cheryl
Administrator
Staff member
How Travel Agents Have Changed Throughout the Last Decade - Travel Pulse
Ten years ago, the U.S. was just emerging from the Great Recession. A lot has changed since then, and so have travel advisors.
In large part, those changes have to do with technology. Although the doomsayers predicted it would be the death knell for agents, for many, quite the opposite has proven to be true over the past 10 years.
“I’m not tethered to a desk anymore—and that’s nice because even 10 years ago I still had to rent Wi-Fi hotspots and pay a lot for data while traveling in Europe,” said Trish Gastineau of Fort Myers, Fla.-based Simply Customized Travel, noting that she is now able to work from virtually anywhere in the world.
Technology has also made the booking process more seamless for agents, with an ever-increasing number of cruise, tour and hotel brands enabling travel agents to book their products online.
Ten years ago, the U.S. was just emerging from the Great Recession. A lot has changed since then, and so have travel advisors.
In large part, those changes have to do with technology. Although the doomsayers predicted it would be the death knell for agents, for many, quite the opposite has proven to be true over the past 10 years.
“I’m not tethered to a desk anymore—and that’s nice because even 10 years ago I still had to rent Wi-Fi hotspots and pay a lot for data while traveling in Europe,” said Trish Gastineau of Fort Myers, Fla.-based Simply Customized Travel, noting that she is now able to work from virtually anywhere in the world.
Technology has also made the booking process more seamless for agents, with an ever-increasing number of cruise, tour and hotel brands enabling travel agents to book their products online.