Cox and King, who are still trading as a travel agent today, are often quoted as being the first travel agent, however this is somewhat inaccurate. In actual fact Cox and King founded in 1758 were then in the business of banking and the travel services they provided were only available to its own wealthy clientele. The first modern travel agency, operated by Thomas Cook, opened its doors in 1841 some 83 years later.
The popularity of Travel agencies grew in the 1920′s. Along with the development of commercial aviation, travelling abroad became more commonplace amongst the wealthy middle and upper classes. The boom in mass-market package holidays during the 1950′s and 60′s brought travel to the working classes and resulted in travel agencies appearing on the high streets of most British towns. This type of travel agent typically catered to working class clients looking for a cheap and cheerful beach holiday.
Today’s travel agent provides a hub for travel related products including flight tickets, car rentals, hotels bookings, railway tickets, sightseeing tours and package holidays. It is the estate agents job to seamlessly stitch together your travel arrangements so that your holiday, business trip or whatever reason you have for travelling is trouble free.
The Internet, Friend or Foe?
Many airlines and other travel companies saw the growth in public internet access as an opportunity to sell directly to the customer and save on commissions to travel agents. The high street travel agencies have lost significant ground in this area to internet sales; however travel agents remain dominant in other areas including cruise holidays.
Travel agencies have responded to the internet threat by developed their own highly visible internet presence, complete with detailed information and online booking capabilities. Some online travel websites even allow visitors to compare hotel and flight rates and sort travel packages by amenities, and proximity to a city or landmark.
Whether it’s for a vacation or a business trip most travellers start their research online, those who simply looking for flights will probably conclude their business online. When a traveller is looking for a complete package that includes flights, hotel reservations, car hire and perhaps tickets to any of the Disney parks, they are still likely to conclude their business offline in the offices of a travel agent.
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