Internal polling results among Travel Leaders travel agents offers some good news. In light of tougher economic news, agents have been hearing recently, Travel Leaders used its latest From the Frontline poll to ask Travel Leaders agents how their Summer 2011 bookings compare with Summer 2010.
The good news is that just over two-thirds (67 percent) have indicated that they’re bookings are even or better than they were one year ago, Travel Leaders reported. In fact, 47 percent said that their bookings are up over the same period last year, with another 20 percent saying that bookings are at least on par with a year ago.
Travel Leaders said it sees a return to normal booking behavior for the first time since the economic collapse of 2008. Of those who said their bookings have declined, only 4 percent characterized them as being down significantly, Travel Leaders said.
Travel Leaders agency owner Sue Tindell commented: “Yes, we are way up. We have a group with Princess this summer, so that is part of it and we are also booking a lot of Europe for this summer and already have lots of inquiries for 2012. We are happy here.”
Another Travel Leaders agent, Hugh "Flip" Himmelreich, vice president of Century Travel Service, reported: “Total sales were down about 5 percent for May, but revenues were up about 5 percent. Cruise and tour sales were down and international air and insurance were up, so in summary leisure down slightly and business up slightly. But overall, we’ve had about a 4 percent revenue increase.”
The poll included 205 Travel Leaders agents, managers and franchise owners and was taken from May 31 through June 13, 2011.
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