In the mid 2000s, this venerable old lady was, it was said then sentenced to a near-death under the blows of electronic commerce. Too old-fashioned, not reactive enough, too expensive, too, while the Net already
offered his tips and accessibility 7 days 7, 24 hours 24. Just a few years ago, the crisis was accelerating the transition from one world to another, especially since revolutionized the tablet uses. In early summer 2015, the travel agency seems yet to have escaped the digital chaos ...
In fact, the number of travel operators, mostly agencies, registered in the register of Atout France is relatively stable for years at around 7,000. "There was no shock. The creations compensate closures. In addition, there are no closures as dry as it must also take into account the mergers and acquisitions and the increase of some mini-grids ", particularly highlights the general secretary of the National Union of Travel Agents, Jean-Marc Roze . In many ways, the travel agency appears even requinquée, despite a recovery in tourism consumption that is slow and sustained foreign destinations neglected. For the hour is also the renovation of outlets, not to mention their reinvention. It is no longer just redecorate ...
From dream loop on flat screens
Havas Voyages, a pure distributor if any, and has just initiated the deployment of its new branch concept with the recent opening of its "first travel agency tomorrow," a point of sale located in the 6th arrondissement, whose frame is intended to be declined. Similarly, Look Voyages, one of the tour operators with its own network, has recently opened in La Roche-sur-Yon (Vendée) its new concept store, waiting for the "pilot" the heavyweight TUI France , better known by its brands Nouvelles Frontières and Marmara particular, preparing to Strasbourg in September. TUI France, who is working on a second unit within its headquarters in Levallois-Perret (Hauts-de-Seine), will also, in turn, to showcases new digital tools, mobility vendors, in a neater environment cozier. In short, more welcoming.
The time of travel agency "to daddy", with his staff hid behind its mainframes, brochures of tour operators, its posters for the "specials" and his posters to dream customer appears over. The dream now turning loop on flat screens, is consulted on digital tables, waiting for the travel agent comes clarify your expectations with its tablet. Admittedly, it is time to "Web to store" and "blind to Web" continuum between the physical network and the Internet. For if online sales has actually changed the game in aviation ticket or hotel reservation, the market tilt is less clear in the case of more complex products. The agency reassures much more than the anonymity of the Internet. "Certainly, Look Voyages is an important ur act on the Net, but there is a presence in large cities is a real relay, as the site is a growth driver of our branches," says Patrice Caradec, CEO Transat in France, the parent of Look Voyages.
The agency feeds Moreover visibility and brand awareness. Look Voyages, which now has branches in 44 own and 17 other partners, and covers a total of 120 in 2017. More significantly, Promovacances a "pure player" of the Net, now has a forty branches in France and 75 targets by 2017.
