Travel agency marketing will get a boost from the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) and Mandala Research, who have announced a new partnership designed to bring enhanced consumer research to travel agencies. As part of the venture, Mandala Research will develop a series of consumer studies and webinars focusing on niches and trends that agents can use to strengthen their marketing efforts and increase sales.
The first webinar, Traveler’s Use of Social Media, is set to take place Oct. 20 at 2 p.m. EST. This webinar will be the second part in ASTA’s Business Executive Series, and will target travel agents, travel agencies and other industry groups that market directly to consumers, ASTA reports.
“Travel agents know how to build and book a great trip, but they may not always know how to best market travel to consumers,” said ASTA CEO Tony Gonchar. “ASTA continuously strives to provide its members and the travel agency community at large with top-quality experts who will provide key knowledge for success.”
For more than 13 years, Mandala Research has been recognized as a leading travel and tourism research firm that has pioneered the “firsts” of many important industry studies, ASTA notes. The company offers extensive knowledge of several growing demographics and trends, ranging from Cultural & Heritage Tourism to African-American Travelers to International Emerging Market Tourists.
“Our portfolio of research will help agents understand the needs of today’s travelers at a very granular level, enabling them to reach this audience in a meaningful way," said Laura Mandala, managing director of Mandala Research, LLC. "We are convinced from our data across vast market segments that travelers will increasingly find value from the judgment and guidance only agents can provide. And our research analysis will give agents the insights they need to position themselves as travelers’ ‘trusted partner’ in the planning and the enjoyment of the travel experience.”
The webinars will cost $49 for ASTA members and $149 for non-members. All webinar participants will receive a copy of the slide deck; ASTA members will receive a discount on the cost of the full reports.
Visit www.ASTA.org or www.MandalaResearch.com