Could Travel Agents Be The Next Come Back Kid?

Not so long ago people were putting a career as a travel agent in the same category as a Pony Express Rider, an elevator operator and a TV repairmen -- nice jobs in their day but not relevant in today's society.

But hold on to your horses, Nelly, the news of the travel agent's demise may be greatly exaggerated. Seems that self- serv travel planning is frustrating, time consuming and doesn't always  provide the best deal.

Twenty-three percent of  online leisure travelers in the United States say they would use a good off-line agent if they could find one, according to Forrester Research. And spotting an opportunity, a handful of new Web sites with catchy names like Zicasso and Tripology, have emerged in the last year, offering to act as free matchmaking services for vacationers in search of traditional agents.
                                                                                                             New York Times

And, according to a new report on U.S. Travel, fewer people are booking trips online.

The fact that fewer travelers are booking online is not due to economic concerns: online travel bookers are an affluent demographic. The drop is caused by frustrations related to the planning and booking capabilities of online travel agencies. This, in turn, is spurring a renewed appreciation for the expertise and personalized services offered by traditional travel agents.
                                                                                                             Research and Markets
                                                                                                               
            

The future of travel agents was the topic of my Sunday post on BlogHer 

and it has generated quite a lively conversation. To my surprise, the conversation supports the research consumers believe that trips with any kind of special needs requires the expertise of a professional.