Skift Global Forum Preview: Why the Internet Didn’t Kill Off Travel Agents
Photo Credit: Matthew Upchurch, Virtuoso CEO. Upchurch will be on stage at Skift Global Forum 2018. Virtuoso / Charlie Sawyer Photography
Skift Take
The travel agent still exists for a reason. Despite having the option, plenty of people don't want to do it on their own, and are happy to get someone else to make plans — even if it costs more.
The internet was supposed to make travel agents obsolete. Why bother heading into your local store if you could just search for flights and hotels online?
While it’s true that the likes of Expedia and Booking.com have eaten into their business, travel agents have survived. Sure, there may not be as many around as there once were but many of those still here are doing well, especially at the luxury end of the market, where cash-rich, time-poor individuals don’t want to click around.
Travel intermediaries still exist, but they now serve a different purpose. That's perhaps why some in the industry have sought to get rid of the word agent altogether, replacing it with advisor instead. The word implies something different – more of a consultant than someon
