The travel industry seems to be bouncing back with a vengeance. I’ve attended several events in the last half of 2021 and most have shared some very interesting information regarding the trends of travelers booking travel and how those trends will likely continue into 2022 and beyond.
I read Travelers Are Ready to Splurge – And More Top Trends in Travel for 2022 by Kelly Rosenfeld of TravelAge West which spurred me to share a few of the things that relate to this article and what I’ve been hearing at the industry events I’ve attended in the last few months. I guess you could say it’s hearsay as I don’t have any statistics or surveys to back me up, just what I have gathered from notes of speakers and suppliers from the events that hopefully did have the facts to back their statements.
One of the terms I’ve heard repeatedly is ‘revenge travel’. I’ve seen many different explanations for it from getting back at something — perhaps COVID-19, to regaining control over their travel plans, to making the most of life and living experiences that will make lasting memories.
This really supports the trends that we’ve been hearing about at the industry events. Travelers are much more willing to splurge and upgrade their stay and their experience. They are booking back-to-back cruises, river cruises and land stays. They are indulging in last-minute getaways as well as planning all the way out into 2023. They aren’t saving or letting their vacation days go to waste, in fact, many are extending their ‘vacations’ by working remotely while traveling the world. Royal Caribbean shared that a 26-year-old booked a world cruise because working remotely is an option and after being quarantined for so long they want to make their life more meaningful with travel. It’s been said that there is a 50% higher rate of retirees and many are people who haven’t traveled yet.
These trends all point to the fact that we are quite possibly facing the greatest demand for travel ever. The last trend that is definitely worth mentioning is that the travel advisor role is more important than ever as travelers want someone to assure them they are taken care of.
What are the trends you are seeing or experiencing?
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