Key Points
- U.S. travel agency employment has rebounded to around 78,000 jobs in mid-2024 after major declines from both online booking trends and the Covid-19 pandemic.
- A significant portion of high-value travel bookings, such as packaged trips and premium experiences, are still handled by traditional travel agents.
- Recent surveys show that 24% of travelers book packaged trips, 20% book flights, and 18% book hotels through travel agents.
Summary
After two decades of decline driven by online booking and the Covid-19 pandemic, U.S. travel agencies are experiencing a notable rebound. Employment in the sector has risen back to nearly pre-pandemic levels, with about 78,000 jobs as of mid-2024. Despite most trips being booked online, a sizable share of travelers—especially those seeking complex or premium experiences—continue to use traditional travel agents for packaged trips, flights, and hotel bookings.