So far, that's been more hype than reality. Only about 1 percent of all travel business in the United States is being done over the Internet, according to trade journal Travel Weekly. Predictions are that even by 2005, Internet bookings will be only about 5 percent of revenues. Of course travel agents also will be adopting these kinds of cost-saving technologies. For example, many are already communicating with their clients over the Internet instead of spending time on the telephone.
Technology is expensive, however.
It's fueling a wave of consolidations among travel agents. Expect more as companies scramble to get big enough to afford the automation they need to compete. This will mean a slow attrition of travel agent numbers. But just as ATMs didn't eliminate bank tellers, automation won't eliminate travel agents. No returns on a bad vacation Agents will thrive with non-commodity leisure travel.