Agents shift toward direct bookings
A report by the American Society of Travel Agents has highlighted the growing influence of supplier-directs sites, which continue to grow at the expense of traditional GDS platforms.
ASTA’s annual Supplier-Travel Agent Marketing Report shows that more agents are booking direct through supplier websites, especially in the leisure segment.
Melissa Teates, ASTA’s director of research believes this is in part due to more user friendly interfaces on supplier websites.
"Now all the major suppliers have specific agent portals and that has made the difference," she said.
ASTA has been collecting data on travel agent members’ booking practices for the last eight years in the airline, accommodation, car rental, tours and cruise segments.
The biggest shift towards supplier-direct websites has been in cruise and tours where GDS usage in traditionally low.
The percentage of cruise bookings made direct by phone fell to 32% in 2013, down from 52% in 2006.
Flight bookings on GDS in 2013 dropped to 58% compared to 69% in 2006, although GDS remains more dominant in business travel.
The report specifically studied agent booking patterns via GDS, supplier websites, supplier call centers, OTAs and consolidator websites.
For the 2013 report it surveyed 366 member agents.
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