Survey says: home-based agents share their thoughts

More than 45 per cent of hosted agents said they are ‘very to extremely ‘happy with their host agency, according to the second annual independent nationwide survey of Canadian hosted travel agents.

This year’s survey was conducted during the month of January by a private consulting firm with more than 500 home based agents representing many different host agencies responding. It is estimated that over 35 per cent of travel agents in Canada are now independent, home based contractors.

The Travel Agent Next Door has gained access to the results of the survey and intends to use the data to frame how it best serves agents in the future.

“Understanding home based agents’ priorities and their concerns are key to supporting them in the best way possible,” said Flemming Friisdahl, founder, The Travel Agent Next Door. “This year’s results are consistent with some of the findings from last year but they also provide invaluable new insight.”

Among the findings of the survey:

• The survey reveals that 52 per cent of the home based agents who responded have only ever worked as a home based agent, which suggests that a) home based agents have been around for longer than is commonly thought and b) people are now joining the industry as hosted agents from the get go.
• The survey also reveals that 87.3 per cent of agents who responded are over 40, and 28.5 per cent are over 60, and worked for many years in a bricks and mortar agency , which confirms that many home based agents are highly experienced and are converting to home based later in their careers.
• The survey shows that the top key services home based agents look for in a host agency are a customized website, the ability to work with management , the level of support and the ability to network with other agents.
• While more than 45 per cent of hosted agents said they are ‘very to extremely ‘happy with their host agency, however 12 per cent said they were ‘unhappy to very unhappy’.
• The survey revealed that 91.9 percent of agents who switched from a bricks and mortar or a store front to home based said they were happier and 89.8 per cent of agents believe they have a better work life balance, which is a five per cent increase from last year.
• The agents also reported a better quality of life, with top impacts including more time to travel and more time with family, the ability to work from anywhere, plus the ability to 'be my own boss.'

The Travel Agent Next Door will feature further findings from the survey in a series of infographics and communications over the next few months.