Home-Based Travel Agent - February 2008 - (Page 25)

H HERE AT HOME-BASED TRAVEL AGENT, WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING TO STEP UP OUR GAME AND ENSURE THAT WE’RE MEETING OUR READERS’ NEEDS AND EXPECTATIONS. So, just before the holidays, we put a poll into the field to find out a little more about your business, and more than 770 of you responded (thank you!). Unlike the battles currently raging to find the country’s Democratic and Republican presidential candidates, our poll is closed. Let’s take a look at the results. For one, it’s almost a split with regard to selling travel full-time versus part-time (48 percent to 52 percent, respectively); however, there’s no mistaking that you are a seasoned lot of travel sellers: 42 percent of you have been travel agents for more than 10 years. Of particular note, nearly 12 percent of you reported that you’ve just become travel agents in the past year; that’s a 7 percent uptick from last year, which makes us believe that more people are joining the industry (we know you’ll make us proud). Conversely, being a home-based agent is still a relatively new phenomenon, with about two-thirds saying they have been working out of the house for only five years or less. Fewer than one in six respondents have been home-based for more than 10 years. Host Agencies Dominate…Again In our survey last year, a resounding 65 percent of respondents said they were affiliated with a host agency. A year later, things have pretty much stayed the same. Seventy percent of you not only acknowledged belonging to a host agency, you said you were overwhelmingly happy (79 percent) with the support your agency gives you. On the other hand, of the 21 percent of you who feel like your host agency comes up short in supporting your business, 71 percent of you are considering switching your host agency. Those without a host seem content to remain so: Of the 30 percent of agents who do not belong to a host agency, close to four-fifths say they have no intention of joining one. Where The Money Is Specialize, specialize, specialize. That seems to be an overriding theme in this year’s survey, with a vast ma- In the exhibit hall at the second annual Home-Based Travel Agent Expo & Conference in Las Vegas this past December jority of respondents concentrating in a certain category of travel. Just like last year, most of you (66 percent) specialize in selling cruises, which is often regarded as the most profitable travel product. Family and group travel continue to represent a major portion of your business, which is not surprising, particularly due to the increase in multi-generational vacations. Business as Usual Last year seemed to be a banner year for most of you, and this year may even be better. Just over half of you reported that 2007 sales were up, while a large majority of the rest reported sales were flat. Moving forward, a blistering 90 percent of you are optimistic Continued on page 26 FEB RUARY 2008 Home-BasedTravelAgent 25

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Home-Based Travel Agent - February 2008

Home-Based Travel Agent - January/February 2008 Editor's Note Publisher's Note Your Lifeline Agent Spotlight: Tracy Dennis News Hot Deals Reader Survey All-Inclusive Resorts Home-Based Travel Agent Expo Portugal New York Bermuda Cover Story: Singapore Cruise: What's New Tours: Adventure New Products

Home-Based Travel Agent - February 2008

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