Recent Study Cites 72% of US Adults Consider a Traditional Travel Agent’s Knowledge about Destinations to be one of the Leading Characteristics They Value when Booking Leisure Travel
September 26, 2005 –A study commissioned by leading global distribution system (GDS) and subsidiary of Cendant Corp. (NYSE: CD), Galileo International, confirms that travelers have strong views on both the perceived benefits and opportunity in planning a vacation through a traditional travel agent. According to the survey conducted by Harris Interactive, 75 percent of U.S. adults value the service provided by agents and enjoy the key benefit of being presented with multiple vacation options.
Additional benefits of using a travel agent cited by adult travelers in the U.S. are:
• Access to a wide variety of all-inclusive resorts – 70%
• Ability to book a variety of vacations, such as a romantic getaway or family retreat – 70%
Perception is reality for travelers, and according to the survey, 47% of U.S. adults do not understand the benefits of a vacation package and consider an agent’s persistence in pushing this option a drawback. In addition, 41% of travelers do not understand agency preferences in airlines, car rental companies and hotels, and 40% feel the booking process is too long.
“This study identifies areas where travel agents can clearly differentiate themselves from their competition,” said Eileen Kennedy, vice president, marketing, the Americas, Galileo. To overcome some of these concerns, spend time educating your customers on the value of a vacation package as well as potential savings when focusing on a certain suppliers. Understanding and addressing the concerns of travelers are ways to gain additional loyalty.
“At Galileo, we understand that while agencies need to continually improve upon the current strengths of the agency channel, they need to look at the broader picture to identify areas for potential improvement as well. We are not just a GDS, but rather a partner to the agency community; dedicated to identifying opportunities to drive success and longevity for agencies, and delivering the tools and technology to fulfill this promise,” added Kennedy.
Survey Methodology:
Harris Interactive® conducted the telephone survey for Galileo International between June 3 and 6, 2005 among a nationwide cross section of 1,006 U.S. adults ages 18+. Figures for age, sex, race, and region were weighted where necessary to align them with their actual proportions in the population. In theory, with a probability sample of this size, one can say with 95 percent certainty that the results for the overall sample has a sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points of what they would be if the entire U.S. adult population had been polled with complete accuracy.
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About Galileo International:
Galileo International is a global technology leader. Its core business is providing electronic global distribution system for the travel industry through its computerized reservation systems, leading-edge products and innovative, Internet-based solutions. Galileo is a value-added distributor of travel inventory dedicated to supporting its travel supplier, agency and corporate customers and, through them, expanding traveler choice. A subsidiary of Cendant Corporation (NYSE: CD) and part of Cendant's Travel Distribution Services Division, Galileo is headquartered in Parsippany, NJ, and has offices worldwide. Visit www.galileo.com.
About Cendant Travel Distribution Services:
Cendant Corporation’s (NYSE: CD) Travel Distribution Services division, is one of the world’s largest and most geographically diverse collections of travel brands and distribution businesses. The division, employing nearly 9,000 people in approximately 120 countries, includes: a leading global distribution system (GDS) company (Galileo), serving more than 44,000 travel agencies and over 60,000 hotels; hotel distribution and services businesses (Neat Group®, THOR®, TRUST and WizCom®); leading online travel agencies (CheapTickets®, ebookers.com®, HotelClub.com, Lodging.com, Orbitz®, and RatesToGo.com); an airline market intelligence company (Shepherd Systems); an international travel technology and software company (Travelwire); a leading international provider of long-haul air travel and travel product consolidator (Travel 2®/Travel 4®); online global corporate travel management solutions (Orbitz for Business® and Travelport®); and a leading wholesaler and global online provider of hotels, destination services, travel packages and group tours (Gullivers Travel Associates, OctopusTravel.com® and Travel Bound, Inc.).
About Harris Interactive®
Harris Interactive Inc. (www.harrisinteractive.com), the 13th largest and fastest-growing market research firm in the world, is a Rochester, NY-based global research company that blends premier strategic consulting with innovative and efficient methods of investigation, analysis and application. Known for The Harris Poll® and for pioneering Internet-based research methods, Harris Interactive conducts proprietary and public research to help its clients achieve clear, material and enduring results. Harris Interactive combines its intellectual capital, databases and technology to advance market leadership through its U.S. offices and wholly owned subsidiaries, HI Europe in London (www.hieurope.com), Novatris in Paris (www.novatris.com), and through an independent global network of affiliate market research companies. EOE M/F/D/V