In our annual survey of travel sellers, our reporters take measure of the statistics and trends that will help agents, agency owners and suppliers make better decisions. In this year's survey, published 10 years after the start of the Great Recession, we look at some long-term travel agency trends as well as last year's revenue and this year's business decisions. And as editor in chief Arnie Weissmann writes: "There's ample evidence in our numbers that positive general trends have been amplified by agency resilience and entrepreneurial zeal."

The 2018 Survey

10 years after the recession: An industry adapts
10 years after the recession: An industry adapts
Ten years after the 2008 recession hit, the Travel Industry Survey shows that the percentage of agents whose sales decreased in the previous year has dropped steadily.
Introduction to the Travel Industry Survey
By Arnie Weissmann
Editor in chief Arnie Weissmann reflects on how travel advisers have survived and thrived in the decade since the Great Recession, a time during which agents bookings have increased 56% and confidence has soared.
10 years after the recession: Economic mix
10 years after the recession: Economic mix
The shift in what travel agents were doing in response to business conditions almost 10 years ago and now is stark.
The upside of upselling
Nineteen percent of agents who reported an increase in gross sales in 2017 reported that they had increased their emphasis on products with higher margins.
Are service fees on the decline?
Among the largest agencies, service fees dropped from 40% to 36% of revenue in 2017.
Social media tasks, big and small
Social media tasks, big and small
A home-based independent contractor and the vice president of marketing and demand analytics for a Power List agency answer the same series of questions about their respective social media strategies.
The agency itself: Location, tenure and identity
The agency itself: Location, tenure and identity
Where agents work, how many years they've been in business and what their job title is.
Data points: Trends in travel products
Data points: Trends in travel products
The most popular products booked by travel sellers.
Data points: trends in relationships
Data points: trends in relationships
Consortia, preferreds and agents' preferred marketing assistance from suppliers.
The benefits of aligning with a host agency
The benefits of aligning with a host agency
Of the independent, home-based agents who responded to the survey, nearly 70% were affiliated with a host agency.
How agents market travel
How agents market travel
"Some people want to opt into the newsletters while others say, 'Give me what I want to hear; don't tell me your whole life story.'"
Travel products agents expect to sell more of
This year, 67% of agents said they intend to sell more travel insurance, edging out ocean cruises (66%), and up four percentage points over last year's survey.
Current events that had the most impact on revenue
Current events that had the most impact on revenue
As always, the list of issues and events that advisers said had the greatest impact on business during the previous year is reflective of current events.
Data points: Trends in air
Data points: Trends in air
Air sales booked through a GDS continue to drop, but international bookings continue to soar. More on air bookings.
Data points: Trends in titles
Data points: Trends in titles
Do agents prefer to be agents, consultants, advisers or other? Also: What's the exact title on their business card?
Methodology
The survey is conducted annually and examines important trends in the operations of travel agencies.

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