New ASTA survey shows which customers are most profitable
If you want to make money as a travel agency, consider a focus on corporate customers.
That’s the segment in which the highest percentage of profitable travel agencies (65%) are found, reports the Agency Sales & Revenue Trends survey, released yesterday by the American Society of Travel Agents.
But it was retail leisure agencies that saw their profits increase the most in 2012 over 2011, with 54% reporting a rise.
Overall, 2012 was a good year for most travel agents. More than half (52%) saw a rise in revenues, and 47% grew both their customer base and total number of transactions.
Still, though, 24% of travel agencies saw their revenues decline in 2012.
The biggest increase in revenues came from tours and groups; 51% of agencies responding to the poll said their group sales were up in 2012. But only 37% reported increased cruise sales.
"Despite the ongoing challenges facing the global economy, ASTA members benefitted from the traveling public’s appetite for travel," said ASTA’s new president and CEO, Zane Kerby. "Some improvement can be attributed to consumers’ evolving view of travel as a ‘right.’ Recent consumer surveys report that consumer travel behavior and patterns are less tied to current economic conditions."
Survey data was collected through the 2013 ASTA Research Family, a panel comprised of a representative sample of ASTA member travel agency owners and managers. The survey data was collected online via www.surveygizmo.com in January 2013.
Cheryl
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025