Most Americans still find value in using travel agents for booking leisure travel, even though most consumers now know how to book travel online themselves, a national survey finds.
Harris Interactive phoned more than 1,000 people in June to ask them how they feel about using travel agents to book travel. Most, 68 percent, said they are more comfortable booking travel plans through a traditional travel agent.
Also:
* 53 percent said travel agents better understand how to customize travel.
* 52 percent said they are better at complex itineraries.
* 49 percent said they are good at bookings that are hard to do oneself.
What do they want from a travel agent?
* 76 percent said, if they use a travel agent, the agent must be able to handle all bookings, including air, lodging and car rental.
* 73 percent said access to real-time flight and hotel information is essential if they go through a travel agent.
* 70 percent expect a travel agent to have advanced knowledge about various destinations.
"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," said Galileo Vice President Eileen Kennedy.
Hawaii travel agents have said that advanced knowledge is the key to their survival: knowing things that cannot readily be apprehended by websurfing.
Visit local Hawaii travel agents here.
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