UpFront: From ABC's President & COO

Consumer and travel industry reports are in: TRAVEL IS BACK! You can witness it first hand: fuller flights (both the front and back cabins), higher fares and hotel rates inching up. Perhaps too, you have observed a loosening of your clients’ purse strings and heightened bookings. This, and news about the return of the travel agent as an often overlooked option in an online world, bodes well for us all. Articles cite the growing popularity of travel agents to navigate the myriad of travel information, channels and schedules to provide the best options to meet customer need. More importantly, travelers are seeking true destination experts, called upon for knowledge and unique insight that would take untold hours to discover online, if available at all.

Highlights of Industry Reports:

Hoteliers Confidence Grows – Rates Rising. Positive earnings reports from industry leaders such as InterContinental Hotels and Resorts, Starwood and Hyatt, resulting from an uptick in their transient business, signal an optimistic outlook and higher rates industrywide. ABC Global Services can continue to support you and your clients as the dynamics swing back to a seller’s market—see our Top 10 Reasons to ALWAYS BOOK ABC.

Clients are Traveling. On the corporate side, from mid-level managers to CEOs, business travel is on the rise. Businesses have once again recognized the need to meet with customers in person, closing important deals and creating opportunities lost during the height of the recession. Leisure travelers are traveling as well, finally taking that trip they held off on in 2008 and 2009. Consider Premier Privileges by ABC™, a new luxury hotel program offering personal VIP service and valuable amenities that is now part of the ABC Premier Hotel Program.

Agents are Back in Fashion. The travel agent sector has transformed itself over the last several years. Agents have morphed to meet market demand and today offer new service models and options, and a new breed of home-based agents has emerged. Regardless of the set up, travel agents are celebrating a comeback. Corporations value their travel management companies who support their corporate directives, cost-savings and policy compliance goals. Leisure travel news indicates that travelers have tired of the time-consuming process of researching and booking trips online. Whether a business traveler or vacationer, travelers need specialists who can not only provide great rates, sort through restrictions, ancillary fees, and taxes; but provide in-depth and often first-hand destination information, and assistance.

So as we gear up for a brighter future marked by filled flights, increased transactions and new opportunities, remember that ABC Global Services has solutions to make your job easier and meet your clients’ ever-changing needs. Contact your ABC Key Account Manager at kam@abcglobal.travel / +1.312.462.1965 should you have questions about any ABC product or service.

On behalf of everyone at ABC Global Services, I wish you much success, growth and prosperity as the travel beat continues…Enjoy your summer.

Best regards,

Beverlee S. Patterson
President & COO