Young guy
“The market has changed since the sector's heroic recovery from the pandemic, and advisors are facing new challenges, from shorter booking windows to clients requiring more attention more often,” says Guy Young, director of engagement at TTC Tour Brands. “Tours are ripe for now, offering all elements of the experience in one booking – from activities and accommodation to the benefit of traveling with a trusted brand that will be with you every step of the way . This reduces the time and stress required to book each part of a trip individually, allowing advisors to spend more time building quality relationships with their clients.
Young offers the following four tips for travel advisors:
Embrace the shorter booking window. The demand for travel is there, but customers are taking longer to make a decision. There has been a notable increase in bookings as the departure window approaches, with travelers booking a month to two months in advance of the departure date. Advisors should not abandon a sale as the start date approaches and should continue to nurture open leads and seek new opportunities to close a sale. With TTC Tour Brands, space is pre-contracted, meaning it is available to book regardless of how close to the departure date and the reservations team can help secure competitive airfares to meet to late reservation requests. Advisors can use the Travel Advisor Portal (TAP) to help them find the best travel style and budget for their clients from a selection of more than 1,000 itineraries in more than 80 countries across six leading travel brands. Remind returning customers about the Global Tour Rewards program which offers 5% off an itinerary and take advantage of great last minute promotions.
European summer is always in season. Travel to Europe this summer remains in high demand. As the primary market for TTC tour brands and with increased investment in on-the-ground resources, advisors have peace of mind booking for their clients during peak season. While travelers may be concerned about overcrowding and destination challenges, advisors can sell with confidence in Europe knowing that TTC Tour brands have 24/7 support and more than 100 years of experience in the region.
Consider “secondary” destinations. Although summer is the most popular time to go to Europe and demand for this destination remains strong, there has been a notable increase in bookings to North American destinations and other markets, notably Latin America, Japan and many others. For travelers looking to cross a new region off their bucket list, advisors should take advantage of TTC Tour Brands' many itineraries outside of Europe, offered by global guided vacation company Trafalgar's. Classic Japan to the new high-end tour operator Insight Vacations Discovery of Yellowstone itinerary.
Work smarter, not harder. Advisor time is valuable and TTC Tour Brands is committed to providing as much support as possible to our advisor partners. With a simple phone call to a sales agent, travel advisors can book a complete trip with airfare and transfers for their client. Best of all, advisors have huge earning potential because they earn commission on every element of the trip. The TTC Travel Advisor Discount Program (TADP) provides discounts to advisors on TTC Tour Brands itineraries based on the advisor's gross sales.
