68% of U.S. Adults Feel More Comfortable Booking Travel with Traditional Agent
Cites Recent Study
PARSIPPANY, N.J., June 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Travelers in the U.S. still find
great value in travel agents for booking their leisure travel plans, according
to a recent study commissioned by leading global distribution system (GDS) and
subsidiary of Cendant Corp. (NYSE: CD), Galileo International. The findings
from the June 2005 study show that nearly 7 out of 10 U.S. adults (68%) are
more comfortable booking travel plans through a traditional travel agent.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040519/GALILEOLOGO )
According to the poll, an advantage to more than half of U.S. adults is
when an agent asks questions to better understand a travelers needs (53%) and
their willingness to help customize itineraries to best fit those needs (52%),
which may clearly demonstrate a comfort in the human element when booking
travel. Whether it is the desire to visit multiple destinations, arrive and
depart from different locations, or requiring special amenities at a hotel,
travelers in the U.S. often have complex itineraries during a vacation. 49%
of U.S. adults found an agent's ability to book complex itineraries that are
hard to book online as another driving factor in comfort level when working
with a traditional agent to plan a vacation.
According to the research one of the perceived advantages for using a
travel agent is that in a world where the traveler's needs are becoming more
complex and diverse - 65% of adults stated the ability to sit down in person
with someone to discuss plans is a "must have" in booking a vacation.
Additional services considered "must haves" for a traditional agency include:
* The ability to book all your travel plans, including air, lodging and
car rental - 76%
* Access to real-time flight and hotel information - 73%
* Advanced knowledge about various destinations - 70%
"The study confirms that travel agents are still held in high regard by
many travelers, due to their personal service, knowledge, flexibility and
choice of vacation offers."
"At Galileo we recognize the importance of the agency channel and are
committed to working with our agency partners to ensure their continued
success. We provide innovative tools, technology and content to help power an
agency's business," stated Eileen Kennedy, vice president, Marketing, the
Americas, Galileo. "In addition, we will continue to invest in solutions to
supply agencies with the information and resources necessary to allow for
differentiation and growth."
Survey Methodology:
Harris Interactive(R) conducted the telephone survey for Galileo
International between June 3 and 6, 2005 among a nationwide cross section of
1,006 U.S. adults ages 18+. Figures for age, sex, race, and region were
weighted where necessary to align them with their actual proportions in the
population. In theory, with a probability sample of this
size, one can say with 95 percent certainty that the results for the overall
sample has a sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points of what they
would be if the entire U.S. adult population had been polled with complete
accuracy.
About Galileo International:
Galileo International is a global technology leader. Its core business is
providing electronic global distribution system for the travel industry
through its computerized reservation systems, leading-edge products and
innovative, Internet-based solutions. Galileo is a value-added distributor of
travel inventory dedicated to supporting its travel supplier, agency and
corporate customers and, through them, expanding traveler choice. A subsidiary
of Cendant Corporation (NYSE: CD) and part of Cendant's Travel Distribution
Services Division, Galileo is headquartered in Parsippany, NJ, and has offices
worldwide. Visit http://www.galileo.com.
About Cendant Travel Distribution Services:
Cendant Corporation's (NYSE: CD) Travel Distribution Services division, is
one of the world's largest and most geographically diverse collections of
travel brands and distribution businesses. The division, employing nearly
9,000 people in approximately 120 countries, includes: a leading global
distribution system (GDS) company (Galileo), serving more than 44,000 travel
agencies and over 60,000 hotels; hotel distribution and services businesses
(Neat Group(R), THOR(R), TRUST and WizCom(R)); leading online travel agencies
(CheapTickets(R), ebookers.com(R), HotelClub.com, Lodging.com, Orbitz(R), and
RatesToGo.com); an airline market intelligence company (Shepherd Systems); an
international travel technology and software company (Travelwire); a leading
international provider of long-haul air travel and travel product consolidator
(Travel 2(R)/Travel 4(R)); online global corporate travel management solutions
(Orbitz for Business(R) and Travelport(R)); and a leading wholesaler and
global online provider of hotels, destination services, travel packages and
group tours (Gullivers Travel Associates, OctopusTravel.com(R) and Travel
Bound, Inc.).
About Harris Interactive(R)
Harris Interactive Inc. (http://www.harrisinteractive.com), the 15th largest and
fastest-growing market research firm in the world, is a Rochester, NY-based
global research company that blends premier strategic consulting with
innovative and efficient methods of investigation, analysis and application.
Known for The Harris Poll(R) and for pioneering Internet-based research
methods, Harris Interactive conducts proprietary and public research to help
its clients achieve clear, material and enduring results. Harris Interactive
combines its intellectual capital, databases and technology to advance market
leadership through its U.S. offices and wholly owned subsidiaries, HI Europe
in London (http://www.hieurope.com), Novatris in Paris (http://www.novatris.com), and
through an independent global network of affiliate market research companies.
EOE M/F/D/V
SOURCE Galileo International
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Related links:
http://www.galileo.com
Photo Notes:http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040519/GALILEOLOGO
CONTACT:
Galileo Americas Inquiries - Sarah Berger or
Jill Brenner, both of Cendant Travel Distribution Services,
+1-973-496-5870, TDS.CorpComm@cendant.com
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