Travel and Tourism Research - Tourism: Principles, Practices, Philosophies - page 411

the planning, design, interpretation, and application of travel research. They also provide the service of
conducting all or a part of a field investigation for their clients.
The primary advantage of consultants or consulting firms is that they are well-trained, experienced
specialists who have gained their experience by making studies for many different clients. They also
provide an objective outsider's point of view, and they have adequate facilities to undertake almost
any job. The disadvantage of consultants is that of any outsider: the lack of intimate knowledge of the
internal problems of the client s business; however, management can provide this ingredient. Many

travel firms with their own research departments find it advantageous to use consultants or a
combination of their own internal staff and consultants.
Many well-known firms specialize in travel research. A few of these are ACXION; DataPath Systems;
Davidson-Peterson Associates; Economics Research Associates; Forrester Research; TNS; Ipsos; D. K.
Shif et and Associates; Longwoods International; Mandala Research; Menlo Consulting Group; IPK
International; Dean Runyan Associates; Ruf Strategic Solutions; Smith Travel Research; Strategic
Marketing and Research, Inc.; TTC International UK; Tourism Economics; Western Management
Consultants; and YPartnership.

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Trade Associations

Extensive travel research is conducted by trade associations. The trade association often has facilities
for carrying on a continuous research service for itsmembers, particularly in the area of industry statistics.
Many associations have excellent Internet sites and make their data available to the public.

Hotels and Motels

Hotels and motels constantly use current research findings concerning their markets, trends in
transportation, new construction materials, management methods, use of electronic data processing,

TNS is another leading tourism research firm with more than 25 years of industry experience doing
transportation, travel, hospitality, and leisure research. Shown here are Stephan Mayer, senior project
director, and Richard Cain, vice president and account executive. TNS is a strong supporter of the Travel
and Tourism Research Association (TTRA), and Richard Cain served as TTRA chairman of the board in
2009 - 2010. PhotocourtesyoftheTravelandTourismResearchAssociation.