Problems with self-booked travel
A poll of 631 business travelers found that about a third of them with the option of booking online instead used traditional methods such as calling a travel agent.
The poll was done by the Seattle-based Travelport, which provides travel management systems. It concluded:
“In general, automated systems are thought to be cheaper than the fees charged for in-person arrangements, provided that employees use them.”
In the survey, nearly half of those who abandoned their online system said they did so because they wanted to have a real person confirm what they had booked.
Other top reasons were that they were on the road or were trying to make changes at the last minute.
Some respondents complained the online process was too complicated, or that specific travel needs could not be fixed by online systems.
Travel management companies will have to continue looking for faster and friendlier online and automated options, concluded Charlotte Blackwell, vice president of product and marketing for Travelport.
Report by David Wilkening
David
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 
France prepares for a massive strike across all transports on September 18
Turkish tourism stalls due to soaring prices for accommodation and food
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt