This issue’s cover story, "How Fall Travel Can Lead to New Sales for Travel Agents," examines a topic with a lot of potential for travel advisors. While fall off-season travel had already been a growing trend before the COVID-19 pandemic, several factors are coming together this year that could make this season more important than in years past.
First, the pandemic has led to more pent-up demand to travel than just about any other time in history. While many people are not quite ready to travel, as the story points out, recent surveys have shown that there is a significant number of clients who are planning on finally hitting the road again this fall. According to one such survey, 54% of respondents say they are more likely to travel this fall than in previous years.
Next, remote work and school situations give travelers more opportunity to take a trip in the coming weeks. Resorts are seizing on this newfound freedom and are promoting longer stays and added amenities.
Finally, traditional benefits of off-season travel — fewer crowds and lower prices, for example — are even more likely this year, given that many travelers are staying home, and travel suppliers are anxious to drive more revenue.
Add to these factors how important the holidays will be for families looking to have an upbeat end to a difficult year — as well as the proliferation of health and safety guidelines across the industry — and your clients have plenty of incentives for taking an off-season trip. And advisors have even more reason to check in with clients and see if they are ready to travel.
There is no doubt this has been an unusual year, but there are some things you can count on: For instance, you can once again cast your votes as part of TravelAge West’s WAVE Awards. While we have had to reschedule the award ceremony this year, we have now opened a second voting period. Visit www.travelagewest.com/wave/vote from Oct. 1-31 to acknowledge your favorite travel companies and destinations.
