Is Travel in a Holding Pattern? Tours.com's Travel-Intel Looks at the Numbers

SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(Marketwire - Apr 17, 2012) - Airline ticket sales by travel agents may be surging but U.S. travelers are putting their travel plans into a holding pattern, according to the April 15 issue of Travel-Intel. The travel newsletter of the travel industry looks at two reports issued this month that give different perspectives on the current state of travel.

In another article covered by Travel-Intel, Online Travel Agencies are examined for what value they offer consumers. Meanwhile, an executive study issued by IBM shows a consumer backlash when it comes to booking travel online, marked by a trend toward returning to human travel agents for travel advice and booking.

"Studies show that people who are making all their travel plans online through the larger OTAs are spending an average of two hours on those plans and often as much as five hours at a stretch trying to settle their bookings online," says Lark Ellen Gould, editor of Travel-Intel. "While the advances in technology, especially mobile technology, may be widening the convenience of making travel plans online, consumers are finding that using an actual travel agent may be less baffling and take a lot less time."

Tours.com's Travel-Intel goes out twice a month to the travel industry to keep more than 103,000 U.S. and Canadian travel agents on top of what's happening in the roller coaster business of travel. The April 15 issue of Travel-Intel also highlights the summer Olympics happening in London in July and August and examines what some hotels and hotel services are doing to roll out the carpet for visitors. The article notes that while London is booking up for the event weeks, finding properties can be aided by VisitBritain.com, and by onefinestay.com, a new concierge company that offers actual residences to visitors -- and often at great value.

The issue also introduces a new romantic hotel, Palazzo Victoria, which opened last month in Verona, Italy. A member of the Kurtz-Ahlers collection, the carefully converted 14^th century castle is located in the center of the Verona and steps away from Juliet's legendary balcony.

Finally, those who wish to travel with pets are given the spotlight in an article dedicated to pet packages and pet-friendly hotels and airlines.

Travel-Intel is a digital newsletter sent to a subscriber base of more than 100,000+ travel agents before getting posted on Tours.com.

"The travel industry is an ever-changing area of circumstances affecting our wallets, our time, even our health and our lives, whether we are the traveler or the person responsible for that traveler's plans," says Lark Ellen Gould, content director and editor for Travel-Intel. "Travel-Intel's job is to determine what is important for travel agents to know in this industry and to help them serve their clients better."

Gould, a veteran travel journalist who has been covering the travel industry for more than 20 years, brings her incisive perspective to the publication.

About Tours.com: Tours.com is the Official Directory of Tours & Vacations Worldwide. On-line since 1995, tours.com has a deep and searchable database of tour and vacation companies searchable by company name, destination and/or activity. A one-stop resource for major Travel Channels such as travel insurance, passport & visa information, major travel booking sites and categories such as hotels, air, cars, cruises, barges, yachts & ferries, railroad & rail travel, etc., plus all other pertinent travel categories/channels. The Find a Travel Agent search field allows one to search for travel agents certified with in-depth knowledge in their chosen specialty. For more information visit www.tours.com

Sister site Sightseeing.com provides a lengthy bookable directory of sightseeing tours and attractions for cities and destinations throughout the globe.