2014 was a good year for travel agents with an average of 18 percent more travelers using the services of traditional travel agents than in the previous two years. And that trend looks like it will continue.
According to the MMGY Global 2014 Portrait of American Travelers, 21 percent more travelers plan to use an agent's services over the next two years. While the Internet continues to be a useful resource for initial travel investigation, an American Express Travel survey of its U.S. representative Travel Network, reports that clients feel overwhelmed with online options and highly value the personalized attention to trip planning an experienced travel agent provides — and are willing to pay for that guidance.
Not only are clients using travel agents to plan vacations more widely, but they are also booking trips at higher rates than in 2013. In separate independent surveys, Ensemble, Travel Leaders Group and Nexion all report a rise in agent-booked vacations. And the U.S. Travel Association reported travel employment has reached an all-time high, cracking 8 million for the first time.
So, with all this good news for travel agents, where will we be sending our clients in 2015? Our challenge, as always, is to assist our clients in planning that long-awaited trip to their coveted location at a price they can afford. This year may be the year to make that happen with improved services and lower pricing on the rise.
Air travel: Enjoy more, pay less
Air travel is predicted to be more enjoyable and less expensive in 2015. Decreasing airline tickets resulting from a healthier economy, a drop in fuel prices and increased capacity will make destinations like North and South America, as well as Europe popular in 2015.
In addition, you may be able to secure that business class seat for an overseas flight this year, too, as those prices are expected to drop by 5 percent or more. Stuck in an airport due to a delay? Expect to see improved mobile communication around booking and rebooking tickets, as well as delay and security line wait times. Some airlines will even offer a discount if you book your ticket on a mobile device.
Stay tuned later this year for a decision on the FCC in-flight cellphone usage issue. If the ban is lifted, this could ignite an entirely new debate on how to monitor and control usage.
Destinations: USA and exotic travel remain popular
The U.S. travel market continues to boom with growth expected at an average rate of 3.2 percent, according to The International Air Transport Association (IATA). The IATA projects that over 1 billion tourists will visit the U.S. by 2034, double that of 2014.
Largely driven by the visa-waiver program introduced in 2012 and the "10-year visa" agreement enacted between China and the U.S. in 2014, the swell of international travelers has begun. This is good news for destinations like Washington, D.C. — recently named by Lonely Planet as the top city to visit — and Queens, the largest borough of New York City, listed in that same publication as its number one destination for U.S. travel locales.
According to the National Geographic Traveler, some of the best domestic destinations in 2015 include Sea Island, South Carolina; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and The Presidio, San Francisco. Las Vegas hosts an average of 40 million visitors a year and remains a hot spot for girlfriend getaways, destination weddings and just about anything else.
Looking for a more exotic destination? Puerto Rico will offer several new luxury hotels in 2015. No passports are required, and U.S. dollars are accepted, making it an easy trip for U.S. travelers.
International travel will remain popular for 2015, with Italy once again ranking as a coveted country to visit. However, several up-and-coming destinations also top of the list.
National Geographic Traveler recently issued its must-see vacation spots for 2015, and places like Colombia, Romania, Peru, Myanmar, Corsica and Argentina provide more adventurous travelers with the excitement and intrigue of exploring a remote destination. These are excellent choices for tourists seeking wildlife sightings, rugged outdoor activity or just an out-of-ordinary travel experience.
Accommodations: Hotels cater to holistic travel
Thank the millennial travel set for some improved hotel amenities in 2015. Based on the results of several recent surveys, hoteliers are upping their game at resorts around the world in everything from technology to cuisine.
Mobile check-in and checkout, digital dining reviews and reservations, and Wi-Fi (free and fast) are just a few of the upgrades the hospitality market has implemented recently. Those, combined with appealing new lobby designs, heightened focus on haute cuisine and health while traveling could make your next hotel stay unrecognizable from your last one.
Several chain hotels now include boutique brands focusing strictly on wellness because guests want to continue their "living well" habits while traveling. Yoga classes, state-of-the-art fitness centers, organic eating, tea houses, and Japanese and Chinese eating venues are all on the rise at hotels.
Social media commentary monitored by hoteliers on everything from room size and cleanliness, bath amenities, staff friendliness and dining experiences to entertainment and shopping plays a huge role in maintaining standards of service around the globe.
As the market continues to grow and new properties are constructed, expect to see more of these technology and wellness amenities built into hotels' structure and operations. All good news for travelers.
2015 could be one of the best years to experience a new destination. Continue with that recent resolution of clean and healthy living, and do it for less with a reasonable flight. Why wait? This is the year to travel!
