The percentage of travel advisors who foresee their sales decreasing is growing, according to a recent survey from TravelSavers and the Network of Entrepreneurs Selling Travel (NEST).
One-third of travel advisors believe their year-over-year sales for 2025 will decrease compared to 4% who predicted a decrease last fall. Less than a quarter (22%) believe their sales will stay at 2024 levels, while 46% say that their sales will rise (most advisors — 79% — had predicted an increase last fall).
According to the agencies, the reasons for this altered outlook are geopolitics and consumer concerns about the economy.
Summer 2025 Bookings
Overall, summer bookings are mixed, with 25% of advisors slightly down year over year (between 1 and 9%), while 14% are down significantly (10% or more). Less than a quarter (22%) report a slight increase in summer bookings, while 14% of advisors see a significant increase over last summer. A quarter of respondents report no change over last year.
A recent TravelAge West Need to Know survey also found that most advisors are reporting flat sales or a decrease in year-over-year bookings.
The most popular destinations for this summer include Italy (46%), Alaska (41%), the Dominican Republic (21%), Cancun (21%) and Greece (19%).
Given these prevailing headwinds, advisors are a traveler’s best friend.
Advisors are largely recommending North American destinations to ease client concerns, including Alaska, Hawaii and Orlando, Florida, in addition to Italy, Portugal and Canada.
Top Client Concerns
Half of advisors said that clients’ top concern is the high cost of travel, followed by inflation (41%), lack of confidence in the economy (34%), geopolitical anxieties (29%) and safety in certain regions (26%).
Travel advisors are helping clients lower the cost of their trips by selecting less expensive destinations and encouraging clients to be flexible with travel timing for lower fares (35%). Advisors are also helping clients use loyalty points to fund travel (34%). They are also seeing clients take fewer trips (32%) and shorter vacations (26%).
“Regardless of their financial situation, we know that consumers are still eager to travel this year,” said Kathryn Mazza-Burney, chief sales officer of TravelSavers and president of NEST. “Given these prevailing headwinds, advisors are a traveler’s best friend. A professional advisor can design a memorable, enjoyable trip that accommodates a range of budgets and preferences.”
