Survey explains rapid growth in home based agent sector

Supplied by The Travel Agent Next Door

A recent independent survey of Canadian hosted travel agents found that more than 50 per cent of them had made the decision to go home based in the last 5 years, explaining the phenomenal growth in this sector recently.

The survey gave astonishing insight into why so many experienced agents are choosing to go home based. More than 60 per cent of the home based agents were experienced agents working in a bricks-and-mortar agency before going home based. This dispels the false idea that home based agents are new to the industry and inexperienced.

And, almost half said they were earning more now than when they worked in a bricks and mortar agency.

The survey of almost 200 hosted travel agents across Canada included agents from all the leading host agencies. It was commissioned in December 2016 by the Travel Agent Next Door to gain further insight into the growing number of hosted agents and to determine how best to serve their needs in the future.

All major host agencies represented

The agents surveyed were currently affiliated with eight different host agencies from across Canada, with 12 per cent not divulging who they were associated with.

“We will continue to invest in third party independent surveys to understand this growing market and how best to serve them.” said Flemming Friisdahl, founder, The Travel Agent Next Door. “We intend to continue to investigate home based agents and their needs,”

He said The Travel Agent Next door will share its findings from these surveys with the industry and with suppliers.