Preliminary data suggest that advisors were primarily loyal to their affiliations despite COVID. 11% of hosted advisors reported switching hosts in 2020.
MINNEAPOLIS – Host Agency Reviews (HAR), launched their annual travel agent survey earlier this summer and will remain open until July 31st. In the final stretch of the survey, HAR pulled preliminary data from nearly 800 entries.
The preliminary data suggest that the majority of travel advisors intend to go back to selling travel as a primary source of income. 29% of respondents reported they stopped selling travel as a primary source of income during COVID. Among that segment, 74% intend to go back selling as a primary source, 19% are unsure, and 7% reported they will not go back to selling travel as a primary source of income.
This year for the first time, HAR’s survey asked if advisors switched host agencies. Preliminary data suggest that advisors were primarily loyal to their affiliations despite COVID. 11% of hosted advisors reported switching hosts in 2020. Most of those switched, 65%, made the change during COVID. However, zero listed COVID as an explicit reason for making the change.
The preliminary data also includes information on other trends:
- Of advisors who did not charge fees in 2020, 35% reported they plan to implement fees in the next 12 months
- The average booking amount was $4,334
- 65% of the advisors who completed HAR’s survey were hosted
HAR will begin publishing its annual series of in-depth travel advisor reports by late September. The reports will review the latest income and fee trends among travel advisors as well as offer a litmus test as to COVID’s industry impact.
The travel agent survey closes Sunday, July 31st at 11:59 pm CT, and the data above will change after HAR tallies all responses. Those interested in receiving report updates can subscribe to HAR’s newsletter.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
