Travelport has highlighted the ongoing importance of travel agents for travellers suffering from “information overload” from researching trips online.
Head of solutions and support Asia Pacific Linda Kelly-Smith admitted more travellers were exploring options on the Internet, but said they then looked to a consultant to “qualify” the information.
“If anything, all the information available on the internet is confusing them more,” she told Travel Today. “They are looking to agents to filter out the rubbish.”
The growing consumer trend to research trips online could also help agents to focus on closing the sale.
“Agents don’t need to waste time filling people in on all the little things anymore,” Kelly-Smith said, freeing them up to add value.
Meanwhile. she predicted mobile technology would become increasingly popular over the next year. The technology firm has just announced a new Galileo iPad product.
“With things being more mobile, agents need to be more mobile too,” she warned, adding social networks were also vital. “Agents must become more connected.”
Meanwhile, she claimed the new Rooms & More hotel aggregator was performing well, on the back of growing demand for boutique hotels, often absent from traditional GDS.
It has already signed 30 new suppliers, with its current inventory of 675,000 properties worldwide expected to grow to two million by the end of the year.
Travelport is holding a series of Australian roadshows to introduce agents to their new products. The Sydney roadshow is taking place today before moving to Brisbane on May 18.
