Travel advisors feel more overwhelmed with business demands this year when compared with last year, according to new research, part of TravelAge West’s Need to Know series, conducted in partnership with Lush Experiences, a travel sales, marketing and representation organization.
The survey of more than 250 agents showed that nearly half (46%) of respondents feel more overwhelmed this year, and about one-third of advisors (29%) say they are suffering burnout. Thirty-two percent think their current workload is not sustainable. In general, most advisors (59%) feel that clients are more demanding now than before the pandemic.
Forty-six of travel advisors report feeling more overwhelmed this year when compared with last year.
Credit: 2023 TravelAge West
Advisors are fairly split when it comes to setting boundaries with clients — 52% do not struggle with setting them, while 48% do find that to be a challenge. More than half (53%) say they have tried incorporating new boundaries within the past year — of those, 64% say that has helped with their workload.
RELATED: 6 Boundaries That Will Help Ease Travel Agent Burnout
The most popular client boundaries include setting regular business hours (57%), followed closely by charging fees (55%). Other options include cutting back on touchpoints (33%); not sharing an agent’s personal phone number (32%); eliminating last-minute bookings (24%); setting a minimum budget (23%); and limiting the number of itinerary revisions (18%).
More than half of agents have tried implementing boundaries this year.
Credit: 2023 TravelAge West“Analyzing the data from the survey, it is evident that our travel advisor partners are facing increased pressure this year due to higher business volumes, flight cancellations by airlines and difficulties in finding qualified assistants,” said Brad Beaty, a representative from Lush Experiences. “As suppliers, we believe it is our responsibility to support them in every way possible.”
During these challenging times, it is crucial for all of us to be innovative in our service approach and adapt to evolving demands.
Despite the increased stress, most advisors (61%) say they are happy with the profession, 72% have not considered quitting, and 67% do not know of anyone who has quit. More than three-fourths (76%) think they are getting enough support from their professional circle (including fellow advisors, consortia and host agencies), and 64% are satisfied with the support they are getting from suppliers.
Overall, the top improvement advisors would like to see is charging more for the work they are doing (34%), followed by hiring more help (27%).
Thirty-four percent of travel advisors want to charge more for the work they do.
Credit: 2023 TravelAge West“Through our proactive efforts, we are acting as advisors and assistants to advisors, promptly addressing their requests and resolving any arising issues,” Beaty said. “By providing this added value, advisors can benefit greatly. We can also guide advisors by effectively communicating and setting clear and realistic expectations with their clients. During these challenging times, it is crucial for all of us to be innovative in our service approach and adapt to evolving demands.”
Need to Know Survey Series
“Need to Know” is a research series from TravelAge West that tracks the responses of advisors as they relate to various travel trends and topics. This survey recorded the responses of 259 advisors across the U.S. Click here to see more Need to Know stories.
