AAA Insurance and Travel (Tourism Industry)

Marieta Bangeova

Introduction
The American Automobile Association (AAA) assists in insurance and travel and it is the largest leisure travel agency organization in North America. AAA's travel division puts together vacation packages that perfectly suit the customer's needs and budgets. They assist in services such as booking air, hotels, and car rentals. AAA has more than 1, 000 full-service offices, and their services may also be accessed online.Background

AAA was founded on March 4, 1902 in Chicago, Illinois as a response to a lack of roads and highways suitable for automobiles. After several years, the industry expanded its services. In 1905 the first road maps were published, and in 1917 AAA began printing hotel guides. In 1926 they released the first three editions of their TourBook guide, which provides in-depth travel information. In 1979 the AAA Diamond rating system for hotel accommodations was adopted. Today, they continue to offer these benefits as well as their travel agency services.

Careers

The two careers available in the travel department are the Travel Counselor and Auto Travel Counselor. An Auto Travel Counselor, Wanda Bellitto, at an Edwardsville, IL location explained that these positions deal with planning and selling accommodations for travel agency customers. They are also expected to advise travelers about their destinations such as the weather conditions or attractions. They spend most of their time behind the desk talking with clients, completing paperwork, and contacting airlines and hotels to make arrangements.

Trends

Vacation spot trends are constantly changing depending on factors such as the economy, world issues, or the weather. Wanda Bellitto explained that the main trend she has seen recently is families staying closer to home. However, when families have been traveling abroad, Alaska has been a popular destination. Within the United States, Bellitto states that World Disney has been the most visited location this year. She also discussed that the travel to Mexico has significantly declined due to scare of the swine flu.

Definition of Leisure

The definition of leisure varies between the age group of the individual traveling as well as their location. Wanda Bellitto defined leisure as, "resting, relaxing, and downtime in general." One may considering leisure laying on the beach in Jamaica while another may consider leisure hiking in Colorado. No matter where the customer vacations, AAA is committed to making their customer's trip smooth and relaxing.

Conclusion

After observing people working in the AAA office, it is clear that they are committed to their customers. Their variety of services from air flights to hotel reservations truly makes a customer's vacation care-free. One con concerning the agency is that aside from the tourism division, they are also extremely insurance orientated, which obviously does not fit into the definition of leisure or a tourism industry. Another negative aspect may be the fact that they only offer two employment opportunities. However, the travel agent positions are the most vital aspect that makes the industry run. All in all, travel agencies such as AAA are tremendously beneficial for people looking to travel. Whether one considers leisure scuba diving in Hawaii or riding roller coasters at Six Flags, AAA works with their customers to find the ideal location for their leisure activities. Therefore, if one is looking to travel in the upcoming future, I highly recommend visiting the AAA website or one of their offices.