Travel advisors are concerned about the impact of international conflicts on bookings, according to new research from TravelAge West, gathered as part of the Need to Know research series. In a survey of nearly 300 advisors, 54% say they are “very concerned” and 41% are “moderately concerned.”
In addition, 31% have seen a “significant” decrease in bookings and 47% report a “slight” decrease. Only 17% say there is no change at all.
Of nearly 300 respondents, 95% report that they are concerned about international conflicts impacting business.
Photo Credit: 2026 TravelAge West
Travel advisor Mallory Dumond of Travelmation says that global conflict is always on her radar, but that her bookings are holding steady.
“Concerns about international conflict are genuine, but what I’m seeing is that my clients aren't canceling their plans altogether,” Dumond said. “As a matter of fact, I have families that are looking forward to African expeditions, European exploration and more. Those I serve are asking more questions. They are looking for reassurance, and I find they seem to be leaning on me more to guide them toward destinations that feel both safe and worthwhile.”
Overall, nearly half of advisors (49%) do not believe clients are becoming more accustomed to global disruptions affecting travel.
According to the survey, the top concern for clients right now is safety and security, followed by how U.S. citizens will be treated abroad; travel restrictions or regulations; and immigration or border policies.
Clients ages 51-65 are the most sensitive to global conflicts, followed by those over 65 and those ages 31-50.
When it comes to specific regions, the majority of advisors say clients have canceled, rescheduled or altered their Mexico bookings. For Middle East travel, 58% of advisors say clients have canceled or postponed trips, while another 30% have not yet canceled other nearby international trips, but are increasingly anxious. Only 11% report no change in bookings.
Unrest in Mexico and the Middle East have led to cancellations and trip shifts, according to advisors.
Photo Credit: 2026 TravelAge WestAdvisors are split on how comfortable they feel navigating their business around global events. About a third (30%) feel as comfortable as before, another 29% feel “moderately” comfortable and another 26% feel “less” comfortable.
Advisors have made some changes in marketing in response to client concerns. The top three adjustments are increasing communication with booked clients; focusing more on domestic travel; and making minor adjustments to messaging.
Notably, more than a quarter of advisors (26%) have made no changes in marketing or strategy, Dumond of Travelmation included. In fact, 65% of respondents have not taken precautions or made changes in their business in anticipation of a downturn in bookings.
Despite concerns about global conflicts impacting bookings, 65% of respondents haven't changed anything in their business.
Photo Credit: 2026 TravelAge West“I have made no reactive changes to my business model in anticipation of a slowdown, because travel demand is still incredibly strong,” Dumond said. “Instead, I have tried to laser focus on building long-term client relationships and delivering a high level of service — those are the things, in my opinion, that sustain a business even in an unstable market.”
Dumond believes that leaning in during uncertain times is an effective way to showcase the value she brings to clients.
“Overall, what I’m experiencing in my business isn’t a decline in interest in travel, but a greater need for expertise,” she said. “Clients want to travel smarter, not necessarily less, and that’s where I feel advisors are more essential than ever.”
Need to Know Travel Survey Series
“Need to Know” is a research series from TravelAge West that tracks the responses of travel advisors as they relate to various travel trends and topics. This survey recorded the responses of 298 advisors across the U.S. See more Need to Know stories here.
