Business phone system for travel agencies

Travel agencies in the United States

County Business Patterns counted 9,308 travel agencies in the U.S. in 2023 (NAICS 561510, Travel Agencies). They employed 82,899 people in mid-March and paid $8.1 billion in annual payroll. The average establishment has 8.9 employees. That is 2.7 establishments for every 100,000 residents.

California has the most (1,301), followed by Florida (1,201), New York (1,077), and Texas (592). Relative to population, Hawaii leads with 8.1 per 100,000 residents, and West Virginia has the fewest at 0.8.

Why the phone matters for travel agencies

Travel agents plan trips by phone and help travelers when plans go wrong. Reachability during disruptions builds loyalty.

Calls travel agencies commonly handle:

• A couple calls to plan a honeymoon.
• A traveler calls about a cancelled flight.
• A group organizer calls about a tour.
• The agent calls a client with options.
• A supplier calls about a booking.

Texting and after-hours calls

Agents text itineraries and travel reminders.

Travel disruptions after hours can be urgent.

How big travel agencies are

79.3% of U.S. travel agencies with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023. 90.4% had fewer than ten. Most phone decisions in this industry are made for small teams, where one shared number and sensible routing matter more than a desk phone per person.

Travel agencies by state

Establishment counts for the 51 states (and DC) where Census published a figure, with the rate per 100,000 residents.

Largest metro areas for travel agencies

Census published travel agency counts for 267 metro and micropolitan areas. The 25 largest:

Callata vs. per-seat pricing for travel agencies in the U.S.

The average U.S. travel agency has 8.9 employees, so the comparison uses a 9-person team. Per-seat business phone plans bill every one of those people. At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 9 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $270.00 a month and 9 on Ooma Office Pro cost $224.55. On Callata the same 9 people cost $179.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.

The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $1,092. Some vendors discount annual contracts; the table shows month-to-month prices.

How Callata works for travel agencies

Callata Office costs $99 per month for up to 5 people, and each additional user is $20 a month. That covers up to 3 local numbers, calling from a browser or your cell, transcribed voicemail, recorded calls with AI summaries, after-hours routing and E911 on each number.

Existing numbers can be ported at no charge, and team texting turns on after the one-time $49 carrier registration (10DLC) is approved.

Optional AI agents (receptionist, sales, support or scheduler) can answer calls after hours or when nobody picks up, take messages, text, email and transfer to your team. They are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute, identify themselves as AI, and may only place outbound calls to people who consented, between 8am and 9pm.