From April 12-14, Avoya Travel Network held the first part of its 2022 Avoya Travel Mastermind Land Forum, a virtual networking and educational opportunity for its travel advisor members. (The second part of the forum will be held in person in Cancun, Mexico, May 1-4.) Elements of the three-day event included an expo, “speed dating” with sponsors, informative workshops hosted by suppliers and more.
During presentations and panels, supplier partners identified ongoing travel trends and provided important advice for travel advisors on managing this transitional time for the industry.
Here are five important takeaways from the event.
Business Is Booming
Over the course of four industry panels, one message came out again and again: Clients are ready to travel, and bookings are off the charts.
Jeff Bont, national account manager for Rocky Mountaineer, reported that the rail line is seeing record-setting booking days, with January marking the biggest sales month in the company’s history.
And Valerie Luyk, sales director at Expedia TAAP (Travel Agent Affiliate Program), said that over the last three weeks, bookings have been up 40% from 2019, while Marta Merriman, business development manager for Vacation Express, noted that the company has tripled its 2019 numbers.
“It’s been an incredible year for bookings,” said Kristen Hall, national account manager for Tauck, adding that travelers have become more resilient.
“Instead of canceling, guests [have the mindset of] ‘this is what life is going to look like going forward, so how do we go anyway,” she said.
When it comes to hot markets, many panelists pointed to a boom in destination weddings, as well as family and group travel.
Book Early — Demand Is High, and Supply Is Limited
Amid this massive influx of bookings, suppliers shared an important message with advisors: Book your clients’ trips as early as possible to get them what they want. Supply is becoming extremely limited, even during periods of the year that would not normally be busy.
Brands including Pleasant Holidays and Iberostar Hotels & Resorts reported that inventory is selling out much faster than normal this year, including higher-end accommodation categories.
And Robyn Basso, senior director of travel industry partnerships for the Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau, noted that it’s not only important to book clients’ hotels early, but also to secure in-destination offerings including car rentals (as availability is still somewhat limited), activities and attractions, some of which have capacity limitations or reservation requirements in place.
Domestic Travel Is Still Hot, But Europe Is Coming Back Strong
According to brands including Insight Vacations and Expedia TAAP, demand for domestic travel is still going strong. Rocky Mountaineer also saw impressive bookings for its new Rockies to the Red Rocks itinerary, which launched last year in the Western U.S.
That said, many suppliers indicated that Europe is making a strong comeback. CIE Tours, for one, has added more U.K. product (introducing four new tours for 2022) to meet increased demand. And top-selling destinations for Expedia TAAP now include Italy, the U.K. and Paris.
Hold Times Are Still an Issue, But Partners Are Looking for Solutions
A number of panelists acknowledged that pandemic-related service issues remain, pointing in particular to long hold times. However, suppliers are working to address this challenge by enhancing website features so agents can do more online, or adding chat and email options as an alternative to phone calls.
“We’re adding technology so advisors can do a lot more online and avoid calling in unless absolutely necessary,” said Nancy Logan, director of sales for Pleasant Holidays, adding that the company has implemented a callback feature so that agents don’t have to sit on hold.
Now Is the Time to Sell High-End Offerings and Bucket-List Experiences
Another major trend for this year continues to be a willingness among travelers to splurge on higher-end offerings, bucket-list trips and special experiences.
Suppliers including CIE and Exoticca reported an increase in private tours and drivers, saying that clients are looking for a more luxurious and personalized experience. Panelists from Iberostar and Pleasant Holidays also noted a spike in the sale of higher-end room categories, with travelers wanting to treat themselves as they finally get back to taking vacations.
Vacation Express’ Merriman also pointed out that the average length of stay among the company’s clients has increased, providing the opportunity for agents to to add more experiences to trips.
