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Salaries rise but fail to ease concerns
Almost seven out of ten travel agents received inflation-busting pay rises this year – but salary remains a key concern for retailers, according to a new survey.
While 68% of agents received pay rises of 3% or more, 63% of respondents in the Amadeus-commissioned snap poll said low pay would be the major reason why they would leave the industry.
It was followed by limited career opportunities (32%), stress (31%) and feeling undervalued (25%).
Amadeus said the survey of 175 UK agents at least suggested an improving situation with half rewarded with rises of 3%-5%. A sizeable minority however (27%) received only a 1% or 2% increase.
Marketing and communications manager Rob Golledge said it was important agency bosses understood that good quality staff need to be retained.
“Experienced agents are able to provide terrific value to their clients by sharing knowledge and expertise which they have accumulated over the year. So it is important that the industry works hard to retain these frontline ambassadors.
“Although few in the industry would say that it is pay that attracted them in the first place, it is positive to note that the majority of travel agencies we surveyed are recognising their staff with annual pay rises, many in excess of the current rate of inflation.”
But observers said the apparently healthy increases need to be put in context.
“More than two thirds may have got above-inflation rises but it shouldn’t be forgotten that agents get paid peanuts in the first place,” said one.
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