Americans Are Traveling In 2014

The results of a survey of over 1000 respondents by the U. S. Travel Insurance Association show that the majority of Americans are planning to take more than two trips in 2014.  A trip was defined as travel 100 miles or more from home.

Sixty-one percent said they will travel on average 2.4 trips this year, another 30% said they planned to travel 3 or more trips in 2014.

That’s good news. . .Americans are valuing travel, getting away from the routine of work and home life and relaxing with family and friends.  It’s also finally good news for the travel agent.  Not everyone who plans on traveling in 2014 will decide to engage an agent to help with their plans, but the wise ones will. 

This week there was an article in USA Today that touted the role that travel agents played in planning business as well as pleasure travel.  One person who spends about 100 days traveling a year uses a travel agent any time he travels for work, even if he has to pay for it out-of-pocket.  He said, “my time is valuable, and no matter how good the website or app, the value of a deeply experienced and widely connected travel agent who can smooth a detail or fix a miscue makes for nice peace of mind”.

We have seen it when people are tired of the offshore support or robotic call attendants of some of the on-line agencies, they come back to the friendly assistance of their travel agent. . .a real live person who will do their best to understand their clients needs and special situations.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were around 95,360 travel agents in the United States 10 years ago.  A decade later their number has dwindled to around 65,000.  Travel agencies are still the largest channel for selling airline tickets, hotel reservations, car rentals, and cruise lines.  The CEO of the American Society of Travel Agents said that “travel agents provide valuable guidance and the personal touch” and that endears them to their clients.

Here at The Travel Factory, we hope that all the Americans in the Big Country think of us when they want to travel, and give us a call to allow us to practice our hobby of helping people manufacture travel memories that will last a lifetime.  For a face to face visit, drop in at 4150 Southwest Drive, Ste. 120, or give us a call at 698-1421, or toll-free 800-760-4040.  You are also welcome to check us out at our website:

www.thetravelfactoryabilene.com.  It is a popular visit, for we get around 200-300+ visits a month, and you can read other weekly blogs from that website.  What a deal!!!