is losing its luster. A study by Forrester Research found that in the first three months of this year, 28% of leisure travelers in the U.S. who booked their trips online said they'd be interested in going to a good traditional travel agent. That's up from 23% in 2008. Another Forrester report finds that the number of leisure travelers who enjoyed using the Web to plan and book their vacations dropped to 46% last year, down from 53% in 2007.
• In addition to getting clients special rates, upgrades and perks, a traditional travel agent can help passengers avoid the headache of figuring out varying rates and restrictions on their own.
• "A lot of people are finding that travel has become more complicated than ever and that they need ... the assistance of professionals that are going to understand," says Paul Ruden, senior vice president for legal and industry affairs for the American Society of Travel Agents.

Read the full article here and book your next trip with a Travel Agent! 

Enjoy,