ASTA Releases Results of First Marketing and Customer Retention Survey

Alexandria, Va., Aug. 17, 2009 - Today, ASTA released the results of its first Marketing & Customer Retention survey, a study designed to help travel agent members benchmark their marketing efforts and determine how to best promote their agencies.

"Retaining clients and generating new customer leads are key issues for travel agencies," said ASTA President and Chairman Chris Russo. "And thanks to research such as the latest study from ASTA, travel agents will have a better understanding of how well they are retaining clients, what marketing vehicles have been most successful, and how many new customer leads they should be generating a month."

The report also examines how and when typical agencies market promotions to consumers and provides key benchmarking data on such issues as costs for various types of ads, average advertising spend and number of active clients.

Among the findings:

• Agencies that consider themselves to be equally leisure- and corporate-oriented out spend the other two business models in advertising.
• Most agencies generate less than 10 new customer leads a month, the vast majority of them coming from referrals. On average, respondents said that 20 percent of new clients book once and never return. 
• Few agencies use magazine or newspaper print ads in their marketing plans.
• Eighty-eight percent of agencies surveyed use follow-up campaigns as a key way of keeping in touch with clients. 
• The amount spent on client entertainment varied greatly based on company size, but on average most corporate agencies spent around $4,000

The ASTA Research Family is comprised of a representative sample of ASTA member travel agency owners and managers. The report indicates a 95% confidence with an error rate +/- 4.8%.

Premium Members will receive this full report for free and travel agent members will receive a free three-page summary, but can also purchase the entire report for $150. The cost for ASTA member suppliers is $250 and $450 for non-members. For additional information, please contact mteates@asta.org or visit the research page on ASTA.org.

ABOUT ASTA
ASTA's (American Society of Travel Agents) mission is to facilitate the business of selling travel through effective representation, shared knowledge and the enhancement of professionalism. ASTA seeks a retail travel marketplace that is profitable, growing and a rewarding place to work, invest and do business.