Travel Agents

This extensive archive provides up-to-date news, trends, and insights relevant to travel agents, including travel advisors, travel agencies, at-home agents, and firms of all sizes. Designed for professionals working in the travel industry, these news stories offer valuable information on the evolving landscape of travel services and distribution channels. Stay informed about the latest developments affecting travel advisors, from technology advancements to client relations and best practices and gain insights into the growing importance of personalized service and how advisors are adapting to the changing demands of their clientele in a competitive market.

Travel Agents

Flight Centre Is Closing Its Gogo Vacations Unit

Flight Centre wanted to cut a money-losing division and refocus on a higher-end luxury client. RIP Gogo Vacations.

Flight Centre Is Closing Its Gogo Vacations Unit

Travel Agents

Travel Agency Group Doubles Down on Dispute With American Airlines

In an exclusive, the leading group of U.S. travel advisors responds to claims by American Airlines that they're Luddites. The group says the carrier's effort to force them to adopt its preferred technology for booking flights is too fast and that, essentially, it's a bully.

Travel Agency Group Doubles Down on Dispute With American Airlines

Airlines

American Airlines Accuses Travel Agents of Stifling Innovation for Self Interest

American Airlines has lashed out at U.S. travel agents in a scathing response to the complaint that the airline's robust distribution strategy was unfair.

American Airlines Accuses Travel Agents of Stifling Innovation for Self Interest

Tourism

America’s Favorite Flight Destinations in 2023? Cancun and London

Flight booking data reveals Americans' top worldwide and domestic destinations so far this year. Tourism marketers take note, especially of changes from the 2019 rankings.

America’s Favorite Flight Destinations in 2023? Cancun and London

Airlines

American Airlines CEO Defends Direct Selling Push in Face of Travel Agent Complaints

American Airlines's top boss Robert Isom feels confident in the carrier's evolving distribution strategy, the most assertive of all the carriers in the Americas. But some travel agents still feel bullied.

American Airlines CEO Defends Direct Selling Push in Face of Travel Agent Complaints

Tour Operators

Travel Experiences in Demand: Survey of 18,000 Travelers Reveals Preferences

A massive survey of 18,000 travelers worldwide suggests that 2024 is shaping up to be a year when tours, activities, and experiences are decisive. Now if only marketers will catch up to reality.

Travel Experiences in Demand: Survey of 18,000 Travelers Reveals Preferences

Luxury

Certares’ Internova: Behind Its Strategy for Luxury Travel Agencies

Internova Travel Group is owned by private equity firm Certares, and its CEO is the brother of Certares' CEO. How they are thinking about company strategy reflects insight into broader trends among the luxury travel agencies.

Certares’ Internova: Behind Its Strategy for Luxury Travel Agencies

News Blog

Millennials and Gen Z Prioritizing Mental Health and Travel: Survey

It's the season for holiday surveys, with sentiment for exploration and unique experiences abounding. "Experiences over gifts" continues as a trend in the latest Amex travel spending survey of U.S. travelers and their choices for the upcoming end-of-year holidays that largely involves classic winter adventures and quality time with loved ones. 72% of Millennial and Gen-Z respondents…

News Blog

IDEAS: TUI to Offer British Sign Language Interpretation for Customers

TUI has announced a partnership with SignLive to provide customers with the option to have their conversations with the firm interpreted into British Sign Language (BSL). Credit: SHVETS production In order to use the service customers will need to sign up for free to SignLive, at which point they will be able to call TUI…

News Blog

ASTA Free Guide to Becoming a Travel Advisor Sees Thousands of Downloads

The American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) has seen over 12,000 downloads of its Travel Advisor Career Overview guide to becoming a travel agent since it made the resource free. Previously, ASTA's materials came with a fee, with only about 50 downloads in the five years before 2023. ASTA's next step in career training for aspiring travel…