29 September 2008

Six out of 10 agents would consider leaving the industry

A survey of 500 independent agents and travel suppliers has found that 60 per cent would consider finding another job outside travel.

The poll, commissioned by Advantage Travel Centres, was carried out just before the collapse of XL Leisure Group.

Simon Ferguson, publisher of TW Group which did the survey, said: Ã¢â¬ÅâœTimes are tough and itÃ¢â¬â¢s not surprising that people have said that if they got the chance to exit they would.

Ã¢â¬ÅâœThere are more travel businesses up for sale now than any other time in the last five years, yet there is no capital available. You may want an exit, but the likelihood is youÃ¢â¬â¢ll have to stick it out.Ã¢â¬~

Other key findings of the survey were:

- 72 per cent of respondents were Ã¢â¬ËœveryÃ¢â¬â¢ or Ã¢â¬Ëœa littleÃ¢â¬â¢ optimistic about the year ahead.

- Three in five feel that customers have changed their buying habits over the last year, with the main changes being later bookings, requests for money off/price matching and more bookings being made online.

- Half of retail customers make their booking more than three months in advance.

- Almost half consider retail customers are spending more when compared to last year.

- The state of the UK economy was considered the most important factor which will affect the travel industry over the next three to five years.

- Luxury and cruise holidays were thought to be the biggest growth areas over the next three to five years.

- Staff are generally considered to be technologically savvy, although two thirds believe there is a skills shortage in the industry, and deficits are primarily selling skills, customer skills and IT skills.

By Bev Fearis