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Consumer Travel Agency Industry: General Statistics
In the last five years (2013-2018), the consumer travel agency industry in the United States witnessed a growth of about 5.2%, generating a revenue of $42 billion in 2018. In 2017, around 67,330 travel agents were employed in the United States.
NUMBER OF CONSUMER TRAVEL AGENTS IN THE UNITED STATES
- According to Statista, there were around 67,330 travel agents employed in the United States in 2017, down from 68,680 travel agents in 2016.
- In 2015, about 66,560 travel agents were employed in the United States.
- Currently, there are 9,826 travel companies/agencies in the United States.
AVERAGE NUMBER OF TRAVELS AN AGENT BOOK PER YEAR
- In 2013, "the front line travel sellers in leisure travel agencies" booked travels that generated an average revenue of $714,077. The full-time independent contractors and agents booked travels that generated an average revenue of $388,684 while corporate agents generated an average of $1.1 million in revenue per agent.
INCREASE/DECREASE OF CONSUMER AGENTS OVER THE LAST 5 YEARS
- In the last five years (2013-2018), the consumer travel agency industry in the United States witnessed a growth of about 5.2%, generating a revenue of $42 billion in 2018.
- The number of businesses in the industry has also increased by 3.8% over the last five years while the number of employees grew by 3.0%. In 2018, the number of businesses in the consumer travel agency industry in the United States was 63,331.
- In 2018, the consumer travel agency industry sales were at $24.7 billion, according to a report published on Market Research. In the last three years, the annual growth rate of the industry was around 8%. The average revenue per company in the United States was $2.3 million in 2018.
- According to Statista, the consumer travel agency industry generated around $12.2 billion in revenue in 2010. It is predicted that the industry will generate about $17.3 billion in revenue by 2020.
- The travel agency industry has grown and travel agencies are witnessing profits. As of 2016, around 78% of the revenue made by the travel agencies came from commissions and 22% from service fees. This data was based on a survey conducted of 1,193 travel agents. Around 60% of travel agents witnessed an increase in sales in 2015 as compared to 2014.
- Around 8% of travel agents reported a decrease in total sales in the year 2017. This is a decrease from 2015 where 12% of travel agents in the United States reported a decrease in sales. Around 9% of travel agents reported a decrease in total sales in 2014, 10% in 2013, about 14% in 2012, and around 17% in 2011.
OTHER FINDINGS
- According to the Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC), there were 9,386 travel agency organizations that operated 15,671 retail locations in March 2010. This is not inclusive of the agencies that do not provide air services.
- As of May 2008, the travel agency industry had around 105,300 full-time employees, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
RESEARCH STRATEGY:
After conducting an extensive search, we were not able to find the most recent data on the average number of travels an agent book per year. We scoured through reliable sources such as IBIS World, Market Research, Statista, and the Bureau of Labor and Statistics among other credible sites. We were able to find the most recent number of consumer travel agents and agencies in the United States and information about industry growth over the last 5 years. However, these sources did not provide insights into the average number of travels an agent books annually.
According to the American Society of Travel Advisors, consumer travel agents (also travel agents) work on behalf of the consumer to book tickets; identify affordable prices; personalize services for their clients; provide competitive options, promotions, and value-added benefits; and resolve their challenges.
We extended our search to look beyond the required time frame by searching for sources older than 2 years. We were able to find an estimated average of 2013 from Travel Market Report. The data suggested that average revenues of front line travel sellers in leisure travel agencies, full-time independent agents and contractors, and corporate agents. We hoped to use this information in triangulation to find the requested information but unfortunately, the strategy was fruitless. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics provided the average amount that travel agents earn instead.
We broadened our research scope to focus globally and not just the United States. This research strategy was also not helpful because we were not able to retrieve data on the average number of travels booked by agents per year. Statista and Market Research only provided the number of agents/agencies and consumer travel agent industry growth. Global search provided us with the leading travel agents in the United States and globally, however, there was no data on the average number of bookings that these agents/agencies do annually. More data on consumer travel agencies in the United States can be found on Statista that was hidden behind a paywall. Thus, we were not able to pursue the course.
In conclusion, we could not find the information that covered any data regarding the average number of travels an agent book per year. This information is not publicly available probably because most of the travel agents are private entities and do not disclose their data to the public. This could also be because no such research has been conducted before as most bookings are done online nowadays.