Tourism Breaking News
GCC, where medium-sized companies (6 to 50 employees) dominate, representing 51% demonstrate a long term commitment to the industry. Their purpose-driven mindset, fueled by a passion for travel and human connection, continues to shape the sector and helps specialists navigate the increasing complexity of the post-pandemic environment. The survey shows that 93% of the participants work in small and medium businesses of up to 50 people. These are the findings of RateHawk’s latest report, ‘What Supercharges Travel Professionals’, which explores travel professionals’ perspectives on the ever-evolving travel industry. Of these, 50% of all travel professionals globally work in businesses of 2 to 5 people, with the highest concentration in Europe (58%) and Latin America (47%). Around 17% operate as independent agents, with North America reporting the largest share (22%). In contrast, solo professionals are far less common in Asia and the GCC, where medium-sized companies (6 to 50 employees) dominate, representing 44% and 51% respectively. Globally, medium-sized companies account for 26% of respondents. Only 7% of respondents work in companies with more than 50 employees. Travel professionals show strong loyalty to the industry, with 42% of respondents having more than 15 years of experience. This trend is especially prominent in Europe (51% on average), particularly in Italy (68%), Germany (64%) and Spain (52%). At the same time, the industry continues to attract newcomers, with 18% of respondents worldwide having joined over the last 3 years. In some regions, this share is noticeably higher — for example, 23% in North America and 25% in Latin America. Meanwhile, one in four respondents worldwide (25%) has worked in the industry for 4 to 10 years, while 15% have 11 to 15 years of experience. GCC has the strongest share of professionals who joined the industry recently: one in five respondents joined within the last 3 years, while 60% of respondents have worked for up to 10 years. Only 18% have worked in the field for 11 to 15 years, and 21% for more than 15 years. Travel professionals around the globe demonstrate a strong long-term commitment to the industry and report high levels of career fulfilment.
RateHawk, a B2B online system for booking hotels, flights, and transfers, surveyed over 1,300 professionals across Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia, and the GCC. The study examines agents’ key motivations, challenges, and the role of technology in the travel industry in 2025. The first part of the report focuses on travel professionals’ experience trends and the main drivers behind their lasting careers.
Long-term commitment and a new wave of popularity
“Today, the travel industry continues to draw new specialists, making it one of the fastest-growing career sectors, according to global reports . Our study also showcases the growing popularity of the travel advisor profession in the last 3 years. It is driven by the transformation of the economy after the pandemic and the desire of next-gen travellers to rely on travel agents while planning their trips,” commented Astrid Kastberg, Managing Director of RateHawk.
“Since the majority of travel businesses are relatively small, effectiveness is crucial. Success depends on every team member, which is why RateHawk develops tech-driven tools to help agents excel and deliver outstanding service with less effort,” shared Astrid Kastberg.
