2024 will be a good year for travel agents, according to a TRAVELSAVERS Canada where 75% of respondents foresee their sales increasing this year and 60% view Artificial Intelligence in travel planning a positive and useful, trend.
“Travel is booming once again,” said Jane Clementino, Senior Vice President and General Manager of TRAVELSAVERS Canada. “After so much built-up demand, people are prioritizing travel, specifically higher-end experiences. We’ll continue to see premium and luxury travel soar well into 2024 and beyond.”
Of the 75%, 30% expect to see significant growth, while nearly half believe their sales will grow somewhat. Only 3% predicted their sales will see a decline.
While advisors are confident about sales growth, they are also realistic about the challenges they will continue to face in 2024.
The top concern survey respondents envision are issues related to air travel, such as fare costs. They also foresee problems related to rising prices and a potential recession. Many advisors, coming off an incredibly busy year, also anticipate dealing with burnout.
Another significant finding of the survey is in regard to Artificial Intelligence which has been a big topic of discussion and sometimes, a bone of contention, in the industry. But in the survey, 60% of agents see it positively and AI travel planning was named one of the top trends emerging in the industry. Nearly half of respondents want to learn how to use it.
There is some pushback to the technology from agents however, as 12% don’t want to and won’t use it.
“We’re excited about the possibilities AI brings and how it can be leveraged by advisors to streamline their planning and marketing tasks,” said Clementino.
“We’re implementing AI in our proprietary technology tools so that advisors can focus on what they do best — providing excellent customer service.”
The industry is beginning to welcome AI in its operations, most recently with Sabre’s Lodging AI which launched in August and promises to help travel agencies create additional revenue opportunities and provide travellers with more personalized lodging options.
“Artificial intelligence combined with data and insights, such as profiles and preferences, is a very powerful tool in removing friction from the travel booking process,” said Sabre Chief Product Officer Garry Wiseman.
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