Articles tagged “travel agents”

Blockchain distribution, and how it can eliminate the need for intermediaries, has been discussed for some time in travel. When these bigger players take a seat at the table, the rest of the industry needs to pay attention.

Even if some travel agents don't foresee trip-stacking becoming a long-term practice, the ongoing uncertainty about future restrictions and closures may mean they'll have to resort to the tactic longer than they expect.

In Skift's top stories this week, Tripadvisor CEO Steve Kaufer announces he will leave the post in 2022, numerous hotel executives express optimism about the industry's recovery, and a large number of U.S. travel agencies struggle to serve customers due to a shortage of advisors.

Although some travel companies have succeeded in finding suitable restaurants for clients via OpenTable, the fact they've had to resort to the platform is a sign of how difficult planning travel has become during the pandemic.

The U.S. travel agency industry will only make a complete recovery when it manages to replace advisors cut during the pandemic. A lack of staff has often made booking trips difficult for people eager to use travel advisor services.

Although the U.S. travel industry anxiously awaits the return of Chinese visitors, the timing will largely depend on when Beijing decides to ease outbound travel restrictions.

Approval of a U.S. vaccine for kids would be a huge positive for family travel, but it will take time to get over the uncertainty. Visiting friends and relatives domestically will continue to dominate for a holiday season that’s projected to see higher consumer spending.

Don’t discount the need for travel agents in the future of travel. Two recent surveys show Americans increasingly want to utilize a travel advisor’s services for post-pandemic vacationing.

It's too soon to tell whether the pandemic will drive people back into the arms of human beings to book their holidays, but Evan Frank thinks he's got the right ingredients to reboot the classic travel agent model.

HotelPlanner found itself a niche in leisure-oriented hotel bookings for groups. It is bent on disrupting the call center model in travel, but will have to prove that its gig-economy customer services agents can develop travel expertise.