CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for travel agencies in North Carolina
223 travel agencies operated in North Carolina in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 223CBP 2023
- Employees
- 913mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 2.0U.S. 2.7
- State rank
- 10th of 51by count
How many travel agencies operate in North Carolina
County Business Patterns counts 223 establishments in North Carolina classified as Travel Agencies (NAICS 561510) for 2023. They employed 913 people in mid-March and reported $69.8 million in annual payroll. That is the 10th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Travel agencies make up 0.09% of the 258,169 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) North Carolina has 2.0 travel agencies, 26.2% below the national rate of 2.7. The average establishment has 4.1 employees against 8.9 nationally. Payroll per employee is $76,419, 21.9% below the U.S. figure of $97,789.
| Measure | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 223 | 9,308 |
| Mid-March employees | 913 | 82,899 |
| Annual payroll | $69,771,000 | $8,106,618,000 (moderate noise) |
| Employees per establishment | 4.1 | 8.9 |
| Payroll per employee | $76,419 | $97,789 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 2.0 | 2.7 |
Census County Business Patterns 2023 (mid-March employment; annual payroll). Employees and payroll flagged high-noise are shown but not used in the text. Residents: Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Where travel agencies in North Carolina are concentrated
Census published travel agency counts for 12 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of North Carolina. The largest is Charlotte, NC-SC, with 71 establishments (a multi-state area; its count covers every state it spans). Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 60% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC-SC | 71 | 205 | 2.5 |
| Raleigh, NC | 53 | 237 | 3.4 |
| Virginia Beach, VA-NC | 21 | — | 1.2 |
| Greensboro, NC | 17 | 32 | 2.1 |
| Durham, NC | 14 | — | 2.3 |
| Wilmington, NC | 13 | — | 2.7 |
| Asheville, NC | 11 | 56 | 2.6 |
| Winston, NC | 9 | — | 1.3 |
| Hickory, NC | 5 | — | 1.3 |
| Morehead City, NC | 5 | — | 7.1 |
| Burlington, NC | 3 | 3 | 1.6 |
| Pinehurst, NC | 3 | — | 2.8 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at travel agencies in North Carolina
85.1% of North Carolina's travel agencies with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 79.3% nationally. 92.8% had fewer than ten. That is the size of team where a missed call usually means nobody was free, not that nobody was on staff.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 188 | 85.1% | 79.3% |
| 5–9 employees | 17 | 7.7% | 11.1% |
| 10–19 employees | 7 | 3.2% | 4.7% |
| 20–49 employees | 9 | 4.1% | 2.7% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 2.2% |
Employment-size classes count establishments by mid-March 2023 employment. Establishments with no March employees are excluded from the size classes, so shares are of establishments with employees. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.
Calls a travel agency in North Carolina has to catch
Travel agents plan trips by phone and help travelers when plans go wrong. Reachability during disruptions builds loyalty.
Calls a travel agency in North Carolina might handle in a typical week include:
- A traveler calls about a cancelled flight.
- A group organizer calls about a tour.
- A couple calls to plan a honeymoon.
After-hours calls
Travel disruptions after hours can be urgent.
Callata voicemail is transcribed and triaged for urgency, and business-hours routing decides where calls go once you close.
Phone system pricing for a 4-person travel agency
Travel agencies in North Carolina average 4.1 employees, so the comparison uses a 4-person team. Priced per seat, 4 users would run $120.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $99.80 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). On Callata the same 4 people cost $99.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $252. Some vendors discount annual contracts; the table shows month-to-month prices.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $99.00 | $1,188.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $76.00 | $912.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $92.00 | $1,104.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $99.80 | $1,197.60 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $108.00 | $1,296.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $120.00 | $1,440.00 |
Competitor prices are each vendor's published month-to-month list price per user for its lowest plan that includes business calling and texting, checked September 28, 2026: Quo Starter $19, Nextiva Core $23, Ooma Office Pro $24.95 (Essentials excludes texting; one-time $29.95 activation not included), Dialpad Standard $27, RingCentral RingEX Core $30 ($20 billed annually). Prices exclude taxes and fees and may change; annual contracts lower some competitors' prices.
Area codes in North Carolina
North Carolina has 10 geographic area codes in service according to NANPA. You can choose local numbers in the area codes your travelers know, subject to carrier inventory, or port your current number for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 910 | 785 | Eastern | 1993 | 472 |
| 336 | 783 | Eastern | 1997 | 743 |
| 704 | 782 | Eastern | 1947 | 980 |
| 919 | 781 | Eastern | 1954 | 984 |
| 828 | 724 | Eastern | 1998 | none |
| 252 | 695 | Eastern | 1998 | none |
| 980 | 463 | Eastern | 2001 | 704 |
| 984 | 295 | Eastern | 2012 | 919 |
| 743 | 160 | Eastern | 2016 | 336 |
| 472 | 106 | Eastern | 2022 | 910 |
Exchanges are NANPA-assigned central office codes (NPA-NXX) in the rate centers matched to the area's named places. Source: NANPA utilized code and NPA reports.
How Callata works for travel agencies in North Carolina
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.
If you already have a number in North Carolina, porting it to Callata is free. Texting from a local number requires a one-time carrier registration (10DLC, $49), and the numbers available in any area code depend on carrier inventory when you choose them.
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.
Frequently asked questions
How many travel agencies are in North Carolina?
223 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 913 people in mid-March.
Which North Carolina metro area has the most travel agencies?
Charlotte, NC-SC, with 71 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 4-person travel agency?
$120.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $99.80 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $99.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a North Carolina number?
Yes. US carriers require business texting from local numbers to be registered (10DLC). On Callata the registration is a one-time $49 fee, and texting turns on once it is approved.