Why It’s Important to Make Life Easier for Travel Agents

Despite numerous changes in the travel industry, one thing remains constant: The role of the travel agent. While the media have been quick to write off the existence of travel agents, it seems the world still needs their services — probably more so now than ever before.

Recent technological advances have, indeed, led behavioral changes among consumers. It has led to a prevalence of online booking platforms. These platforms might offer convenient reservations without a middleman, but, the lure of “do-it-yourself” bookings can quickly give way to anxiety, confusion, and indecisiveness. This is especially true for more complex itineraries. To preserve sanity, many would-be vacationers, but also business travelers, find themselves scrambling for the nearest agency. That means travel agents still play a vital role in the booking process and demand technological solutions that enhance their work.

The Whole Package

Sure, consumers, now have access to pretty much the same information as travel agents, but there is one thing online platforms can’t provide that travel the agent can; that is, a truly personal service.

Today, agents often find themselves confined to essentially utilizing the same tools and information sources as everyone else. They can offer discounts, promotions, and special deals just like the internet booking systems. But it’s their human touch that is so desirable amongst consumers. That might explain why a Statistica study found that over 60 percent of travel agents reported an increase in sales in 2015. Travel agents are manually doing a job which has been largely rendered automated. But the role shows no sign of fading away anytime soon. Consumers still need what the agent offers.

The job of the travel agent is to compile the most attractive vacation packages and put forward the best recommendations. They need access to a full suite of information to factor in things like transport, destination activities, and, of course, accommodation. In other words, the booking systems they use must have the most up-to-date information.

That is not always the case. With the focus being so heavily on internet booking platforms, agent’s systems are often the last to receive crucial information updates. It makes their job even more challenging as it means having to verify information via multiple sources manually.

But what if there is an easier way?

Easier Access to Information

Hotel Data Cloud does not just feed into booking sites. When your hotel information is updated on our platform, B2B booking systems used by travel agents also benefit. The process helps to make the agent’s life easier, but also ensures that they are not unknowingly giving customers inaccurate or outdated information. It allows agents to properly assess hotel options and decide the most appropriate choices for people seeking their services.

Agents thrive on the trust and loyalty of their clients. That can only be maintained if the agent demonstrates an ability to consistently deliver accurate information and suitable travel packages for their client’s purposes. By feeding B2B booking systems with up-to-the-minute information, you help to increase the probability of people booking your hotel through travel agents. And that is what HDC enables — the smooth distribution of information updates.

It reduces the obstacles a travel agent faces when researching various aspects of a vacation or other type of trip. Someone may, for example, be specifically looking for a hotel near the beach. If your hotel fits that description, but it is not reflected in the travel agent’s system, your accommodation might well get overlooked in the agent’s search. Without a manual search, the agent would not know that your hotel would be ideal for the customer’s needs. Allowing travel agents easy access to comprehensive information is crucial.

Better for Everyone

In the end, the effort to distribute accurate information is beneficial to everyone — hoteliers, brokers, and consumers. More than ever, information plays a fundamental role in the travel industry. Everyone depends on accurate data. The broker, such as a travel agent, relies on accurate information to provide recommendations tailored to their customers’ needs. If customers discover that their hotel does not reflect what they were promised (usually when the description given does not match the experience received), they often take to the internet to voice their dissatisfaction. And that spells trouble for the hotel in question.

The solution is to use a solid data distribution system such as HDC to ensure proper management of information. That way, all parties involved can remain confident in the process. Travel agents can do their jobs better, and consumers can trust that their expectations will be met.