A Sneak Peek at Host Agency Reviews’ 2021 Travel Agent Survey Results

HAR’s preliminary data suggest that nearly three-quarters of travel advisors intend to go back to selling travel as a primary source of income after covid.

Minneapolis, July 30th, 2021 – Host Agency Reviews (HAR), launched their annual travel agent survey earlier this summer and will remain open until July 31st. In the final stretch of the survey, HAR pulled preliminary data from nearly 800 entries.

The preliminary data suggest that the majority of travel advisors intend to go back to selling travel as a primary source of income. 29% of respondents reported they stopped selling travel as a primary source of income during COVID. Among that segment, 74% intend to go back selling as a primary source, 19% are unsure, and 7% reported they will not go back to selling travel as a primary source of income.

This year for the first time, HAR’s survey asked if advisors switched host agencies. Preliminary data suggest that advisors were primarily loyal to their affiliations despite COVID. 11% of hosted advisors reported switching hosts in 2020. Most of those switched, 65%, made the change during COVID. However, zero listed COVID as an explicit reason for making the change.

The preliminary data also includes information on other trends:

1. Of advisors who did not charge fees in 2020, 35% reported they plan to implement fees in the next 12 months
2. The average booking amount was $4,334
3. 65% of the advisors who completed HAR’s survey were hosted

HAR will begin publishing its annual series of in-depth travel advisor reports by late September. The reports will review the latest income and fee trends among travel advisors as well as offer a litmus test as to COVID’s industry impact.

The travel agent survey closes Sunday, July 31st at 11:59 pm CT, and the data above will change after HAR tallies all responses. Those interested in receiving report updates can subscribe to HAR’s newsletter.

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Host Agency Reviews® is an independent website connecting travel agents to leading industry resources. With over 180+ combined host, franchise, and consortium profiles and 3,300+ reviews, it's the largest directory for agents on the web. Founder and former host agency director, Steph Lee, started Host Agency Reviews in 2012 to provide critical support for travel professionals to start and grow their agencies. Since then, the HAR team has expanded the site to include a robust industry blog, a free weeklong travel agency startup program, the Travel Agent Chatter quarterly podcast, Friday 15 weekly Q&A live stream, and Host Week, an annual virtual industry event to recognize and amplify independent agents and the hosts, franchises and consortia that support them. Oh, and we like to have fun. Lots of fun. :)